Why Train At UDS

We offer a state-of-the-art training facility, with all theory training being completed at our head office. Practical training is completed at an approved flying field and once qualified, students are given exposure on existing operating sites.

 

Flexible and dynamic, we offer tailor-made remote pilot certificate (RPC) training and training schedules adjusted to our clients’ specific corporate requirements, including training after normal business hours and over weekends.

 

All our instructors have worked within our operation, performing night time aerial surveillance operations and operating a variety of aircraft… we pride ourselves on not just teaching from textbook, but from experience and real operations.

Why Train At UDS

We offer a state-of-the-art training facility, with all theory training being completed at our head office. Practical training is completed at an approved flying field and once qualified, students are given exposure on existing operating sites.

 

Flexible and dynamic, we offer tailor-made remote pilot certificate (RPC) training and training schedules adjusted to our clients’ specific corporate requirements, including training after normal business hours and over weekends.

 

All our instructors have worked within our operation, performing night time aerial surveillance operations and operating a variety of aircraft… we pride ourselves on not just teaching from textbook, but from experience and real operations.

Approved training organisation (ATO):

Courses Offered:

1.

Remote pilot license training:

Aeroplane

Multi-rotor

Helicopter

2.

Instructor’s rating

Aeroplane

Multi-rotor

Helicopter

3.

Beyond Visual Line of Site Endorsement

Beyond Visual line of sight includes: CRM (RPAS)

4.

Crew Resource Management (CRM) Training

Manned

Remotely Piloted Aircraft System-specific

5.

Dangerous goods training

Category 8

Category 9

Category 10

6.

Enhanced radiotelephony training

To bridge the gap between a restricted and a general radio license and to improve pilot competence and confidence for operations in controlled airspace

7.

Practical training

A variety of aircraft used

Advanced simulator for BVLOS training

We promote flying skills and “time on stick”

8.

Repairs Technicians Training & Reliability Maintenance Training (RMT)

RPAS Maintenance Technician

OEM training

DJI training

Meet our instructors

Danie
Sauermann

Chief flying instructor

Nomvula
Sithole

Training Manager

Alan
Enever

Instructor

Connor
O'Donovan

Instructor

Gert
Malan

Instructor

Kyle
Holshausen

Instructor

Madimetja
Duba

Instructor

Mark
Swarts

Instructor

Cadet programme

UDS is proud to have launched a cadet programme in January 2020. The cadet programme’s primary purpose is to enable young B-BBEE candidates the opportunity to obtain their Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) and enter the aviation industry. Joining the aviation industry is often a far away dream for many young people however at UDS, we are now making this dream a reality.

Get in touch

Danie Sauermann

Chief Flying Instructor

I am Danie Sauermann, full time Chief Flying Instructor and licensed RPAS Instructor/Pilot. I have been with UAV Drone Solutions since 2017, which is the largest and first ROC holder in Africa, as well as the market leaders in drone surveillance.

 

My previous background consists of completing my BA Sport Psychology degree, as well as my BA Hons Sport Management degree at the University of Johannesburg. My passion for aviation started from a young age and progressed into my hobby of flying R/C model aircrafts. I have been flying model aircrafts since 2009 and attained my SAMAA (South African Model Aircraft Association) Instructor’s rating in 2013 specializing in model helicopters, thereafter I started flying competitively and won my first national title in 2014. This then resulted in signing with international sponsors throughout my competitive career.   

In addition to my passion for aviation, I also thoroughly enjoy working with people and helping them better themselves through training and skills development. With regards to the UDS ATO (Aviation Training Organization) I strongly believe that myself and my training team are one of if not the best, simply based on experience and performance.

Nomvula Sithole

Training Manager

Nomvula Sithole is a Training Manager at UAV & Drone Solutions.

 

People are her passion, she is very passionate about upskilling and developing human resources. She is a CAA Accredited Instructor for DG and AVSEC with 6 years training experience. She is a registered Assessor and Moderator and a Skills Development Facilitator.

Connor O'Donovan

Instructor

Flying has always been apart of my life. For as long as I can remember there has always been people flying in my family. Whether it is manned aircraft or radio controlled.

 

This put a passion in me to do the best of both worlds and I became a RPAS pilot. I realised that not only was I very good at operating, but I also had a passion for teaching new people about Drones so I became an instructor.

 

This has allowed me to learn more and teach new things to people just getting started with my experienced knowledge in Drones and aviation

Kyle Holshausen

Instructor

A pilot but so much more!

 

I have been flying in manned aviation for seventeen years. My career has taken me from the sands of Namibia in small single engine aircraft, hands on with international celebrities and guests. To operating all over Southern Africa in KingAir200’s and B1900’s. As a family loomed, I transitioned into airline flying. First as a Senior First Officer at South African Express and later as a Captain with Mango Airlines. Flying asks you to have perfect plans for an ever-changing imperfect environment.  

 

In a post covid world I found myself reprioritizing once the dust settled and using the knowledge and connections gained in manned aviation to add to the unmanned environment. I have a passion for a synergistic world where manned and unmanned aircraft are welcome to share airspace and drone pilots are as competent as manned pilots.

 

Flying is not my only love. I’m a father of two young boys and the husband to a creative wife. I am an active five day a week Crossfit member, which I use as cross training for open water swimming and trail running. I have an amateur interest in Electronics and Programming which I use for various home projects. A recent one being a home arcade cabinet running old retro games. I do commission work building and painting scale models for DnD, board games and tabletop wargaming.

Mark Swarts

Instructor

Mark offers an aviation consulting service in a number of areas of expertise. He extends services to industry as a safety specialist in both the AOC as well as AMO environments. Mark is a soft-skills facilitator for approved aviation training organisations, providing flight deck; cabin crew and RPAS crew their yearly CRM recurrence courses. Mark also provides theoretical ground-based instruction in subjects including Meteorology, Human Factors and radiotelephony. Mark is an active pilot on King Air 200 as well as Beechcraft 350. 

 

Prior to this, Mark worked within esteemed organisations including South African Airways; the SA Civil Aviation Authority; Bateleur Air Charter as well as the Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company.

 

In addition to his aviation credentials, Mark is a natural entertainer having secondary and tertiary education training in the performing arts as well as communication studies which allows him to effectively facilitate and provide dynamic ground-based instruction. “The ability to educate and shift perspective makes the training environment an exceptionally exciting space for me. My biggest passion is people, and being part of their developmental journey gives me significant pride”.