To Aerial Application Drone Operators

Ensure Your Drone Applications are Made Legally and Safely

As a drone operator, you must:

This ensures you are trained in safe handling, label compliance, and responsible use. Click the button below and search for persons with “Duties 4” next to their name to inquire about licensing in your state.

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This proves you understand the rules and procedures to operate safely in U.S. airspace.

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All drones must display their registration number and meet remote ID requirements.

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Required for anyone applying products by air. Larger drones may also require operating exemptions.

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In almost all states, chemical applicators are required to maintain a minimum of at least $100,000 per occurrence for property damage liability.  An application drone business without proper insurance is exposed to significant financial legal liability: damage caused by drift, the value of crops damaged by misapplication, bodily injury and other property damage to third parties.  In addition, obtaining insurance for your drone equipment is a financially responsible step, as the equipment is not inexpensive.

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As a drone operator, you Should:

Test the drone at a minimum every two years to make sure the spray pattern is uniform, the spray droplet size meets label requirements, and an appropriate effective swath width is used in each spray pass.

LEARN MORE – Operation SAFE LEARN MORE – UAPASTF BMP (pages 22-28)

Adhere to safe operations around other aircraft operating in the low-altitude airspace and always give right-of-way to manned aircraft.

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Consider all sources, but specifically those offered by state/regional agricultural aviation associations, the National Agricultural Aviation Association, and the National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation.

LEARN MORE – NAAA/NAAREF Education LEARN MORE – State/Regional Associations

Apply Safely and Responsibly.
Upon the Performance of Each, Rests the Fate of All

To Growers Hiring Aerial Application Drone Operators

Verify You are Hiring a Legal and Safe Drone Applicator

Before hiring a drone operator, ensure they have:

Every commercial drone pilot must hold this certificate, which shows they understand the rules and can operate safely.  Employing an operator without the proper “airman’s certificate” can lead to federal criminal implications including potential fines, up to three years of imprisonment, or both (49 USC 46306 (b)(8)).

Verify Here

All drones used for application must be registered with the FAA and display a registration number on the aircraft.

VERIFY HERE

Required for anyone applying products by air. This ensures compliance with national safety and environmental standards.

VEFIFY HERE

Applicators must be licensed in each state where they operate. This proves they are trained in safe handling, label laws, and application requirements. Follow the link below and search for persons with “Duties 4” next to their name to inquire about licensing in your state.

Verify Here

Drone applicators must meet federal and state licensing requirements.  Customers contracting application services could be held financially liable for any damage caused, including damage to crops, neighboring properties, or bodily injury to a third party. Without insurance, the drone operator will not be able to pay, and the injured party will look to you.

View Aviation Insurance Regulations

To ensure a uniform and efficacious application is made, request proof that the aircraft’s application equipment has been tested for spray pattern uniformity, label required droplet size, and an appropriate effective swath width at a minimum every two years.

Learn More: Operation SAFE Learn More: UAPASTF BMP (pages 22-28)

Drone operators must not endanger manned aircraft. To prevent a fatal accident from occurring on your property, make sure any drone operator is aware of their duty to avoid all manned aircraft.

Learn More

Contract with an applicator that distinguishes their commitment to safety and quality work by consistently participating in educational programming offered by state/regional agricultural aviation associations, the National Agricultural Aviation Association, and the National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation.

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Without proper licensing, training and certification, drone application mistakes are more likely
 which can harm your crops, neighboring properties, or even people.

Hire Safely. Apply Responsibly.
Upon the Performance of Each, Rests the Fate of All

Brought to you by the NAAA — UAAS Committee

The National Agricultural Aviation (NAAA) Uncrewed Aerial Application Systems (UAAS) Committee is a joint effort between uncrewed and crewed aerial application industry stakeholders to advance safety, environmental professionalism and effective interoperation in the shared low-altitude airspace. These leaders developed the above checklists to increase the transparency to growers and applicators of what is required and recommended to conduct safe, legal and efficacious applications by UAAS.

Committee Member

Organization

State

Sean Newcomb (Chair)

JBI Helicopter Services

New Hampshire

Jeramy Williams (Vice-Chair)

American Drone

Wisconsin

Mike Campbell

Campbell Aviation

Montana

Robert Ching

Dropflight

Michigan

Riley Farder

Carlson Ag Aviation

Minnesota

Corey Fransen

JBI Helicopter Services

Louisianna

Brad Fritz

USDA-ARS-AATRU

Texas

Ryan Gilland

Gilland Ag Service

Tennessee

Greg Grouleff

Southeastern Aircraft Sales & Service

Florida

Scott Heinen

Heinen Brothers Agra Services

Kansas

Glenn Holloway

Holloway Air Service

Mississippi

Matt Hovdenes

Arthur Aviation

North Dakota

Sarah Hovinga

Bayer CropScience LP

Joel Jones

Drone Crop Services

Arkansas

Forrest Kauffman

Sarita Custom Farm Service

Arizona

Heath Kretschmar

Dakota Pro Air

South Dakota

Steve Li

Auburn University

Alabama

Ronnie Liu

iFlight Technology Company Limited (DJI)

Neill Newton

Syngenta Crop Protection

North Carolina

Kole Pederson

R&M Flying Service

Nebraska

Christian Ramsey

uAvionix

Virginia

Damon Reabe

Dairyland Aviation

Wisconsin

David Reaves

Federal Aviation Administration, AFS-830

Washington, DC

Bill Reynolds

Central UAS Technologies

Florida

Eric Ringer

American Autonomy; American Spray Drone Coalition

Iowa

Alex Ryan

Agri Spray Drones

Missouri

Ryan Smith

Federal Aviation Administration, AFS-700

Washington, DC

David Strohl

Strohl Aviation

Arkansas

Vaughn Tolbert

VT Insurance Agency

Texas

Kyle Turner

Air Tractor

Texas

AJ Underwood

Thomas Air Service

Nebraska

UAAS Committee List as of 2026