FAA Approves Pyka Electric Spray Drone for US Commercial Operations

Pelican Spray is the largest ever to receive FAA approval for commercial operation in the US with a weight of 1,125lbs, and it can also carry up to 540lbs (70 gallons) of liquid and spray up to 240 acres per hour By Joe Macey / 10 Aug 2023

Autonomous Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from 18 leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Pyka Electric Spray Drone Approved by FAA for Operation in US
Follow UST

Pyka has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to operate its Pelican Spray aircraft for crop protection commercially nationwide.

With a gross weight of 1,125lbs, Pyka’s highly-automated UAS is believed to be the largest ever to receive FAA authorization for commercial operation in the US.

In conjunction with an agricultural aircraft operator certificate, this highly-anticipated FAA approval will enable Pyka to commence commercial operations in the United States, bringing safety, environmental, and economic benefits to American farmers and the greater public. 

According to Pyka, the FAA’s action to authorize its operations signifies the agency’s commitment to enabling larger and more advanced agricultural UAS operations that will save lives and advance American leadership in the $60 billion global drone market.

With access to Pyka’s fixed-wing, highly-automated all-electric aerial application technology, American farmers and neighboring agricultural communities will benefit from a safer alternative to piloted spray aircraft, increased spray precision, reduced chemical usage costs, and minimized environmental impact. Pyka’s Pelican Spray aircraft is the world’s largest and most productive agricultural spray drone and is already operational on farms in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Brazil. It can carry up to 540lbs (70 gallons) of liquid and spray up to 240 acres per hour.

“We are beyond thrilled to celebrate this commercial approval and regulatory milestone,” said Michael Norcia, Pyka CEO. “Pyka’s aircraft provide an essential tool for protecting crops, unlocking cost savings for growers, and reducing our impact on the environment. This commercial approval is the first step in enabling us to generate massive value for growers in the U.S., Latin America, and other markets we operate in, while also laying the operational and regulatory groundwork for eventual scaling into uncrewed cargo operations worldwide.”

“This is a significant win for Pyka and the agricultural community they serve. Among other safety and environmental benefits, the use of highly-automated UAS like the Pelican to perform potentially hazardous aircraft operations can reduce the number of pilot fatalities that occur each year in the aerial agricultural spraying industry,” added Lisa Ellman, Partner and Chair of Hogan Lovells’ Uncrewed Aircraft System Practice and leading policy advocate for the commercial UAS industry.

Find suppliers of drones used in agriculture, agritech and agricultural UAVs >>

Posted by Joe Macey Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Who to see at Xponential 2025

UnmannedSystemsTechnology.com are thrilled to be working with so many companies attending AUVSI's Xponential this year...

May 12, 2025
GuideNav: Top MEMS IMUs for UAV Flight Control

GuideNav examines MEMS IMU selection for UAV control, comparing accuracy bands and performance levels across consumer, industrial, and military-grade applications

May 12, 2025
Aurora Flight Sciences Advances sUAS Range with New Upgrades

Aurora Flight Sciences has enhanced its SKIRON-X sUAS range to improve flight performance and simplify operation

May 12, 2025
ATL Fuel Bladders for Unmanned Systems to Feature at XPO25

Aero Tec Laboratories (ATL) will present its latest fuel bladder technologies for unmanned systems at XPONENTIAL 2025, highlighting solutions for air, land, and sea

May 12, 2025
uAvionix Unveils Wearable ADS-B Receiver for UAS Operations

uAvionix announces skyAlert, a rugged, wearable ADS-B receiver purpose-built for professional UAS pilots and their visual observers

May 12, 2025
ParaZero Secures European Order for Drone Parachute Safety System

ParaZero receives a significant European order for its SafeAir™ M4 system, highlighting rising demand for advanced drone safety solutions in high-regulation markets

May 12, 2025

Featured Content

New Tactical Grade IMU from Inertial Labs for UAVs & Guided Munitions

Inertial Labs has launched the IMU-H100, a compact, tactical-grade MEMS IMU designed to enhance precision navigation for UAVs and guided systems

May 08, 2025
Geolocation in GPS-Denied Environments Successfully Demonstrated

Trillium Engineering's GD-Loc, integrated with the HD55-MV gimbal on a Group 2 UAS, has successfully demonstrated sustained Category 1 geolocation accuracy within six meters, highlighting its critical advantage for precise ISR missions in GPS-denied environments

May 06, 2025
Spexi + LayerDrone: A New Era of Aerial Intelligence

Imagine a real-time, crowd-sourced map of Earth. Spexi, powered by LayerDrone, pays drone pilots to capture ultra-detailed imagery, offering organizations data that’s faster, cheaper, and more precise than traditional methods

Apr 29, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.