14/11/2015
so "perhaps" I am being over jealous but when I saw a UAV/ RPAS/ Drone being flow within the 10km exclusion zone at Jhb Int, oops so OR Tambo Airport I felt it was my civic duty to report it to the SAPS who was sitting watching it. His reply "Eh I think they have permission". Did you ask them and check their licence, safety procedures etc? ask I. "What's that?" was the reply. I explained to the officer in accordance with CAA "rule 101" (bla bla) it was infact illegal to fly within 10km of airport/ airfield, closer than 50 meters of people etc etc etc. Realising I was getting no-wear fast I decided to bring it to the airport "security" supervisor's attention. I expressed my indignation that this was going on right under their noses, to which she relied "I think they have permission.........." She eventually took my name and contact number and "promise to report and have someone get back to me". It is now 5 days later and NOTHING.
Now it may seem "petty" but when a shop vendor is permitted to fly a UAV (as I prefer to call them) inside the domestic departure area, in and out of the public with NO BLOODYSAFETY CONSIDERATION then I wonder to myself - "are all the rules applicable to everyone, or just those UAV business persons from making a living before jumping through a series of hoops (that would put a circus animal to shame) and paying an exorbitant amount of hard earned cash to the powers that be to obtain all these licences? I will be flying through there again on Monday. If I see it has not been rectified as scene will be caused.
Saturday morning rant over and out!