Page 29 2025 Logan County Spring Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March 2025 performance (e.g., efficacy and spray drift) to ground sprayers and conventional aircraft is very limited (Li et al., 2020; Li et al., 2021; Biglia, et al., 2022; Dubuis et al., 2023; Herbst et al., 2023; Huang et al, 2022). Some of the published data on spray drone performance may not be usable and can be contradictory because of the wide variation of design parameters among drones being tested. Additional research and published data are needed to make conclusive statements about the performance of drone sprayers compared to conventional aerial and ground sprayers. “Fewer acres are covered per hour of operation compared to airplane and ground sprayers. “The battery powering the drone lasts a short time (5–15 minutes with a full tank) and requires recharging between tank refills. Having three charged batteries per drone and fast charging at 240v eliminates long interruptions in spraying to charge the drone’s battery. Maintaining three charged batteries allows replacement of a discharged battery while refilling the spray tank. The spent battery can then be recharged and ready for the next refilling. “The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) imposes several operational restrictions on drones, such as: a drone must weigh 55 pounds or less including its payload, the pilot flying the drone must maintain a visual line of sight with the drone, permission must be obtained when flying in restricted air space, and drones can be flown only from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. An FAA regulation requiring two people to legally operate a spray drone (a pilot and a visual observer) also results in increased costs. Perhaps the most severe FAA restriction on spray drones is that an operator can fly only one drone at a time. Multiple drones operated by one pilot, defined as “swarming” (Figure 11) is, however, practiced legally and successfully in other parts of the world, especially in east Asia—mainly China, South Korea, and Japan. The FAA is likely to ease this restriction in the near future. Check the FAA website often to learn current requirements on swarming. Fortunately, the FAA allows pilots to apply for exemptions for several of these limitations, such as the 55-pound maximum weight of the drone sprayer, night spraying, and maintaining a line of sight. Unfortunately, exemption approvals may take considerable lengths of time, sometimes even months.” Adhering to the FFA rules as they stand today means mudding through the 205 parts of FAA rule 107, but these rules must be known and followed in order to obtain a license for a “SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS,” the technical term for drones. Fortunately, there are classes to be had, and one such class is only as far away as Heartland Community College in Bloomington/Normal. Continued --
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