Drone owners · South Africa

Own a drone? Get paid to fly it.

Get licensed at a training school, then take on local jobs that Kiteshot finds for you. We deal with the customers, the editing and the invoicing. You fly.

Check my drone Get my next steps

Why drones go unused

Why most drones are rarely used.

Most owners stop flying for one of these reasons.

Nothing new to fly

You have flown the beach, the farm and the holiday. After that, there is little reason to fly.

Paid work needs a licence

Flying for money needs the right licence, and it is hard to know how to get one.

Editing takes the most time

A 20-minute flight can mean hours of editing, mapping and reports. Finding clients and sending invoices take time too.

Kiteshot helps with the last two. We help you find a training school for the licence. Then we find you local work, and our editors do everything after the flight.

Our editors do

After you upload, our team finishes the job.

Edit and colour-correct every photo
Cut, grade and export the videos and reels
Stitch the photos into maps and 3D models
Run AI analysis on every flight, checked by a person
Build the comparisons and reports
Check every file against the brief
Deliver to the customer and answer their questions

You do

Your part of the job.

Accept the jobs that suit you
Fly to the written brief
Upload the original files the same day

The steps

From licence to first paid job.

Four steps. We guide you through each one in South Africa.

1
Check your drone
Use the checker above to see which jobs your drone suits and what it could earn.
2 minutes
2
Get your RPC
Study for your Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC, formerly RPL) at a training school. It usually takes a few weeks, with theory, flight training and a skills test.
Training school
3
Fly under a UASOC
Paid drone work also needs a UAS Operating Certificate (UASOC, formerly ROC). Get your own, or fly under a company's UASOC when you start. We are building partnerships with operators who can host new pilots. Then get insured.
Operators
4
Join Kiteshot
Apply as a pilot. When we have checked your licence and insurance, we offer you local jobs with the pay agreed before you accept.

We confirm the rules before you enrol. Drone rules change, so we check every requirement with the SACAA (Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Regulations). Your training school explains the details. Nothing here is legal advice. Read the full licence and insurance guide.

Get started

Tell us about you and your drone.

We send you details of training schools near you and explain how flying under an operator's certificate works.

Already licensed and insured? Apply as a pilot.

Run a drone school, or hold a UASOC and can host new pilots? We are looking for partners in Cape Town, the Winelands, the Overberg, the Overstrand and the West Coast. Email hello@kiteshot.com.

Questions

Before you sign up.

Can I fly for money without a licence?

No. Paid drone work in South Africa needs a Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC, formerly RPL), and the flight must be run under a UAS Operating Certificate (UASOC, formerly ROC). We only offer paid jobs to pilots who have everything in place.

How long does it take to get licensed?

An RPC course usually takes a few weeks, depending on the school and your schedule. The school confirms the dates and what the course includes.

What does it cost?

Course fees depend on the school and the licence. We send you details of schools near you with your next steps. Registering with Kiteshot is free.

Is the earnings estimate a promise?

No. It is an estimate, not a promise of work. What you earn depends on where you live, how often you can fly and local demand. When you are approved, every job offer shows the pay before you accept.

My drone isn't on the list.

Pick Other and tell us the model. We check which jobs it suits and tell you.

Do I have to edit photos or find customers?

No. Kiteshot finds the customers and does the editing, maps, reports and invoicing. You fly to a written brief and upload the files.