ZenaDrone has applied for a United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operations Certification to use its AI-enabled ZenaDrone 1000 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) for agricultural applications such as spraying fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides. The system’s attached sprayer can also be used for wildfires as part of the company’s plans to use drone swarms for commercial purposes.
ZenaDrone was previously granted an FAA exemption for visual line-of-sight commercial applications and data collection in October and has commenced aerial operations and testing at its site in Phoenix, Arizona.
An FAA Part 137 authorisation enables companies to operate UAS for agricultural-related commercial activities, such as crop dusting, seeding, or pesticide application. Drone operators must meet criteria such as demonstrating the ability to conduct safe and effective operations, having properly certificated aircraft, and meeting specific knowledge, skills, and operational standards set by the FAA.
In separate news, ZenaDrone’s parent company, ZenaTech Inc., has signed a lease to open a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone testing facility in Türkiye. The facility will serve as a product testing site for ZenaDrone 1000 model drones, which in addition to civil applications, are also used by the military. The testing facility is expected to become operational during the first quarter of 2025.
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