Page 25 - World Airnews Magazine May 2020 Edition

DRONES DRONES

unmanned systems should even be consid- ship) arrives to lift them to safety. batteries are prepared), and many don’t

ered as useful tools in the marine environ- • Legislation: The legislative process to- require extensive and complex preventive

ment, let us look at some of the pros and wards the obtaining of a Remote Oper- maintenance. This makes response times

cons of this technology. ating Certificate (ROC), which legalises – especially in the event of a crisis or di-

Disadvantages commercial drone operations in South saster – short and can significantly speed-

• (Potentially) High initial outlay: Drone Africa, is a long, tedious and expensive up the commencement of a mission.

systems consist of more than just the process. Current indications are that • Persistence: The monotony of many
frame - this is true for airborne or it could take up to (or even in excess tasks associated with the marine

water-borne systems. In addition to of) two years to obtain an ROC, which environment, plus the huge expanse of

the aircraft, boat or submersible, initial also implies no legal operations for two ocean to be covered at times, requires
outlay also includes the control and te- or more years, while the process runs. persistence and endurance. Humans
lemetry systems, launch and recovery This, unfortunately, incurs expenses on are not always ideally suited to either,

systems (design-dependent), storage, the part of the applicant, potentially which is why many specially-designed

transportation (size-dependent) and with zero income (depending how the maritime aircraft are large enough to

other support systems. A complete company’s business is structured) until accommodate sleeping berths, kitchens,
Drone system can be costly to acquire, the ROC has been issued and the drone rest areas, lavatories and other items to

but once it has been purchased and can be operated for profit. help prolong such missions. Drones do

integrated, it can be very affordable The South African aviation legislator is not need any of this, and personnel on

to operate. said to be streamlining the ROC process the ground involved in such endeavours

• Bad weather operations: Drones, by towards faster results, but at the time can be rotated easily and frequently to
nature of their design, tend to weigh of going to press this was hearsay only. ensure that alertness is maintained.

Potential commercial operators of

less and be comparatively smaller Drones (if so designed) could potentially

than manned counterparts of similar drones in the SA marine environment stay aloft for days, and human inter-
will have to be prepared for a lengthy

action could be further reduced if it is
performance and mission capability.
DRONES IN THE MARINE Small and/or light aircraft (and surface administrative process to enable them equipped with smart sensors to help

to become legal drone operators.
automatically locate ‘objects of interest.

vessels) do not normally fare well in bad
weather, particularly if strong wind or Advantages • Portability: Small drones can be

ENVIRONMENT gusts prevail, or during periods of major • Affordable to operate: Once pro- man-portable and even at times hand-

cured and integrated, drones are very

launched. This could be useful if the
swells or strong wave action. Drones

earmarked to operate in such condi- affordable to operate. Obviously this area from which it is to be flown or re-

tions will have to be designed from is a factor of its design, and how it is covered is inaccessible by vehicle or if it

ACTIVITY USERS/BENEFICIARIES the outset to literally and figuratively employed, but compared with manned has to be launched or recovered on-sea.

be able to weather the storm and be aircraft of equal performance, size and Mid-sized drones could be ship-borne

his is the second and final part of a Long Range Maritime SAR DOT, SAMSA, NSRI, DOD, commercial shipping capable of competing tasks. mission, a drone would in most cases and launched and recovered from a

T two-part series about drones in the Coastal SAR NSRI, SAPS, tourism On the flipside, manned aviation is also not be more expensive to operate. large boat, something not readily possi-

South African marine environment. Com- prone to being affected by inclement • Flexibility: Drones are very flexibly, ble with a manned asset. The aforemen-

piled by Andre P. Meredith, Adrian Niken Coastal and Marine Surveillance DOT, SAMSA, DAFF, DEA (SANParks), DOD weather, and all aircraft have specific and many types can be refitted with tioned is largely design-dependent, but

and Hannes van Wyk this article focuses on Maritime Security SAPS, DOD, DAFF operating limits regarding bad weather different payloads and be utilised for the general size and weight of small to

the advantages and disadvantages of these operations. Drones, however, are de- multiple types of work. This reduces ac- medium sized drones makes this com-

incredible unmanned aircraft. Commercial Fisheries DAFF, DEA, SAMSA, fishing industry void of on-board crews and other per- quisition cost, and maximises the fleet pletely feasible, and can be a significant

So why should we make use of drones Recreational Fishing General public sons, potentially giving operators the for optimal use. asset to a ship or a boat.

in the marine environment? This is a EEZ Patrol DOD, DAFF, commercial shipping edge if they need to ‘push the envelope’ • Reduced risk: Removal of a pilot and In addition to these operational advan-

good question. Why spend money to get a critical mission completed; loss other crews from the airframe or vessel tages, drones can also be an important

on a fairly new technology when Marine Mining Support DMRE, mining sector, energy sector of the airframe under such conditions is reduces risk, particularly where the drone educational tool (as a frontrunner

manned aviation could potentially Recreational Photography General public, tourism simply a material loss, without addition- needs to be sent into dangerous weather within the 4th Industrial Revolution and

provide the same solutions? Realistically al human casualties. conditions or out over vast ‘marine des- Industry 4.0), showcasing the tech-

unmanned aviation will, in all probabil- Professional Photography DAC, tourism, media, real estate • Marine SAR Limitations: Most un- erts’ many miles from the nearest land. If nologies to young minds and thereby

ity, never completely replace manned Climate, Weather and Sea State DAFF, DEA (SAWS), SAMSA, DST manned aircraft employed for maritime a mechanical or environmentally-induced stimulating novel ideas to catalyse

systems. For certain tasks a manned SAR missions will inevitably only be able failure does occur, and the drone cannot technological advancement.
asset will always be required, or be the Disaster Management SAPS, DOD, DEA, DAFF, emergency services to perform searches, and not be able be saved, it incurs only material losses, Drones can also be an essential tool to

better option. Coastal Populace Monitoring and Development DHS, DTI, Stats SA, industry, business sector to actually rescue someone (physically and not losses to human life. entities involved in marine research,

But in many cases unmanned systems lift someone from the sea or off a ship). The marine environment is also an ideal providing access to otherwise inacces-

can complement the work being per- Medical Support DOH, emergency services, pathology, shipping This is obviously design-dependent and place to experiment with the concept sible or hostile environments. Examples

formed by manned aviation - and in some Commodities and Logistics DOT, DAFF, commercial shipping, fisheries future M-SAR drones having hover capa- of a ‘unified airspace’ where drones and include the various unmanned airborne,

instances could even replace manned Wreck Surveillance DAC, DEA, SAMSA bility may be able to provide a way to do manned aviation can co-exist. The air- water-borne and underwater vehicles be-

systems altogether. this – but current, proven manned heli- space above our maritime claims and ter- ing utilised by the Institute for Maritime

Education DBE, DHET, schools, tertiary institutions copters or tilt-rotor systems already have ritories are fairly ‘barren’, especially when Technology (IMT) for research and data

USERS AND BENEFICIARIES this ability. In addition, having someone compared with the overland regions. collection using side-scan technologies,

The general public aside (in respect Marine Research DST, DOD, tertiary institutions on-board to assist with the hoisting This provides a near-sterile airspace to tethered flight, low-light optical payloads,

of personal use), there are potentially TABLE KEY operation simplifies this segment of a test the concept in, especially when con- counter-drone technologies and many

many hundreds of commercial and DOT Department of Transport SAMSA South African Maritime Safety Agency rescue, and an unmanned hoisting op- trolled by test authorities. In addition, other forms of sea and sub-sea research.

government users of and beneficiaries NSRI National Sea Rescue Institute DOD Department of Defence eration may prove too ‘impersonal’ for having a zero-population-density count

for this technology. The list below is SAPS South African Police Services DAFF Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries most SAR operators to consider. below the flight path of the drone (with SELECTING A DRONE

certainly not conclusive, but provides DEA Department of Environmental Affairs DMRE Department of Mineral Resources and Energy A SAR drone can, however, be the exception of occasional shipping) So which drone do I select? This is another

a clear indication of the extent and DAC Department of Arts and Culture SAWS South African Weather Services equipped with an air-deployable further reduces risk to third parties, in tough question to answer. The short

potential widespread impact (a positive survival canister containing, amongst the event of a critical system failure. answer is that the type of

one, at that) the employment of drone DST Department of Science and Technology DHS Department of Human Settlement others, a life raft. This will afford • Response time: Small drones can often drone to be selected would

technology in the marine environment DTI Department of Trade and Industry DOH Department of Health survivors at sea the chance to re- be deployed quickly, at short notice, be predominantly task-

might have. DBE Department of Basic Education DHET Department of Higher Education and Training move themselves from the sea, until a requiring very little preparation. Electric dependent, i.e. selected

To get a clearer understanding of why Potential Users and Beneficiaries from Drones in the Marine Environment manned rescue platform (helicopter, versions require no refuelling (providing based on the task To page 24
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