One Of Only A Few Companies To Gain Part 137 Approval In The U.S.

Empire Drone Company has received a Part 137 certification from the FAA. This certification allows Empire Drone Company to spray crops by drone. They are now one of only a few companies which have this authorization in the United States.

"We are incredibly excited to be one of the first companies in New York to be given the go-ahead by the FAA to spray crops with drones," said Sean Falconer, partner at Empire Drone Company. "This new spraying service, in combination with our agricultural drone sensors and spraying drone sales offerings, help make us the one-stop-shop drone resource for agricultural professionals in New York State and beyond.”

Spraying drones can cover up to 24 acres per hour. They are flown either autonomously in a grid or they can be flown manually for spot spraying. The drones are able to fly a consistent elevation a few feet above a field with the help of its onboard radar system. The prop-wash effect from the drone’s propellers effectively force inputs down and around each plant.

There are several advantages over traditional spraying methods when crops are sprayed by drone.

• Cost: Spraying drones help growers save on equipment, application, and labor.
• Time: Spraying Drones dramatically cut down on time and traffic in the field.
• Health: Remote spraying reduces an applicators exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. The spot spraying accuracy of drones can also reduce the amount of run-off into the environment.

This new type of aerial application service is fast and delivers inputs at the precise point where they are needed. This vastly increases overall efficiency when spraying by drone when compared to traditional application methods.

(Image provided with Empire Drone Company news release)

FMI: www.empiredroneco.com