FAA Part 107 and Part 137 training for agricultural drone operators.
Ag drone pilot training programs cover FAA Part 107 exam preparation, Part 137 agricultural operator certification, hands-on flight training with commercial spray drones, mission planning, equipment calibration, state pesticide applicator license requirements, and insurance and liability basics. Programs range from weekend courses for students with existing Part 107 certificates to full multi-week programs for new pilots.
American-made NDAA-compliant ag drones & operator network
Hylio designs and manufactures the AG-272, the leading NDAA-compliant agricultural spray drone in the United States, and supports a national network of certified Hylio operators. The company provides sales, training, and operator support for federal programs, defense-adjacent ag operations, and buyers requiring US-manufactured drone equipment.
NJ · 50+ drone fleet, 123.5 acres/hr, DJI Agras T20 launch customer
Morristown, NJ operator founded 2020 by commercial airline pilots. DJI Agras T20 launch customer (purchased 49 units). Fleet of 50+ Agras drones capable of flying 5 simultaneously covering 123.5 acres/hour. Services include agricultural spraying, cover crop seeding, greenhouse whitewashing, Part 107 training, and drone leasing. Serves NJ, NY, CT, IL, and GA.
You need an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, an FAA Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate, and your state's pesticide applicator license with an aerial endorsement. Training programs prepare you for all three requirements.
Part 107 exam preparation takes 2 to 4 weeks of self-study. The Part 137 process takes 30 to 90 days after application. State pesticide applicator exam schedules vary. Most training programs cover all requirements in one 3 to 5 day course.
There are 2 operators offering pilot training drone services in Illinois: Hylio, Alpha Drones USA.