Old Dominion Aerial
Drone fungicide/fertilizer spraying. 3 drones (75 ac/hr). Works with M&L Land and Wildlife.
Based in Mechanicsville, Old Dominion Aerial runs drone pesticide and fungicide spraying on row crops grown in the region for farms in Virginia. Any operator running commercial pesticide passes over Virginia fields holds FAA Part 137 alongside the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) aerial-applicator credential.
Operations are based in the Southeast region.
Services offered
States served (1)
Aerial pesticide licensing in states served
Every state requires a pesticide applicator license with the aerial category endorsement on top of FAA Part 137. The agencies that issue these licenses in Old Dominion Aerial's service area:
- Virginia: requires Category 11: Aerial Pesticide Application for aerial pesticide application; the licensing authority is Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details by state are catalogued on the state pesticide licensing reference.
Verify and resources
Primary-source references for verifying credentials and looking up state-specific rules in Old Dominion Aerial's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Ask Old Dominion Aerial for four documents to confirm credentials: the Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate number, the Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate, the state aerial-category pesticide applicator license and a certificate of insurance carrying chemical drift coverage. In Virginia the state credential is issued by Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS); you can ask the operator for the applicator license number and verify it with the agency directly. The Section 44807 exemption number is the fourth piece, applicable to any drone over 55 lbs gross weight.
Typical drone spraying rates of $12 to $22 per acre in the region is application-only. The chemical, the surfactants and the adjuvants are farmer-supplied. The rate covers calibration, RTK GPS flight planning, the labor to fly the field, mixing and loading from your product, plus the FIFRA Part 170 application record: date, time, product, EPA reg number, rate, weather, field ID. Then watch four surcharges. Travel past a stated radius. Weekend or emergency turnaround. Terrain and obstruction add-ons. A minimum-acreage floor on a small field. Confirm every one of them in writing.