Drones Added-Value in Mining

The tremendous value that drones add to mining operations cannot be disputed. Some of the most common added-value propositions are:

• Geomagnetic surveying for mineral / resource deposits,
• Safer surveying practices with denser datasets means quicker and more accurate data
• Airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) scans,
• Progress reports and digital twins,
• Blasting reports and fragmentation analysis,
• Engineering inspections at height,
• Security surveillance patrols and asset protection,
• Tailing dams’ health,
• Thermal inspections on equipment and infrastructure.

With so many benefits, the drone has indeed become a must-have tool in any competitive mining operation.

Legislation

Drones – also known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are governed by strict aviation legislation in South Africa. This is, of course, very necessary, since drones share airspace with manned aviation, and could very well result in loss of life if not conducted responsibly.

South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) CAR Part 101 defines the legalities of operating drones in South Africa. Specifically for any commercial operation, several certifications need to be in place, the most important being an RPAS Operating Certificate (ROC).

An ROC is an active certification, not just a once-off exercise. It requires various post holders such as accountable manager, person responsible flight operations, person responsible for aircraft, aviation safety manager, quality manager, safety and security manager and RPAS maintenance technician/s. The ROC systems get audited by the SACAA on a regular basis, and the license needs to be renewed every 12 months. The cost of compliance can add up and could very well result in being grounded if all the systems are not properly maintained.

The South African Police Services (SAPS)in coalition with the Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Association of South Africa (CUAASA) has recently implemented a specific set of CAS Crime Codes to facilitate the criminal prosecution of transgressors of SACAA Part 101, which has serious implications for any manager in case of non-compliance.

Services and Solutions

RPAS Consulting was one of the first companies to comply with SACAA Part 101 and obtain an ROC. In business since 2015, we can provide our clients with several turnkey solutions to make their lives easier and be legally compliant.

We have in-house service capabilities such as LIDAR, surveying processing capabilities, thermographic reporting, and specialised security services, among others.

Our ROC is also very strong, with the following specific SACAA permissions in place:

• Multirotor and fixed wing ratings
• Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)
• Night flying
• Controlled airspace
• Prohibited airspace
• Restricted airspace
• Up to 1 000 ft AGL
• Operating closer than 10 km to airports
• Operating over roads, infrastructure, and people
• Inclement weather conditions

We can deliver specialist turnkey-services to clients or assist you to conduct your own legal flight operations at a substantially lower cost.

Turnkey Services vs Own Operations

The decision to implement drones as part of any mine’s workflow is not an “if”, but rather a “how and when” decision. The big question is just how to go about it in a way that makes the most financial and operational sense. If you are a smaller operation, with only two or three pilots, obtaining your ROC could prove an intensive and time-consuming exercise.

For specialist applications such a geomagnetical surveys or LIDAR modeling, outsourcing to a key specialist could still be your best option. For general day-to-day surveying and security type applications, it could be rewarding to talk to us about an alternative cost-effective solution working with our ROC.

Feel free to visit our website or contact us for further details.

Tel: +27 82 455 7526

Email: bertus@rpas.co.za

Website: www.rpas.co.za