About DSA
Company overview
Drone Systems Africa is a licensed commercial drone operator working across the mining, engineering, energy and security sectors. We hold an Unmanned Aircraft System Operator Certificate (UASOC) and are registered with the CAA, ICASA and PSiRA and every flight is planned and flown to those standards. The work ranges from perimeter surveillance and night operations to structural and powerline inspections, thermal surveys, stockpile volumetrics and photogrammetric mapping — wherever getting a camera into position safely is faster, cheaper or simply less dangerous than the alternative.
Security is where the company started and where its deepest experience lies, and that operational discipline carries into every other sector we work in. DSA is run by working pilots rather than intermediaries, with thousands of logged commercial hours across the team — the person planning your survey is someone who has flown one. We would rather be judged on the quality of the data we hand over than on the equipment we arrive with.
Mission
To provide safe, professional and reliable drone solutions that improve operational efficiency, reduce risk and deliver valuable aerial intelligence across Africa's industrial sectors.
Vision
To be one of Southern Africa's most trusted providers of professional drone services for security, mining, infrastructure, survey and commercial industries.
Core Values
Safety First
Professionalism
Integrity
Technical Excellence
Reliability
Customer Partnership
Optimisation
Leadership
Justin Suzor
Director and CEO
Founder and Director of Drone Systems Africa, based in Johannesburg. He leads industry outreach and operations, and recruits certified BVLOS pilots. Most of his work is with mining and industrial clients, demonstrating where drone operations fit into existing workflows.
Christopher Cope
Operations Manager
Brings 14 years in sales and operations, more than five in the drone sector across Africa and Europe. He works both sides of the business — consultative sales, account management, mission planning, aerial data processing and client deliverables.
Our Pilots
David
Senior drone pilot
commercial flight hours
More than 3,500 hours across the DJI M300 and M30T. Joined DSA with no prior drone experience and built his hours entirely in the field.
"Every day provides a new challenge. What DSA has taught me is that there is always a better solution."
Damian
Drone pilot
commercial flight hours
Came to DSA from commercial photography and cinematography, flying his own platform for hotels and promotional work. Now focused on surveillance and security operations, with most of his hours on the DJI M30T at night.
"The locations we work in and the nature of the operations make every day unique."
JM
Senior drone pilot
commercial flight hours
Flies commercially across agricultural multispectral mapping, engineering surveys, night security operations and wildlife tracking. Most of his hours are on the DJI M30T and M300, with the bulk in thermal night operations. He also supports conservation teams with day and night wildlife tracking.
"It's great to work in a company comprised of likeminded pilots."