A lot of bad spray days don't start in the air. They start at the truck: a prop lock nobody checked, a power line nobody walked, a label nobody read, a crew member who didn't know where to stand. A written pre-flight checklist fixes most of that, and the FAA already expects you to do the work. Here's how to build one that fits your operation, in the order you'll actually use it.

What the FAA already requires

Under 14 CFR 107.49, before every flight the remote PIC (remote pilot in command, the person legally responsible for the flight) must:

Assess the operating environment, including local weather, local airspace and flight restrictions, people and property on the ground, and other ground hazards.
Brief everyone directly involved on operating conditions, emergency and contingency procedures, roles, and hazards.
Make sure the control link between the remote controller and the aircraft is working.
Make sure there is enough battery for the planned flight.
Make sure anything attached or carried is secure and doesn't affect how the aircraft handles.

107.15 adds that you have to check the system is in a condition for safe operation before each flight, and stop flying if it isn't. Heavy spray drones like the DJI Agras T100 fly under a 44807 exemption (FAA permission to fly drones over 55 lb) plus a Part 137 certificate (the FAA agricultural aircraft operator certificate). Your exemption letter has its own conditions and limitations. Keep a copy in the truck and know what it says.

A good checklist turns those rules into boxes you tick. Split it into five parts.

1. The night before (office check)

Do this at a desk, not at the field edge with the crew waiting.

Work order: field name and boundary, crop, acres, product, rate, carrier volume (gallons of total mix per acre), and the grower's contact number.
Read the label. EPA's rule is simple: "the label is the law." Part 137 says the same thing in FAA terms. 137.39 bars dispensing a registered pesticide contrary to its label's safety instructions or use limits. Check that aerial application is allowed, then note the rate, wind limits, droplet size, buffers, REI (restricted-entry interval, how long people must stay out of the field after application), and required PPE (personal protective equipment).
Sensitive neighbors: ask the grower about nearby vineyards, organic fields, gardens, beehives, and livestock. Check FieldWatch (a free registry where specialty growers and beekeepers map their sites) if your state participates. Not every state does, so the grower conversation still matters.
Airspace: check the field in an FAA-recognized app (see the FAA's B4UFLY page). If you're in controlled airspace, get your authorization first. Check tfr.faa.gov for TFRs (temporary flight restrictions, such as wildfires or VIP movements). If your DJI app shows a restricted zone, our guide to unlocking restricted airspace on Agras drones walks through it.
Forecast: wind speed, gusts, direction, temperature, and rain timing. DJI lists the T100's maximum wind resistance as under 6 m/s (about 13 mph). That's the aircraft limit. Your label limit is often tighter, and the label wins.
Charge everything: flight batteries, remote controller, RTK base (the GPS correction station that gives centimeter-level positioning), and generator fuel.
Paperwork in the truck: remote pilot certificate, Part 137 certificate, exemption, state applicator license, and the label.

2. At the field edge (site survey)

Drive or walk the perimeter before the drone comes off the trailer.

Wires and towers. Power lines, guy wires (the angled support cables on poles), pivots, towers, and trees. DJI's T100 manual warns that obstacle sensing may not work on power lines and small obstacles, and calls out inclined lines, tilted poles, and power towers as hard for the radar. DJI's spec notes also say to mark wires and guy lines as obstacles in the app. Don't trust the radar to find a wire for you. Mark it.
People and property. Houses, roads, yards, farm workers, and livestock. 137.37 says you can't dispense in a way that creates a hazard to people or property on the ground.
Wind direction vs. sensitive areas. If the wind is pushing toward the neighbor's vineyard or a creek, change the plan or come back another day.
Inversion check. A temperature inversion (cool air trapped near the ground under warmer air) can carry fine droplets a long way. University and state ag guidance lists the warning signs: clear calm night, wind under 3 mph, dew or frost on the ground, ground fog, and smoke or dust drifting sideways instead of rising. Iowa State Extension notes morning inversions usually break up 2 to 3 hours after sunrise. That calm, pretty dawn is often the worst time to spray.
Visibility and clouds. Part 107 requires at least 3 statute miles of visibility and clearance of 500 ft below and 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds (107.51).
Takeoff and landing spot. Flat, firm, and clear. Pick up loose plastic, empty bags, and anything the prop wash can throw. DJI's manual calls this out specifically.

3. At the aircraft (machine check)

This follows the pre-flight list in the DJI Agras T100 user manual, written as boxes:

Props, arms, and arm locks: no cracks, chips, or play. Locks fully seated.
Motors, radar, vision cameras, and antennas clean and unblocked.
Battery charged, seated, and latched. Spray tank mounted, cables connected.
Spray system: no clogs, no leaks, nozzles working. Run water through before you load product.
Compass calibrated if the app asks.
App open with no warnings on the aircraft status list. Clear every warning before takeoff, not after.
RTK fix showing if you're running RTK.
Don't exceed the payload limit the DJI Agras app recommends for current conditions.
Control link solid at the takeoff spot.

4. Crew briefing (two minutes, every job)

107.49(b) requires it. Don't skip it when you're in a hurry. Cover:

Who does what: pilot, VO (visual observer, the person helping watch the aircraft and the sky), and mixer/loader.
Where people stand. DJI says to keep more than 6 m (about 20 ft) from the aircraft and to wear a helmet.
What happens if: the link drops, a manned aircraft shows up, someone walks into the field, or the drone goes down. Who calls whom.
Exposure plan. PPE from the label, wash water, eye flush, and Poison Control's number (1-800-222-1222) on the clipboard.

5. Between loads (quick recheck)

Every battery swap: props and locks, nozzles and leaks, battery temperature, and a fresh look at the wind. Conditions at 11 a.m. aren't conditions at 7 a.m.

Make it stick

Keep it to one page. Laminate it, use a grease pencil, and keep it in the truck. Initial and date it on every job. Write down wind speed, direction, and temperature when you start, because those numbers often belong in your spray records anyway. If you'd rather not keep paper, an app like DroneTrax can store the job, the field boundary, and the weather in one place.

Revise the list after every close call. A checklist that never changes is one nobody is reading.

Questions?

If you're setting up a spray operation or want a second set of eyes on your checklist, call us at 1-877-992-8279 (M–F 9–5 MT) or email sales@avarydrone.com. We also help with the FAA Part 137 package.

This is general information, not legal advice. Always follow the pesticide label, your exemption conditions, and your state's rules.

Sources

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How to Build a Pre-Flight Checklist for Ag Spray Missions