|
 Flying
a drone can be fun and exciting, however, for safety reasons,
many rules need to be followed. The Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) has a myriad of regulations that drone
pilots need to know, including farmers who just fly over their
land. Farmers may own the land but the FAA controls the
airspace.
Farmers get exemptions for several agricultural activities,
however, operating a drone (UAS- Unmanned Aircraft Systems) is
NOT one of them. That is a common myth.
FAA TRUST Certificate for Recreational Flying
Flying a drone only for “fun” around your farm and taking
pictures for “fun” is considered recreational. Flying
recreationally requires an FAA The Recreational UAS Test (TRUST)
Certificate that is relatively easy to obtain.
This type of certificate requires a short course and test (30
minutes) and a $5 fee. The tests are administered online by
several FAA-approved organizations. The TRUST program and test
are not considered to be difficult, but they are required. The
program goes over basic drone operation knowledge, flying
requirements, and safety.
FAA Part 107 Certificate for Commercial Flying
If your flight is not just for “fun”, it is considered
commercial. If you are flying to monitor stand counts, diseases,
weeds, wet spots, or anything else involved in
managing/operating your farm, you are flying commercially. Money
does not have to be exchanged to be considered a “commercial”
flight. For these types of flights, you need FAA Part 107
certification.
Part 107 certification requires completing a course and passing
a rather complicated test. Most people who adequately prepare
for the exam, from a good flight school (online), do pass, but
not without extensive preparation.
Farmers can take a Part 107 course online. The cost for these
courses is generally around $150. Additional, optional materials
are available and usually cost under $50. The course that I took
was very thorough and well-taught. It was advertised to take 20
hours, but I spent over 80 hours taking the class. There is a
final exam and once that is completed you then take the
proctored FAA exam. These exams are done at an official FAA
testing center and currently are not offered online.
The Part 107 courses provide information on when, how, and where
you can fly. Operating in various air space locations has
different rules and requirements. For example, you will learn
how to read a Sectional Chart and if you are flying around
Havana, IL the Chart will show there is a military MOA that
could restrict your flight (MOA being an acronym you will
learn). For a further example, much of southwest Peoria and
parts of Pekin and Bartonville (and nearby farms) are in
restricted airspace where you will need to get permission from
the control tower before flying. With permission, there will be
restrictions such as lower than the normal flight ceiling of 400
feet above the ground.
[to top of second column] |
New Remote ID Requirement and Registration
In addition to being certified, farmers need to have their drones
registered with the FAA. Beginning in 2023, the FAA requires that
most drones commonly used by farmers must have “Remote ID.” These
drones will broadcast the identification number and they will be
able to identify violators. Fines for regulation violations range
from thousands to millions of dollars.
Since drones can be relatively simple to fly (emphasis on
relatively), it is easy to think that there is not much risk in
flying one. The reality is, drones have collided with aircraft,
injured people, and caused property damage.
A neighbor of mine crashed into my backyard, narrowly missing two
houses as children were playing in the backyard. I have had aerial
applicators fly low over a field at the same time I was using my
drone to map. I’ve also had drone control issues after a software
update. Don’t take chances, know the rules. Get your FAA Part 107
certification before using your drone on your farm for management
purposes.
Benefits of Drones for Farm Management
Drones can be an excellent tool to use in managing your farm
operation. From the air, you can get a great view to see how your
crop is doing. Crop population stands can be counted. Diseases such
as SDS can be spotted early. The possibilities are almost limitless
for the benefits. A farmer can tell a lot from the sky about a crop
without expensive software. Some of the software on the market is
excellent to assist you in your farm operations. Drones can also be
used for chemical applications and other dispensing types of
applications. Dispensing drones are much more expensive and require
additional certifications, such as FAA Part 137.
These tools can be very beneficial and I encourage
farm operations to adopt drone technology. Keep in mind these
critical points:
· The FAA has legal requirements for flying drones. Ignoring these
can cost you hefty fines.
· Local jurisdictions may also have additional regulations.
· Check with your liability insurance company for drone coverage.
Some may cover farm drones, while others do not. Farmers can
purchase liability insurance from various companies by the year,
month, day, and hour right from their smartphone.
· Fly safe and responsibly.
For more information: www.faa.gov/uas
[Kevin Brooks, Farm Business
Management and Marketing Educator, University of Illinois Extension;
FAA Part 107 UAS Pilot] |
