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

Pat 137 Done For You

If applying for your FAA Part 137 and 44807 is overwhelming, don't worry. We can submit your documents to the FAA today so you can do what you do best, run your business!

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

An FAA 137 exemption and Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certification is required for spray drones. This now includes the 44807 exemption for heavy, over 55lbs drones.

If you are just looking for a small drone pilot's license, known as an FAA 107 license, 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. 

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

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

Step 1: Create your paperwork

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.

You can check out other people's applications... and copy them

Know which exemptions you are asking for relief from. Here's what you need to request:

§§ 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)

Step 2: Submit Your Petition

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.

Attachment3_T40_T20P_Intelligent_Flight_Battery_User_Guide_v1.2_KM_HU_IT_NL_PT.pdf

Attachment5_CONFIDENTIAL_Avary_Drone_Pre-Flight_Checklist.pdf

Attachment6_CONFIDENTIAL_Avary_Drone_DJI_Agras_T40_Maintenance_Log.pdf

Attachment7_CONFIDENTIAL_Avary_Drone_Aircrew_Training_Manual.pdf

Attachment8_CONFIDENTIAL_Avary_Drone_Operation_Risk_and_Safety_Manual.pdf

Attachment9_CONFIDENTIAL_Avary_Drone_Flight_Operations_and_Procedures_Manual.pdf

Attachment10_CONFIDENTIAL_FAA_Part_107_Drone_License_Training_Curriculum.pdf

Petition for Exemption Summary - Avary Drone Corporation.pdf

Attachment1_AGRAS_T40_Disclaimer_and_Safety_Guidelines_English.pdf

Attachment2_T40_T20P_User_Manual_v1.4_EN_t.pdf

Attachment4_T40_T20P_Intelligent_Charger_User_Guide_v1.0.pdf

Step 3: Wait

The FAA may respond in just a few weeks. It may also take them as long as 120 days to respond. 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. 

Often the FAA will contact you with a RFI, request for information. If you didn't provide your drone type, tail number, or your FAA 107 license number they will ask for this information before moving forward with your FAA 137 license.

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

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Apply for an Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate (AAOC).

But wait... there's more. Now that you have your FAA 137 exemption you have to fill out your FAA Form 8710-3 (PDF) to get your AAOC, your Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate . 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. Life is awesome in the 80s. 

What about the 44807 Heavy Drone Exemption?

Do you need to apply for a 44807 Heavy Drone Exemption? No, it is part of your 137 exemption.

Not sure how to apply for the 44807 as part of 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.

Below are the FAA's Instructions for 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 for your FAA 137 Exemption:

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 6191, 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