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Mutsawashe Mashandure
Herald Correspondent
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has now fully implemented the 2018 regulations to safely incorporate drone technology into the country’s aviation system.
This allows drones to be used innovatively without risk to other aircraft or violating people’s privacy.
In a recent statement, CAAZ reminded private drone users that the Government issued regulations under Statutory Instrument 271 of 2018 to provide for private drone use.
“To guide the industry and those who want to use drones for private, commercial, corporate, and non-profit operations. Such uses include agriculture, surveillance, tourism, and recreation such as weddings, funerals, music shows, church gatherings, parties, among others.
“The regulatory framework is rooted in the endeavour of setting a level of aviation safety acceptable to society as well as providing protection for other public interests, such as privacy and security, on the one hand, and offering enough flexibility for the new industry to evolve, innovate, and mature on the other hand.
“The authority is highly aware of the Civil Aviation Remotely Piloted Aircraft Regulations that everyone who intends to own or use drones ought to know.
“Any organisation or individual intending to import drones must apply for a clearance letter from CAAZ. The drone will not be cleared by ZIMRA without the CAAZ-issued clearance letter. A valid remote pilot licence is required for anyone to operate a drone in Zimbabwe. An applicant for a remote pilot licence shall not be less than 18 years of age.
“An organisation or individual intending to use drones for commercial purposes must apply to CAAZ for a remotely piloted aircraft system operator certificate,” said CAAZ.
Drones are limited in height and where they can be flown.
“No drone shall be operated beyond 400 feet (121,92m) above the surface; no drone shall be operated within a radius of three nautical miles (5.6km) from an aerodrome; no drone shall be operated within restricted or prohibited airspace; no drone shall be operated within a controlled airspace; no drone shall be operated adjacent to or above a nuclear power plant, prison, police station, crime scene, court of law, national key point, or strategic point,” said the statement.
The authority said all drone operators or prospective drone operators were expected to be conversant with all the provisions of the regulations.
The ban on private drone use applies to every area within 30m of a house or other building, along public roads and within 30m of a public road or along airport flight paths.
Drones are also used by several Government departments, and here the particular department may well be exempt from some of the requirements. For example, traffic control drones could be allowed to operate over public roads.
“No person shall sell a drone within Zimbabwe unless he or she has, by way of a packaging label or, in the case of a resale, by way of written notification, notified the buyer of the requirements prescribed by the CAAZ,”said.
CAAZ advised the public to report any suspicious or unauthorised drone activity over their properties.
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