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Atty. Jonathan Rupprecht
Crop spraying is a particular use for agricultural drones – one that gives a strong ROI for operators. A service provider with the Part 137 Operating Certificate can recoup their equipment investment in a single growing season – while still offering farmers a price profit over spraying from the bottom. Drone attorney Jonathan Rupprecht presented a session on Part 137 to a packed room of service providers, all serious about the means of getting certified to utilize spraying drones. (Rupprecht notes that operators must also comply with state chemical spraying regulations.)
Advantages of Spraying Drones
Spraying drones offer significant value for each growers and repair providers. Using drones, spray might be applied more precisely, reducing costs and chemical wastes. Spraying drone reduce the danger of chemical exposure for service providers. Spray might be applied to inaccessible or wet areas, without damaging the bottom. Chemicals might be applied at night, to limit exposure to useful insects like bees. Finally, Rupprecht comments, there are a small variety of FAA certificated spray operators on the market – which implies those that have undergone the method have a business opportunity.
Part 137: Agricultural Operations
U.S. service providers who need to operate spraying drones must comply with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137: Agricultural Aircraft Regulations. This doesn’t apply to precision agriculture operations, where drone operators collect data for comparison with plant health charts or perform other evaluation. Part 137 applies on to spraying operations:
Agricultural aircraft operation means the operation of an aircraft for the aim of
(1) allotting any economic poison,
(2) allotting every other substance intended for plant nourishment, soil treatment, propagation of flora, or pest control, or
(3) engaging in allotting activities directly affecting agriculture, horticulture, or forest preservation, but not including the allotting of live insects.
While operators are categorized under recreational, government, or civil – most operators fall under the civil category. Government operators must not be receiving any compensation for the operation, which eliminates most service providers from this category. Even farmers flying on their very own property must get a Part 137 certification.
The means of receiving the Part 137 certificate is complex, and requires thought in regards to the advantages of using aircraft that weighs greater than 55 kilos balanced against the extra complications of compliance vs. using an aircraft weighing lower than 55 kilos.
The Potential for Drone Operators
Engaging within the exemption process could make spraying drones more profitable for services providers. Rupprecht has received 5 swarm approvals thus far, which permit a single pilot to operate multiple drones. BVLOS approvals and night operations also present opportunities throughout the growing season – and far agricultural land is in low risk airspace.
Like several business, agricultural spraying depends upon where you’re. “[Spraying drones provide] a chance to serve clients who can’t access manned aircraft services,” says Rupprecht. “Depending upon the client, the placement, and market conditions spraying generally is a profitable area for service providers.”
Find more information on the pitfalls, potential and process on drone attorney Jonathan Rupprecht’s website here.