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Ag applicators watch proposed new drone rules

An agricultural drone retailer and service provider says the federal government might allow operation of ag drones beyond the pilot’s line-of-sight.

Jeramy Williams with American Drone says, “It’s very important for us to understand what regulations are being proposed.”

Williams recently testified in Washington D.C. about the proposed rules, which would cover everything from small package delivery drones to bigger ag application drones. He tells Brownfield, “We’re running five-to-six hundred pound drones in excess of forty-five to fifty miles per hour in the same airspace as other crewed operators at the same time of the year and at the same altitudes. We have a little bit different safety protocols that we are concerned about.”

Williams says having the ability to fly ag drones beyond line-of-sight would be helpful in areas like Wisconsin’s driftless region. “Whether it be a hill between you and the drone or a tree line or something of that nature, which would be quite contrary to applying in sites like Iowa, where it is relatively flat in most places and less tree line.”

Williams says with more drone use, it’s important to set the rules and regulations to high civil aviation safety standards without being burdensome to drone users.

The Federal Aviation Administration put proposed Part 108 changes out for additional public comment.

Williams spoke to Brownfield during the recent Wisconsin Corn-Soy-Pork Expo.

AUDIO: Jeramy Williams discusses the proposed drone pilot rule changes with Brownfield’s Larry Lee