In PBS Interview NAAA Member Neil Wicke Highlights Complementary Role of Manned Aircraft and Drones in Agriculture

In a recent interview with Rocky Mountain PBS and KUNC News in Colorado, NAAA operator member Neil Wicke shared his insights on the growing role of both airplanes and drones in shaping the future of agricultural aviation. Read the article and watch the segment here.

Wicke has owned his company, Crop Air, LLC, in Eaton, CO, since 2018, serving farms from Brighton, CO, to Cheyenne, WY.

Wicke emphasized in the segment that drones and aircraft aren’t in competition. It’s about selecting the right tool for the job and size of the field. “It’s not us versus them,” he said. “You wouldn’t use an airplane to spray my quarter-acre yard—it’s just too big of a tool.”

As development spreads across Colorado, new obstacles, like nearly 200-foot power lines, make flying riskier. To adapt, Crop Air has added a drone, which allows for precise applications and access to previously untreated fields.

FAA data shows a sharp rise in ag drone registrations, with about 1,000 U.S. pilots now certified. Globally, drone use is booming, with over 400,000 agricultural drones in service in 2024 alone. Still, drones can’t match aircraft in speed or capacity. They’re a supplement—not a replacement.

With older ag pilots retiring and fewer young ones taking their place, the industry is at a crossroads. But Wicke and his team are finding ways to keep up. Crop Air is betting on a hybrid future, which is traditional aircraft for high-capacity work and drones for tight access. It’s a balance of legacy and innovation that Wicke and his team hope will keep their customers’ crops and livelihoods thriving.

Rocky Mountain PBS reaches about 5 million viewers annually. See more on the story here.