Drone Guards

14/08/2024

Kim James was interviewed by ITOO Special Risks at a recent drone conference.

Listen to the interview about allthings and work with Women and Drones.

In June this year, we attended the Drone & Unmanned Aviation Conference, South Africa’s flagship drone event where stakeholders in the country’s commercial drone space meet annually compare notes on...

19/07/2024

Drone Security things.....

15/03/2024

In the space in South Africa, our operations are much more than just the drone and the pilot.

And until we are fully autonomous - which contrary to popular belief, will still take a significant amount of time - we are faced with safety challenges beyond the basic assumption of what an operation entails.

The mining sites we operate on have arduous safety requirements, and for good reason.

Amongst those safety and induction requirements are driver assessments, site specific inductions and in some cases also psychomotor assessments. The latest development is a non-negotiable requirement for individuals to have had a driver's license no less than two years.

Operationally, besides the client site driving requirements, our pilot teams have company or mine vehicles to drive to base and back, and on shift rotations some teams are required to do long distance drives on dangerous roads, ala South Africa.

SHOCKING STATISTICS

In the last few larger Aerial Works hiring campaigns, the amount of 18 - 34 year old's who applied for our posts that do not have a driver's licenses, or have licenses but cannot drive, is shocking. In one area, only 10% of the 100's of applications had a matric certificate and a driver's license.

So, this means that now has to spend a significant amount of money on driver assessments, validation of drivers license (stats show 1 in 3 drivers licenses in South Africa are fake/bought), and defensive driver training before we can even appoint and deploy a drone pilot/assistant.

UNPOPULAR OPINION

How is it that?:

❓In South Africa, driving is not deemed a critical skill?

❓So much focus and funding is on 4iR & Remote Pilot Certification and none on teaching what in my opinion is a basic but critical skill?

❓There is pressure to hire unemployed youth from funded drone pilot training programmes, but many times they are unemployable because they cannot drive/don't have licenses?

❓With the main cause of traffic accidents being reckless or negligent driving (71% of fatal accidents in South Africa were caused by driver error) there is not more focus on youth driving skills.

Next time I have a call from the Department of Education enquiring about Robotics or Drone skills programmes, I'm going to suggest driver training & licenses for High School students instead?!?

FINAL THOUGHTS

We go to great lengths to keep our employees out of harm's way in our operations. That includes fatigue management, limiting night driving, not allowing longer distance driving after shifts or in hours of darkness etc. We therefore cannot take chances by hiring inexperienced drivers.

And whilst we are big proponents of offering opportunities, in our world of over 60% unemployment in some areas, our candidate pool is shrinking by the day.

Anyone with me?

01/03/2024

Aerial Works ’ Kim James speaking at now Mobility Now & Drone Summit in Ireland on the significant work that UAS operations do in fighting the scourge of crime within South African borders and how they are increasingly becoming a powerful force of good.

The two-day Mobility Now & Drone Summit comprises global aviation industry leaders who will tackle different innovations and trends.

Also, in attendance is both charters of Women and Drones US and Africa.

27/02/2024

The Drone Industry from the View of an Aerial Works Newbie

Are new-collar jobs offered by the drone industry the answer to the country’s ever-increasing unemployment woes?

15/02/2024

Is drone security a silver bullet or a tool in the toolkit?

Traditional methods of policing and securing high-value assets are being foiled by even the pettiest of criminals never mind highly organised crime organisations. Enter drones...

Read more: https://aerialworks.co.za/is-drone-security-a-silver-bullet-or-a-tool-in-the-toolkit/

13/02/2024

and

Final preparations are underway for the 5th Virtual Exchange Session brought to you by GIZ South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini on the 15th February 2024.

There is still time to register for this free online event.

❓WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

👉 Role players who are interested in seeing the development and successes of women in the African drone industry.

👉 Women who are wanting to join the industry and see those who are setting great examples of how its done.

❓WHAT ARE THE THEMES?

1️⃣ The opportunities are more than flying drones

2️⃣ New industries like drones require an entrepreneurial mindset

09/02/2024

Recognising success – Women in Africa’s Drone Industry fly high

There have been major strides within the drone industry—a field that is soaring to new heights technologically and becoming a vanguard for gender equality in aviation.

Read more: https://aerialworks.co.za/virtualexchange-women-in-africas-aviation-and-drone-industry-fly-high/

03/02/2024

Shout out to our newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Boitumelo Tumi Mokonyama, Elmar Vrey, Daniel Coetzee, Dumisani Nkosi, Vice Phiri

02/02/2024

Drone Professional 4 reaches Amazon #1

As interest in Unmanned Aircraft Systems picks up steam, Drone Professional 4 gives valuable insight into trends, patterns, and applications in the industry from 18 professionals.

READ: https://aerialworks.co.za/drone-professional-4-reaches-amazon-1/

02/09/2022

When rolling out a drone security programme at a residential estate, the communications plan is almost more important than starting to fly the drone.

As part of the implementation process, the landowner permission and programme adoption is most times a challenge of note. There is always that one guy....

When we rolled out at one our sites way back when, albeit a robust communications plan, I recall getting feedback from the odd person of how the drone noise signature disturbed the peace, or how the assumption was that the drone pilots were encroaching privacy.

Sitting with our client today, we recounted the successes and also discussed current resident and HOA feedback:

✔️Seven months after implementation, a key arrest was made thanks to a fully integrated drone programme on a large difficult site

✔️From 27 crime incidents/month, since the arrest there have been zero crime incidents.

✔️Continuous 'visible policing' has kept this site crime free till today

✔️ Ongoing simulations ensure drone pilots and ground forces keep their skills up 📷

✔️Now residents call the GM from time to time noting they have not heard the drone for a while and check they are still operational - It seems the sound of the drone has now become sign of safety and comfort as opposed to a sign of privacy invasion.

✔️Feedback is that the HOA will only continue to invest in the drone security programme albeit the threat being seemingly gone...

03/06/2022

It's a wrap. What an incredible Securex South Africa this year!

Our thoughts after three days...

✅ Re-connecting with people we first met at Securex in 2019 was incredible. It made us realise how far we have come as a company in three years.

✅ Networking and exchanging information with social and professional contacts when you have worked your way in and been accepted into an industry is so powerful. It's not only about the 'sell'.

✅ Show and Tell: This year was about demonstrating how drone technology truly integrates with a security operation - the feedback from visitors on the stand was positive and truly reinforced what we are doing.

✅ Sharing and displaying a vision with an industry partner brought a different angle to Securex this year. Thank you Thorburn Security Solutions for your partnership in showing the industry how it's done.

✅ The power of face to face interaction cannot be underestimated. Thank you Zelda Jordaan and team for putting on a well attended, quality exhibition where an industry could re-connect and re-energize through 'shaking hands', smiling, reminiscing and doing business the 'old fashioned' way.