Drone Pilot Licence — RPC Multirotor
Officially: the Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC-M).
Earn the certificate that lets you fly drones commercially in South Africa. Ground school, radio licence, English proficiency and flight training in one course, finishing with the SACAA examination and skills test.
Who this course is for
You’re starting from zero or from hobby flying, and you want to be paid to fly — mapping, agriculture, security, inspections or film. No aviation background is needed.
You’ll need to be 18 or older with a valid ID. Everything else your application needs — the Class 3 aviation medical, radio licence and English assessment — is arranged inside the course.
What you’ll learn
Theory
40 hours of ground school across eight modules:
- Air Law8 h
- Human Performance4 h
- Principles of Flight5 h
- UAS Technical & General6 h
- Battery Safety3 h
- Meteorology5 h
- Navigation & Flight Planning5 h
- Operational Procedures & TEM4 h
Your Restricted Radiotelephony Operator’s Certificate and English Language Proficiency assessment are included, and both are completed before your RPC application.
Practical
3 hours of flight training across four stages:
- Hover ControlCloses with Stage Progress Check 1
- Precision Manoeuvres & Reversed OrientationsCloses with Stage Progress Check 2
- Flight Translation & Speed ControlCloses with Stage Progress Check 3
- Abnormal, Emergency & Fail-Safe ProceduresCloses with Stage Progress Check 4
How training runs
Training runs in phases. Ground school runs in class at Waterfall City in Midrand, online, or through the e-learning portal. Flight training happens at Grasslands Flying Club. You advance when every exercise in the stage meets standard.
The internal Theory Examination pass mark is 75%. Once you clear it, you will do the SACAA Radio examination and Radio Practical Assessment. After completing your Flight Training, you will complete the Skills Test with the designated examiner. Your medical and ELP will be completed as well.
What you leave with
The Remote Pilot Certificate in the multirotor category — the licence to fly drones commercially in South Africa.
- SACAA-Accredited Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) — Multirotor
- Class 3 Aviation Medical
- Course Completion Certificate
- Restricted Radiotelephony Certificate (Restricted ROC)
- English Language Proficiency Certificate
Start your career in the sky
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Ground Floor, Gateway West
22 Magwa Crescent
Waterfall City, Midrand, 1682
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