To: The Director General, Zambia Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA)

Currently, the path to becoming a certified Remote Pilot in Zambia is gated by prohibitive costs and rigid administrative requirements. Specifically, the mandate for a K6,000 medical assessment via Flying Doctors—a fee typically reserved for manned aircraft pilots—is disproportionate for ground-based operators.

These barriers don't just hinder hobbyists; they prevent young Zambian entrepreneurs from entering the tech economy and lead to an increase in unlicensed, "underground" operations.

Our Proposals for a Safer, More Inclusive Sky
We respectfully call upon the ZCAA to amend the current Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) regulations in the following ways:

• Medical Reform: Replace the specialized K6,000 medical with a standard fitness-to-operate certificate (focusing on vision and motor skills) attainable at any reputable health facility.
• Knowledge-Based Certification: Shift the focus from mandatory training providers to standardized testing. If a pilot can pass the ZCAA exam, their method of study (self-taught or overseas) should be respected.
• Standardized Pricing: Establish a transparent and accessible fee structure:
  • Exam Fee: K1,000
  • License Issuance: K1,850
• Risk-Based Categorization: Implement a tiered system based on drone weight (e.g., <250g, 250g–1.5kg, 1.6kg+) to ensure regulations match the actual risk level of the aircraft.
• Operator Licensing (The "Driver's License" Model): Introduce categories (e.g., Category A for entry-level, Category C for expert/complex operations) to streamline the licensing process.
• Decentralization: Enable registration and licensing at all official airports nationwide, rather than centralizing everything in Lusaka.

Why This Matters
By lowering the cost of entry and decentralizing the process, the ZCAA will naturally increase compliance. This will create a comprehensive database of registered pilots, improving national security and safety while fostering a thriving "Made in Zambia" tech sector.

Let’s make the Zambian skies accessible to those ready to fly legally.

PS: A Full Proposal is ready for submission on request.