WHAT Do YOU NEED TO LEGALLY OPERATE AN AGRICULTURAL DRONE?
State and Local Applicator Licenses
Be sure to check with your state and local authorities to obtain the proper chemical applicator licenses required in your area.
In most cases, a private applicators license is adequate to spray your own fields; however, a commercial applicators license may be required if you’re spraying for hire. Ultimately, the pilot is responsible for this, so check and be absolutely sure before you fly.
44807 Heavy Drone Exemption
If you are purchasing a T30, T40, or any drone weighing more than 55 pounds, you will be required to file this exemption. The Agras T10 does NOT require this exemption as it weighs less than 55 pounds, even fully loaded. Please note, under new FAA regulations, once this exemption is granted, you will be clear to fly any drone on an official approved list. This list will update as new aircraft are brought on-line and pass FAA muster.
The current list of approved aircraft can be found below.
FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License
This indicates you have a strong, solid foundation and working knowledge of the FAA’s regulations, operating requirements and safety protocols for drone operations.
Test must be taken at an FAA approved facility.
Cost is $175.
Must score 70% to pass.
Test is 60 questions.
Night operations ARE COVERED.
F5 Ag Tech can provide a training course that provides a significant increase in test taker's pass rate. Please contact us for more information.
For more information on the Part 107, please visit:
Drone Registration
All drones weighing over .55 pounds must be registered with the FAA, as a result, even many very small drones must be registered. All Agras series and the Mavic 3M Multispectral will requirement registration. You will receive a FAA registration certificate and you must have this, or a digital copy of it, in your possession when you fly. Also, you must display the number clearly and legibly on the aircraft, just like an airplane’s tail number.
For more info on the registration process, please visit:
FAA Part 137 Aerial Applicator License
This license allows you to legally dispense chemical from a drone. Note that not ALL substances will fall under this regulation, so you should first check to see if the substance you intend to spray or spread falls under the scope of Part 137. In the past, this is one of the more involved processes. The FAA is currently implementing new policies and procedures that should make this easier to obtain than ever.
For full details, please visit:
FAA Medical Certificate
If you will be flying anything over 55 pounds, which includes the T30 and T40, you will be required to obtain a FAA 3rd class medical certificate. The previous requirement was a 2nd class medical certificate. This is essentially a physical conducted by a FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Similar to the requirements for a CDL, if you are familiar with those.