Page 11 - World Airnews Magazine July Edition 2020

DRONES

flight demonstration easier and less nerve time. Always consider financial implica-

racking. An inspector appreciates not tions of your solutions because while they

having to pull teeth when asking questions might be brilliant, just running them might
or waiting unnecessarily for you to find not be economically viable for clients.

answers to basic questions. One thing to consider around the world is,

Another vital point to consider, if your that it may actually be cheaper and better
SACAA Inspector makes a comment on socially and economically to have someone
your manual or requests any documenta- who carries the thermometer or tank and
tion from you - do it as soon as humanly spray nozzle employed for larger projects,

possible. Do not allow them to think that over a highly trained pilot with a piece of

you are uninterested in getting your ROC equipment. The value of which is multiple
completed, the Inspectors are busy enough years’ worth of, the guy with a nozzle’s,
that they will treat you the way your atti- salary. It also does not mean that you

tude dictates. should then skimp on the cost of a solution
QUESTION: WHERE IS SOUTH AFRI- or system to try keep as close to, guy with a
nozzle, in terms of costs.
CA IN TERMS OF THIS SECTOR? ARE Afrikaans is a wonderful language, some-
THEY IN OPERATION IN THE SANDF/ times (because I fail to understand most of

NAVY OR AIR FORCE? it), “Goed koop, is duur koop.” Which basi-
There has been a recurring ‘round the cally translates to, ‘don’t be a cheapskate,
fire’ discussion of what the South African if the thing seems expensive, it will most

National Defence Force and Air Force likely save you money later because it is a
should do in terms of dwindling budgets, quality system and you won’t need to fix

equipment obsolescence and available it.’ This rings extremely true and I know of

expertise. 10 Squadron of the South some big drone companies who buy wrong
African Air Force was rumoured to have and just fork out on maintenance for their
become operational again. A sale of Denel equipment, it’s heartbreaking.

Seekers to a customer may have had During this time though, I do believe

something to do with that in a training role that thought towards drone solutions for take as long to get aircraft operational under

prior to delivery. unique problems has been very forthcom- an ROC. It will save time and effort on the

The conflict in the Central African ing, which as always, is brilliant for the SACAA’s part and create more opportunity
Republic and the SANDF involvement industry. New industries deserve new for the industry to grow. The growth of the
there certainly dictates that some form of trains of thought applied to them to allow industry also directly benefits the SACAA.

drone capability is available to our forces, for progress and progressive influence for I’d prefer to share a mutual win win relation-

even if it is only with smaller systems than decision makers. ship with them to be honest. Q
10 Squadrons Seekers. What has been The most difficult question to answer

interesting to see is the number of De- though is where the SACAA could poten- Justin Melman is the owner of Aerospace

fence Force personnel of all branches and tially relax regulations without jeopardizing 3D, an aviation solutions company spe-

varying rank, going through commercial safety standards. Up until now, we have cialising in drones. He grew up interested

RPL training lately. It certainly shows that had no major drone accidents or incidents in anything that could fly. He is one of the

there is an interest in drone programs, so in South Africa that have made the news contributing authors to the Amazon #1

hopefully we’ll hear of some progressive (don’t start now please) which either best selling book ‘Drone Professional’
capabilities soon. shows that the system works or we have

QUESTION: LASTLY AS FAR AS unusually lucky and/or skilful pilots or
COVID-19 IS CONCERNED, WHAT DO incredible training schools. Let’s
YOU BELIEVE HAS BEEN THE IM- not be naïve and believe it is just

PACT ON DRONES? SOME AVIATION a single one of those options.
EXPERTS ARE SAYING THAT IT HAS I will however suggest
BEEN A BLESSING AND THERE HAS an easier way of having
BEEN AN UPTICK IN SALES. drones al-
As far as COVID solutions are concerned, most ‘type

certified’

it has definitely brought about some very so that it

creative thinking in terms of solutions. The won’t

sale of aircraft may be both a positive and a

negative. The positive being the explora-
tion of solutions and keeping those sellers

in business. The negative may be that
some of that equipment may have been an
impulse buy and actually won’t serve them
well because it wasn’t researched enough
for the purpose.
The initial ideas of using drones for

sanitization of public spaces or tempera-

ture monitoring, is fantastic and forward

thinking as it will lead to other avenues for
drones to be implemented in our skies.
Firstly, there’s a whole other discussion
we can have about being socially responsi-
ble by keeping others employed during this
World Airnews | July 2020
— 9 —