Nothing new to fly
You have flown the beach, the farm and the holiday. After that, there is little reason to fly.
Drone owners · South Africa
Own a drone? Get paid to fly it.
Get licensed with a partner school, then take on local jobs that Kiteshot finds for you. We deal with the customers, the editing and the invoicing. You fly.
Why drones go unused
Why most drones are rarely used.
Most owners stop flying for one of these reasons.
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 send you to a partner 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
- 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
Check my drone
Which jobs can your drone do?
Pick your model to see which Kiteshot jobs it suits, and an estimate of what it could earn when you are licensed.
Pick your drone
See which Kiteshot jobs it suits and an estimate of what it could earn when you are licensed.
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 RPL
Study for your Remote Pilot Licence (RPL) with a partner school. It usually takes a few weeks, with theory, flight training and a skills test.
Partner school - 3
Fly under an ROC
Paid drone work also needs a Remote Operator Certificate (ROC). Get your own, or fly under a partner operator's ROC when you start. Then get insured.
Partner 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). The partner 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 partner schools near you and explain how flying under a partner operator certificate works.
Already licensed and insured? Apply as a pilot.
Questions
Before you sign up.
Can I fly for money without a licence?
No. Paid drone work in South Africa needs a Remote Pilot Licence (RPL), and the flight must be run under a Remote Operator Certificate (ROC). We only offer paid jobs to pilots who have everything in place.
How long does it take to get licensed?
An RPL course usually takes a few weeks, depending on the school and your schedule. The partner school confirms the dates and what the course includes.
What does it cost?
Course fees depend on the school and the licence. We send partner school details, including their prices, 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.