UAS Agricultural Spraying Exemption 55lb Drones Night VLOS
Summary
The FAA granted T&A Drone Spraying LLC an exemption under 49 U.S.C. § 44807 and 14 CFR Part 11 authorizing commercial agricultural UAS operations with drones weighing 55 pounds or more. The exemption permits operation of up to 3 drones simultaneously by a single Pilot in Command without a Visual Observer during night Visual Line of Sight operations in Visual Meteorological Conditions.
What changed
The FAA granted an exemption to T&A Drone Spraying LLC authorizing commercial agricultural UAS spraying operations with aircraft weighing 55 pounds or more. The exemption permits: operation of up to 3 drones simultaneously by a single Pilot in Command; no Visual Observer requirement; night VLOS operations; and operations in Visual Meteorological Conditions. The exemption also covers medical relief day operations.
T&A Drone Spraying LLC should maintain compliance with all exemption conditions and operational limitations specified by the FAA. Other UAS operators seeking similar authorizations for commercial agricultural services with extended parameters should review this exemption as potential precedent and consider filing comparable petitions with the FAA under 49 U.S.C. § 44807.
What to do next
- Review T&A Drone Spraying LLC exemption conditions for compliance requirements
- Evaluate whether current UAS agricultural operations could benefit from similar exemption parameters
- Monitor FAA for any conditions or limitations attached to this exemption
Source document (simplified)
Comment
Summary Grant Petition for an Exemption to Conduct Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations
Allowed by Special authority for certain unmanned aircraft systems. Title 49 U.S.C. § 44807, and 14
C.F.R. Part 11 to Authorize Commercial Agricultural- Related Services with UAS Weighing 55
Pounds or More. Up to 3 simultaneously, by a Single Pilot in Command (PIC), Without the Services
of a Visual Observer (VO), During Night Visual Line of Sight (VLOS), in Visual Meteorological
Conditions and Medical Relief for Day Operations.
Attachments 2
VS 44807 T and A Drone Spraying LLC
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CONFIDENTIAL FAA DATA - T and A Drone Spraying LLC
Restricted: Confidential Business Information
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