FAA Aircraft Registration & Tail Numbers

Every drone you operate commercially must be registered with the FAA as an aircraft, and because spray drones weigh more than 55 pounds, they are registered the same way manned aircraft are: individually, under 14 CFR Part 47. This is a different, more involved process than the quick online registration most drone pilots know from the FAA's DroneZone system, which only applies to aircraft under 55 pounds.

When you register a drone under Part 47, the FAA assigns it a unique N-number. This is the aviation equivalent of a license plate, often called a "tail number," and it must be displayed on the aircraft. Each individual drone in your fleet carries its own N-number and its own registration; registration is per aircraft, not per operator.

Registering from scratch means submitting an Aircraft Registration Application (AC Form 8050-1) along with evidence of ownership, and in many cases a notarized affidavit of ownership, to the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch in Oklahoma City, then waiting several weeks for your N-number to be issued before you can move forward with your other filings. Registrations must also be renewed periodically.

‍The Hylio advantage: Because we're the manufacturer, we pre-register every HYL-series drone with its own N-number at our factory, before it ships. When your drone arrives, you simply sign and mail the pre-filled registration transfer we provide. Ownership transfers the moment you submit that form, so instead of waiting weeks for a fresh registration to clear, you can move straight into your 44807 exemption and Part 137 filings. For older models that weren't pre-registered, we provide full documentation and support for the standard process.

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot
Certificate

This is the FAA pilot credential (commonly called a "drone license") required in the United States to fly any UAS commercially. It covers spray drones as well as camera drones, survey drones, and more. To be clear, even spraying your own crops on your own land is considered "commercial activity" by the FAA, so you need this certificate whether you're servicing your own fields or someone else's.

To earn it, you take a 60-question, multiple-choice knowledge exam (a 70% score passes) at an FAA-approved testing center. You can find a center near you on the FAA's website using the "Find a Test Center" tool. The exam covers airspace regulations, emergency procedures, maintenance, weather, and more. The FAA publishes free study materials, and there are many affordable online prep courses that will prepare you well. Most people can realistically study for and pass the exam within a week, and you receive your Remote Pilot Certificate upon passing.

By law, any pilot commanding a UAS in your operation must hold a valid Part 107 certificate. The certificate itself does not expire, but to keep exercising its privileges you must complete a free FAA recurrent training course every 24 calendar months. The FAA has moved this recurrent training fully online (it previously required retaking an in-person exam).

Because this is a certificate you must test for and earn personally, Hylio cannot obtain it on your behalf, by definition. We are, however, glad to advise you on the process based on our extensive experience helping customers through it.

‍Note on medical certificates: Under the FAA's current spray-drone exemptions, the pilot in command must also hold at least a third-class FAA airman medical certificate to fly manually or at night. This is generally not required for highly automated daytime operations. Requirements vary by exemption, so confirm what applies to how you intend to operate.

Section 44807 Exemption

Part 107 only authorizes drones weighing less than 55 pounds. Since virtually every spray drone exceeds that threshold (especially loaded), you need a separate authorization to fly it at all: a grant of exemption under 49 U.S.C. § 44807, "Special Authority for Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems." This is the statutory successor to the older "Section 333" authority some operators may remember.

A 44807 exemption is not a license or a certificate you test for; it's a formal grant of permission from the FAA to operate an aircraft that would otherwise be prohibited under the standard rules. Every spray drone operator needs one.The FAA has made this far more manageable than it used to be. Rather than requiring each operator to justify every aircraft from scratch, the FAA now maintains a centralized List of Approved UAS (Agricultural). Once your exemption is granted, you may operate any aircraft on that list, and the FAA continues to add models to it over time. If you buy a drone whose model is already on the list (as Hylio's are), your petition moves much faster because the aircraft has already been vetted. You would only need to file a new or amended petition to fly an aircraft that isn't on the list, or to operate at weights beyond what's currently approved.

Hylio assists every customer with this petition at no additional cost, and the process typically takes about two months from filing to approval.

FAA Part 137 — Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate

Part 137 (14 CFR Part 137, "Agricultural Aircraft Operations") is the FAA's framework governing the operation of aircraft to dispense or spray substances, and the certificate you obtain under it is formally the Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate. It is the same legal structure that manned agricultural operators (crop-dusting airplane and helicopter pilots) work under. Unlike your Part 107 certificate, which belongs to you as a pilot, the Part 137 certificate is issued to the operator: you or your business.

Part 137 governs dispensing any "economic poison" and related agricultural substances. The FAA's definitions are broad:

1. Dispensing any economic poison. The FAA defines an economic poison as any substance that acts as a pesticide, plant regulator, or defoliant. Chemicals used as disinfectants for viruses also fall into this category, as defined in Part 137.3.

2. Dispensing any other substance intended for plant nourishment, soil treatment, propagation of plant life, or pest control.

3. Engaging in dispensing activities directly affecting agriculture, horticulture, or forest preservation.

(Dispensing live insects is not included.)

This certificate is the bulk of the licensing paperwork, and Hylio has created templates to make it manageable. By law, you the customer must apply for the Part 137 yourself; we are not permitted to apply on your behalf. But we provide step-by-step instructions and are always available to answer questions. Once your organization holds the Part 137, it's yours to keep, and it's a valuable asset: you can hire and certify additional operators to fly under your certificate, which lets your business scale.

Each Part 137 certificate holder must designate a chief pilot, who is then permitted to certify other pilots within the organization to operate its UAS. This means the chief pilot doesn't have to personally fly every operation. Any pilot in the organization who holds a valid Part 107 certificate, has been certified by the chief pilot, and meets the applicable medical requirements may operate the organization's aircraft in the field.

Once you're Part 137 certified, you must maintain yearly records of your operations. Hylio's AgroSol software streamlines the storage and management of this recordkeeping for you.

State Pesticide Applicator License

The EPA sets the federal framework for the use and dispersal of economic poisons (pesticides) under FIFRA, and each state's department of agriculture handles the actual administration and enforcement of pesticide applicator licenses. In other words, this is a federally-guided but state-issued credential; there is no single "EPA license" you apply for directly.

Applicator licenses come in several forms. At a high level, they split into commercial and non-commercial (private) licenses. If you're only servicing your own crops and property, you generally need only the private applicator license. If you service crops or property you don't own, you must obtain the commercial applicator license. (Note that many states set a higher bar than the federal minimum and require licensing for a broader range of applications.)

Beyond that split, there are licensing subcategories that specialize in areas such as aerial application, field crop pest control, landscape maintenance, and vegetation management. States administer these differently, but generally you must specifically test for and obtain the aerial application category to go with your applicator license. Most states also require at least one additional category beyond aerial application, so most operators pair the aerial category with something like field crop pest management or vegetation management, depending on their focus. You're free to hold more than two categories; some operators carry four or five.

One advantage of holding an applicator license is that it lets you purchase and use Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs). Many of the most effective pesticides are RUPs and require this license.

To keep your license current, most states require you to earn a minimum number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by taking approved, pesticide-related courses over time (both online and in person). For example, Texas requires a minimum of 15 CEUs every five years to maintain your license with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).

As with the Part 107, Hylio cannot obtain this license for you, since you must test for and earn it personally. We're glad to advise based on our experience. You can realistically study for and pass the necessary exams within a few weeks. The tests vary by state but generally cover the same material, and many states have pesticide applicator reciprocity with one another.

Please note that the above information is based on Hylio's varied experience within the agricultural UAS industry. It was not written by a licensed or practicing attorney and should not be considered legal counsel in any way. FAA rules and state requirements change over time; always confirm current requirements with the FAA and your state department of agriculture.See task progress for longer tasks.regulatory-info-page.mdConnectorsWeb search