Although survey, mapping, and inspection-focused operators have the highest percentage of drones, the training, film and marketing operators are the fastest growing segments of the drone industry, the research found, adding that agriculture, surveillance and security are emerging growth points for the drone industry to adopt should advances in technology persist and more complex operations be approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority.

Of course, drone use isn’t limited to business use, with many “weekend warriors” flying their drones for personal enjoyment. However, this is a hobby that can have severe legal consequences, including fines and possible jail time, as flying a drone in South Africa is governed by several laws to avoid security and other risks.

For example, drones may not be operated within a 10km radius of airports. Unfortunately, this law didn’t stop an enthusiast who caused a disruption in flights at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport last month. An unidentified object, believed to be a drone, was sighted just over six kilometres north west of the airport and reported to the Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS). Precautionary safety measures were initiated as per ICAO global Airport Safety Protocols, delaying outbound flights until the drone was out of the 10km zone.

While no announcement was made whether the drone pilot was ever censured, it would be impossible to find him or her. Reports indicate that there are currently between 40 000 and 50 000 drones in South Africa, all but 686 piloted by amateurs. Currently, there are only 663 Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) registered in South Africa, and 686 Remote Pilot Licences (RPLs).

“This growth correlates with figures released in February 2017 of 368 RPLs and 468 RPAs, providing further proof that the drone community has come to terms with South Africa's leading RPAS legal framework,” the State of Drone Report says, adding that in comparison to the explosive growth seen in RPLs and registered RPAS, the number of approved operators, or ROCs, and training centres remains low. There are only 20 ROCs and four training centres in the country that are approved.

These factors are contributing to an extremely high accident rate for drones. Around 10% of drones that take to the air in South Africa are destroyed on their first flight, according to experts. Although most hobby drones now come equipped with technology to avoid basic accidents, amateur pilots often inadvertently override these, or fail to activate them correctly.

In addition, a high volume of cellphone network towers and satellite dishes will confuse drones, and some people inadvertently deactivate object avoidance sensors by flying their drones in sport mode, causing them to crash unexpectedly into fixed objects. It’s no wonder that South African insurers aren’t excited at the prospect of covering drones.

A few of the larger insurers now offer full and comprehensive cover for private and commercial operators, including Hollard, Santam Aviation and AlexanderForbes. These policies are extremely strict about claims. Any breach of Civil Aviation Authority rules will lead to the claim being repudiated, and some are now requiring that pilots first get official licenses to fly before they will provide cover.

Considering that drone repairs can cost tens of thousands – and that the laws governing drone use are extremely severe – gaining a certification should be a drone hobbyist’s first priority.