It comes as no surprise that government has jumped on the 'media hype' bandwagon and crushed entrepreneurship of this exciting and emerging market. Not only have they denied one man operations the (constitutional right and) opportunity to actually qualify, they have, without (sufficient) research, burdened the Aerial Photography business with ludicrous requirements equivalent of that of full scale and passenger aircraft. Simply adapting existing full scale legislation does not address the integration of small (micro) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Remote Aerial Platforms (RAP) for commercial use into the South African Airspace.

The insane (and unrealistic) requirements, to use this technology for commercial gain, was devised (in the view of the writer) by the elite for the elite without consideration on the impact on small business. Where full scale helicopters or microlight aircraft used to be the only way to achieve any (costly) aerial media, the influx of safe, small and highly technical craft have been become publicly available to fulfill this role in a much cheaper and safer way, therefore eliminating the costly full scale aircraft in most instances. Just this mere fact alone, opens up a plethora of (now stifled) opportunities or job growth.

This influx of remotely operated craft however (in the writers view) has led to ludicrous (and un-achievable) requirements and thereby crushing innovation and self employment. We are led to believe that the reasoning behind these requirements, are to introduce safety in the SA airspace, but I ask the following:

Does implementing these ridiculous (for commercial use) requirements have anything to do with safety when 'Mr Average' can fly the same craft (without commercial gain) without having to obtain any form of accreditation?

The commercial operator, operates far more safely than the hobbyist as he (they) have a vested interest in their craft and equipment and is not interested in testing their equipment to the extreme limits (therefore being unsafe) These entrepreneurs and market creators, already have (in most instances) their own stringent safety requirements before attempting any flight and therefore should (in the view of the writer) be given an exemption to operate.

We are NOT peeping TOMS (actually very difficult to do) nor reckless hobbyists. We are professionals operating in a professional manner, trying to create jobs in this delicate environment.

It is the hobbyists that need regulating, not the professional....