Drones In Agriculture

Getting to know a new technology can be intimidating, especially one that has not been widely explored, watching videos and attending training classes will aid in obtaining a drone license as well as limit the opportunities for blunders.

Dronegenuity’s website includes drone training opportunities online and in person throughout Virginia, visit the website to see if they have a drone training opportunity near you: https://www.dronegenuity.com/drone-training/virginia/ They offer: Safety training, FAA Drone Laws, flying drones for income course, and technology insight courses

According to the FAA’s (Federal Aviation Administration) Title 14 Code of Regulations released in 2016, you must obtain a drone license to legally fly drones for commercial or business use. The federal government regulates agricultural drones a little bit differently than commercial drones, instead of Title 14 Part 107, agricultural use is under Part 137. Here is a link with more detailed information on what is regulated and why: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

The Drone Pilot Training Center offers opportunities for drone licensing and preparation materials, as well as drone training programs throughout Virginia.https://www.dronepilottrainingcenter.com/drone-training-virginia-part-107

According to Virginia Administrative Code 685-20, all commercial, private and registered technician applicators must obtain a license in order apply pesticides in areas that are open to general public, areas where open food is stored, processed or sold and recreational land over five acres. Pesticides are not monitored by the federal government, all licensing is done on a state level.

The link includes contact information as well as internal links for The Office of Pesticide Services, which include training course throughout Virginia and certification opportunities. https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticide-applicator-training.shtml Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs This link includes external links to Virginia Pesticide Training Manuals as well as Fertilizer Certification Training provided by Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!)

Includes: · DJI Agras MG-1: drone sprayer for pesticides, fertilizer or herbicides, includes a manual sprayer mode or a programmed route · SenseFly Ebee SQ: infrared drone for crop surveillance · Many, many more Link: https://buythebestdrone.com/agricultural-drones-for-sale/ Includes information about what are the best starter drones for farmers, along with the best options according to different price points Link: https://www.agriculture.com/technology/buying-your-first-farm-drone Since this is a newer technology, the best options are going to be found online, with limited selections across the state for an in-store buy

Visit the Drone Technologies page of our website to get information about the different types, manufacturers, and sensors of drones.

https://connexicore.com/industries/agriculture/ ConnexiCore delivers expert drone services across the United States.

https://www.dslrpros.com/crop-spraying-drones.html DSLRPros is a California based company that offers drone based pesticide management and can tailor the perfect drone solution for you.

The Virginia Unmanned Systems Center explores grants and tax credits. The following link provides information on how to obtain grants for agricultural drone use. https://www.vus.virginia.gov/why-virginia/grants-and-tax-credits/

https://govirginia.org/about/ GO Virginia requires participants to include a proposal for funding. While the initiative is mostly related to job growth, it is still available as an opportunity.

http://www.virginiaplaces.org/agriculture/tobcomm.html The Virginia Tobacco Settlement and Indemnification Commision requires participants to include a proposal for funding. While the Commission is mostly related to job growth, the Commission is still available as an opportunity.

https://statedronelaw.com/state/virginia/

The FAA (2019b) states there are several items that Recreational Fliers should know. Those are: 1. You must register your drone. The registration number must be marked on the outside of the aircraft. 2. You must carry proof of registration with you. 3. You are only permitted to fly for recreational purposes. 4. You must follow the community-based organization safety guidelines. 5. You must fly your drone only at or below 400 feet when in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace. 6. You are not permitted to fly in controlled airspace (which is above or around many airports). Therefore, you must obtain authorization prior to flying in class B, C, D or E at the surface. The only exceptions are: a. You are flying at a location that has an agreement with the FAA. These sites are known as recreational fly fixed sites. There are 194 approved sites, and each site has different altitudes in which you are permitted to fly. b. The approved site list can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/ c. Currently, automated airspace authorizations are available only for those who are Certificated Part 107 Pilots. However, the FAA is working on upgrading the systems to make it available to recreational users. The system is called the Low-Level Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC). Therefore, currently, flying in controlled airspace is not permitted and is only limited to the recreational fly fixed sites. d. The FAA welcomes organizations that are interested in establishing a letter of agreement for fixed flying site. If you or your organization is interested, contact: 9-AJT-UAS-Integration@faa.gov. 7. You must keep your drone within your line of sight, or within the visual line-of site of a visual observer who is co-located and in direct communication with you. This must occur at all times. 8. You are not permitted to fly in airspace where flight is prohibited. You are responsible for ensuring that you comply with all airspace restrictions, including temporary flight restrictions. a. Airspace restrictions: https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e44 06710048e19806ebf6a06754ad b. Temporary flight restrictions: https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html 9. You are never permitted to fly near other aircraft. This includes airports. 10. You are never permitted to fly over groups of people, public events, or stadiums. 11. You are never permitted to fly near emergencies. Examples are any type of accident response, law enforcement activities, firefighting, or hurricane recovery efforts. 12. You are never permitted to fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. There are additional items that are forthcoming with anticipation of being fully implemented by summer of 2019, which is outlined in the new law (FAA 2019b). 1. You must take and pass an online aeronautical knowledge and safety test. 2. You must carry proof of passing the aeronautical knowledge and safety test. 3. The FAA is working on issuing guidance for how it will recognize community-based organizations.

• Unmanned aircraft must weigh less than 55 lbs. (25 kg). • Visual line-of-sight (VLOS) only; the unmanned aircraft must remain within VLOS of the remote pilot in command and the person manipulating the flight controls of the small UAS. Alternatively, the unmanned aircraft must remain within VLOS of the visual observer. • At all times the small unmanned aircraft must remain close enough to the remote pilot in command and the person manipulating the flight controls of the small UAS for those people to be capable of seeing the aircraft with vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses. • Small unmanned aircraft may not operate over any persons not directly participating in the operation, not under a covered structure, and not inside a covered stationary vehicle. • Daylight-only operations, or civil twilight (30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset, local time) with appropriate anti-collision lighting. • Must yield right of way to other aircraft. • May use visual observer (VO) but not required. • First-person view camera cannot satisfy “see-and-avoid” requirement but can be used as long as requirement is satisfied in other ways. • Maximum groundspeed of 100 mph (87 knots). • Maximum altitude of 400 feet above ground level (AGL) or, if higher than 400 feet AGL, remain within 400 feet of a structure. • Minimum weather visibility of 3 miles from control station. • Operations in Class B, C, D and E airspace are allowed with the required ATC permission. • Operations in Class G airspace are allowed without ATC permission. • No person may act as a remote pilot in command or VO for more than one unmanned aircraft operation at one time. • No operations from a moving aircraft. • No operations from a moving vehicle unless the operation is over a sparsely populated area. • No careless or reckless operations. • No carriage of hazardous materials. • Requires preflight inspection by the remote pilot in command. • A person may not operate a small unmanned aircraft if he or she knows or has reason to know of any physical or mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small UAS. • Foreign-registered small unmanned aircraft are allowed to operate under part 107 if they satisfy the requirements of part 375. • External load operations are allowed if the object being carried by the unmanned aircraft is securely attached and does not adversely affect the flight characteristics or controllability of the aircraft. • Transportation of property for compensation or hire allowed provided that The aircraft, including its attached systems, payload and cargo weigh less than 55 pounds total; o The flight is conducted within visual line of sight and not from a moving vehicle or aircraft; and o The flight occurs wholly within the bounds of a State and does not involve transport between (1) Hawaii and another place in Hawaii through airspace outside Hawaii; (2) the District of Columbia and another place in the District of Columbia; or (3) a territory or possession of the United States and another place in the same territory or possession. • Most of the restrictions discussed above are waivable if the applicant demonstrates that his or her operation can safely be conducted under the terms of a certificate of waiver