Remote-Piloted UAVs Get Green Light for Sprayer Duty

Volatus Aerospace Corporation has been given authorization from the FAA to use uncrewed drones above 55 pounds for agricultural operations, even beyond visual sightlines.

It's a nice niche for the brand to begin tackling, since the agricultural sector is constantly hammered by economic forces and vicissitudes - any penny they can save on aerial application is one they can use to survive another year. Volatus has made some revenue from the AG sector through equipment and data services relating to crop management, but this new approval expands their portfolio.The addition of operating authority for heavy spray drones allows clients to "capitalize on the benefits of precision spraying" while they let Volatus handle all the regulatory headaches involved. (The only ones really displeased at the onslaught of AG-drones will be the low-time pilots ousted from the job, but then again they were already replaced by 1,500-plus-hour turboprop pilots years ago anyhow.)

"By continuing to align our drone operations with our commercial aircraft and helicopter operations, we are building confidence with global regulators," said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus. "This has allowed Volatus to obtain numerous special approvals for operations requiring Beyond Visual Line of Sight flights, higher altitude flights, and heavier aircraft operations not currently covered by today's regulations both in Canada and the United States. Each authority allows us to increase our service offering and generate greater revenues using advanced drone technology."

"Climate change alone is causing major challenges for agriculture," explained John Johnstone, Agriculture Product Lead for Volatus. "Agricultural drones are helping farmers adapt to today's reality by scanning every corner of a field to monitor crop health, soil conditions, and plant health and plan appropriate and timely treatment with the precision application of ag products enabling agronomists to increase crop yields and improve margins, while simultaneously reducing the negative impacts on the environment."

FMI: www.volatus.com