UAS Agricultural Exemption Petition, 55lb, Night VLOS
Summary
Merritt Caviness has filed a petition with the FAA requesting exemption under 49 U.S.C. § 44807 and 14 C.F.R. Part 11 to authorize commercial agricultural UAS operations with unmanned aircraft weighing 55 pounds or more, operating up to three aircraft simultaneously under a single Pilot in Command, without Visual Observers, during Night Visual Line of Sight in Visual Meteorological Conditions.
“Grant Petition for an Exemption to Conduct Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations Allowed by Special authority for certain unmanned aircraft systems.”
UAS operators and agricultural service providers should monitor this petition proceeding as any exemption granted could establish precedent for weight thresholds, multi-aircraft single-pilot operations, and night operations without visual observers in commercial agricultural contexts.
About this source
This is every Federal Aviation Administration document posted to regulations.gov, the federal rulemaking portal: airworthiness directives, special conditions, exemption petitions and grants, airspace proposals, and consultation notices on safety regulations. Around 270 a month. The FAA uses regulations.gov as its primary publication channel for technical airworthiness work that does not warrant a Federal Register entry, so this feed catches a layer of detail other tracking tools miss. Watch this if you operate commercial drones, manufacture aircraft components, hold a Part 135 certificate, or advise clients on UAS exemptions. GovPing surfaces each posting with the docket ID, document type, agency contact, and comment deadline where applicable.
What changed
The petition seeks exemption from current UAS operating restrictions to permit commercial agricultural services using unmanned aircraft weighing 55 pounds or more. The exemption would allow a single Pilot in Command to operate up to three UAS simultaneously without Visual Observers, specifically during night Visual Line of Sight operations in Visual Meteorological Conditions.
If granted, this exemption could establish a precedent for expanded commercial UAS operations in agriculture, potentially benefiting agricultural service providers seeking to conduct large-scale drone operations. Other UAS operators in agricultural sectors should monitor this proceeding as any exemption granted may influence future FAA guidance on commercial UAS weight limits and operational parameters.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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.
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44807 Merritt Caviness
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