FAA Approves Hylio Commercial Agricultural ‘Drone Swarm’ Exemption

The Texas-based manufacturer asked for the exemption to help it make drone aerial application economically viable.

Russ Niles

Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 03:16 PM ET

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The Hylio AG-230. [Courtesy: Hylio]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has granted Hylio, a Texas drone company, an exemption to commercially operate "drone swarms" in agriculture.
This exemption allows a single crew (pilot and spotter) to simultaneously operate up to three agricultural drones, making aerial application more economically viable and efficient, comparable to a tractor.
Hylio's drones are autonomous, carry 15 gallons of spray, and offer advantages over traditional farming methods, including lower cost, reduced energy consumption, and no soil compaction.
Beyond agriculture, Hylio plans to leverage these multi-drone operations for other applications, such as wildfire seeding and aquatic farming, expecting similar efficiencies.

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The FAA has allowed a Texas drone company an exemption that will allow the commercial use of “drone swarms” in agriculture.

Hylio asked for the exemption to help it make drone aerial application economically viable. Under drone rules, a commercial drone has to have a remote pilot and spotter, but the exemption allows the same crew to run as many as three drones at once and spray almost as quickly as a tractor can.