Agri Kultuur April / April 2016 | Page 19

Photo: UAV Industries UAV Industries has already graduated eight classes of drone pilots and has another 51 students currently in training. meaning pilots must work with an authorized entity. In the coming eight weeks, Botha expects UAV Industries to become one of four drone operators approved for commercial flight in South Africa. Once that approval comes, UAV already has five teams established and ready to get off the ground. In the meantime, farmers and fu- ture pilots are eager for their chance to fly. “We’ve got a dedicated team that will be focusing on farms and we have many farmers lined up already, waiting for flight school,” Botha said. “I do think in a lot of cases, Africa is a perfect playground because we have minimal air traffic.” hPhoto: ttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/MQ-9_Reaper_in_flight_(2007).jpg As UAV Industries and the South African industry grow, Botha said the company will be looking to expand nationally and eventually internationally. Source: www.freshfruitportal.com http://www.freshfruitportal.com/ news/2016/04/11/south-africasfarmers-take-flight-at-drone-school/