New ANAC rules should make drone spraying more accessible

The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) recently decided to make regulatory flexibility and simplification involving the use of RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) in aeroagricultural activities. RPAS is the technical term internationally standardized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to refer to remotely piloted aircraft systems used for non-recreational purposes. This definitively regulates the use of drones in agribusiness.

Regulatory simplification aims to provide more consistency and quality to the rules that govern the market, facilitating the understanding of regulations throughout society and also repealing rules that are no longer justified today.

As of publication in the Official Gazette of the Union, although there are still some requests regarding the maintenance of operational safety, RPAS during the application of pesticides and the like, adjuvants, fertilizers, inoculants, correctives and seeds on uninhabited areas are classified for purposes of this regulation as Class 3, regardless of their weight, they may operate without the need for RETA insurance and project authorization, as long as visual flight conditions (VLOS/EVLOS) are respected and operations remain below 400ft AGL (approximately 120 meters high) in uninhabited areas.

Reta is mandatory insurance with limits pre-established by ANAC with the Superintendency of Private Insurance, which offers coverage for passengers, crew and hand luggage, personal and material damage caused to third parties, collisions and defense in civil court.

Even with regulatory simplification, the need and compliance with the standards and obligations established by the other bodies involved such as the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), Department of Airspace Control (DECEA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) continues to apply. .

"Brazil's agribusiness has a lot to celebrate with this regulatory simplification. With the increasing use of precision agriculture and drones, we can only expect production in the field to grow every year in the country", said Paulo Villela Development Manager Business at Perfect Flight, the world's first aerial spraying management and traceability platform.

Zangão's success

Drone is the term popularly used to refer to remotely piloted equipment. Its translation from English means “drone” and the type of noise that this equipment usually produces in flight is reminiscent of the sound emitted by male bees.

The equipment can be either remotely controlled or pre-programmed to perform its functions and execute complex movements in monitoring and applying products.

According to research carried out by a North American company in the sector, in 40 countries, 54% of producers intended to increase investment in drones, and there is no shortage of justifications for purchasing a drone, as the benefits of using the device are many Taking into account In the economic scenario, the use is effective and advantageous, as you make a localized application and reduce the amount of inputs. It is also a precise and safe tool as the automatic flight is carried out using coordinates and the operator is not in contact with agricultural pesticides.

“The use of drones combined with spraying management and monitoring makes drone spraying even more accurate and safe. An analysis of the location where the application will be carried out is carried out, also considering the influence of external factors, such as areas with the presence of animals. , people and weather conditions. Our aerial spraying management is based on application maps, both pre-flight and application history, in addition to analytical reports", comments Villela.

The expert adds that drones are a reality that is here to stay and is expanding rapidly. “We saw accelerated growth in the last year of drones in the field and we are aligned in partnership with large companies in the sector”, concludes Paulo