A Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining Your FAA Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator UAS Certificate

Fly your spray drone legally with your FAA Part 137 Certificate!

(Note: FAA 137 is required for spray drones and includes 44807 exemption for heavy, over 55lbs drones. If you just need a normal drone pilot's license, the FAA 107, click here.)

Embarking on a career as a custom applicator using drones or UAS, unmanned aerial systems, requires adherence to strict regulations and certification processes set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In this guide, we will walk you through the steps necessary to obtain your FAA Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator UAS Certificate. 

Don't like suffering? Click here to have Avary Drone take care of your Part 137 for you.

There are several steps to this process. Luckily the UAS process is streamlined compared with the process for traditional aircraft.

1. Compile the paper work needed to submit your application. This is the most difficult part. You need to have standard operating procedures for running your business! While tedious this will help you train your employees and operate safely.
2. You can check out other people's applications... and copy them! 
3. Know which exemptions you are asking for relief from. Here's what you need to request:
1. §§ 61.3(a)(1)(i), 91.7(a), 91.119(c), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1), 91.409(a)(2), 91.417(a), 91.417(b), 137.19(c), 137.19(d), 137.19(e)(2)(ii), 137.19(e)(2)(iii), 137.19(e)(2)(v), 137.31(a), 137.31(b), 137.33(a), 137.33(b), 137.41(c), 14 CFR § 91.403(b), and 137.42 of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
4. Submit your documents online as a "petition". Make sure you mark your documents as confidential if you don't want others to see them. Here are the documents we submitted for our Part 137 certificate. You will need to create the ones in bold. The others are just DJI documents.
1. Attachment3_T40_T20P_Intelligent_Flight_Battery_User_Guide_v1.2_KM_HU_IT_NL_PT.pdf
2. Attachment5_CONFIDENTIAL_Avary_Drone_Pre-Flight_Checklist.pdf
3. Attachment6_CONFIDENTIAL_Avary_Drone_DJI_Agras_T40_Maintenance_Log.pdf
4. Attachment7_CONFIDENTIAL_Avary_Drone_Aircrew_Training_Manual.pdf
5. Attachment8_CONFIDENTIAL_Avary_Drone_Operation_Risk_and_Safety_Manual.pdf
6. Attachment9_CONFIDENTIAL_Avary_Drone_Flight_Operations_and_Procedures_Manual.pdf
7. Attachment10_CONFIDENTIAL_FAA_Part_107_Drone_License_Training_Curriculum.pdf
8. Petition for Exemption Summary - Avary Drone Corporation.pdf
9. Attachment1_AGRAS_T40_Disclaimer_and_Safety_Guidelines_English.pdf
10. Attachment2_T40_T20P_User_Manual_v1.4_EN_t.pdf
11. Attachment4_T40_T20P_Intelligent_Charger_User_Guide_v1.0.pdf
5. Wait... it takes 2 to 4 months. You will feel nervous. You will want to contact them. You will wish they contacted you. They won't. It's ok. It's going to be ok. 
6. Done! You will receive an email with a PDF document explaining the FAA's decision. You will be so excited and relieved! Now go spray... and be legal!
   
   

Step 2: Apply for an Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate (AAOC).

But wait... there's more. Now you have to fill out your FAA Form 8710-3 (PDF) to get your AAOC. This form is simple. Send it to your local FAA office. While you are waiting for them to respond via mail, yes mail as in paper, envelopes, and stamps... you can contemplate why this form can't just be filled out online with an immediate response. Enjoy your brief visit to the 1980s. Put on some Van Halen. Peg your jeans. It's awesome in the 80s. 

Step 3: Apply for your 44807 Heavy Drone Exemption.

That's right kids, there's one more thing you need to do, get your 44807 Heavy Drone Exemption. No wait... now you can get it with your 137 exemption. We can help you!

Want the official instructions? Below are the instructions directly from the FAA website. Or better yet... here's the FAA's "Visual" pdf.

Applying for a Part 137 UAS Certificate

There’s a new streamlined process for those applying for a Part 137 UAS certificate. This allows the FAA to streamline both the Part 137 agricultural UAS certification and the drone exemption process for visual line of sight (VLOS) operations conducted within the altitude and airspeed limitations stipulated by the exemption.

Applicants are no longer required to submit documents to their local Flight Standards District Office. Instead, the applicant must complete FAA Form 8710-3 and submit their exemption number to UAS137Certificates@faa.gov for the FAA to begin the certification process.

How to Apply:

Step 1: Petition for an exemption.

• Drones weighing less than 55 pounds (including the weight of the substance being dispensed) may operate under 14 CFR Part 107 and require exemption from Section 107.36 Carriage of hazardous material as well as several Part 137 regulations.
• Drones weighing 55 pounds or more are operated under 14 CFR Part 91 and require exemption from several regulations in 14 CFR Parts 61, 91, and 137.

For information on how to petition for an exemption, see the FAA's Office of Rulemaking website  View examples of exemptions for drones conducting agricultural operations.

• Requests to operate drones previously approved under 49 U.S.C. § 44807 for routine commercial agricultural-related operations will receive expedited processing of their exemption request.
• Requests to operate drones under 55 pounds in routine commercial agricultural-related operations will also receive expedited processing of their exemption request.

Requests to operate outside of these routine agricultural-related operations or requests to use aircraft without § 44807 approval may take longer to review. 

Step 2: Apply for an Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate (AAOC).

Note: You must complete the exemption process before applying for an Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate (AAOC).

• The applicant must complete FAA Form 8710-3 (PDF) and submit their exemption number to UAS137Certificates@faa.gov or the FAA to begin the certification process. 
• The applicant name on Form 8710-3 (PDF) must match the name of the Part 137 exemption holder.

To learn more about dispensing chemicals and agricultural products (Part 137), contact the UAS Support Center