Frequently Asked Questions
General
The capacity of the drones available vary between model and brand.
- DJI T40 and DJI T50: 10 gal
- DJI T100: 26 gal
- Talos T60X: 13.5 gal
The number of acres you can cover per hour varies dependent on the drone model.
- DJI T40: Up to 40 acres an hour
- DJI T50: Up to 50 acres an hour
- Talos T60X: Up to 60 acres an hour
- DJI T100: Up to 80 acres an hour
All acreage numbers are based off of optimal conditions. Several factors, such as operator experience, field size and shape, flight speed, obstacles, refill time and location, may reduce efficiency.
Setting Up Your Drone
Your drone setup will require a way to recharge batteries quickly while in the field, a refill system for your drone’s spray tank or spreader hopper, and safety equipment for your operations team. There is not an ‘ideal setup’.
There is not necessarily an ideal setup, we recommend customizing your rig to your needs. At Green Creek Drones, we utilize large flatbed trailers for operating. This creates ease of refilling the drone and changing batteries. It also helps in reducing dust and debris stirred from the propwash during takeoff and landing. Be sure to remain OSHA compliant in your setup build and planning.
Safety is important to consider when setting up your drone operation. We recommend providing shade for operators, battery recharging, and controllers, as drone work often occurs during the hottest parts of the day. Keep fresh water and soap available for hand washing and accidental spills. Since generators can be loud, hearing protection may be necessary. Be sure to review product labels to determine the required PPE for safe application.
Depending on your operation, liquid can be mixed at the field or in one larger batch ahead of time. Efficient pumping into the spray tank—ideally within 30–40 seconds—is important. Because drone applications use higher‑concentration solutions, proper agitation throughout the day is necessary.
Spreader hoppers can be refilled using bags, buckets, or a conveyor system. When using a conveyor, adequate space for safe landing and equipment access is required.
Operating Your Drone
Generally speaking, it is very easy to operate a spray drone. With a well thought out mission plan, the drone flies itself for most of the mission. We do recommend the operator to spend time getting very familiar with manual flight of the drone so they can react quickly should an emergency arise. Most people feel very comfortable with manual flight after 1 or 2 hours of practice.
Fields can be easily and quickly mapped directly on the drone’s remote control by dropping boundary points on the map. Boundary points can also be set by using the internal GPS of the remote control or using the drone’s onboard GPS as you fly. Each method of mapping carries pros and cons. The Green Creek Drones team is here to help you understand your options before your flight.
Shapefile boundaries are accepted by the remote, but depending on how your boundaries were generated, imported boundaries may not be the best option for your drone as they may not account for overhanging tree limbs, powerlines or other obstructions.
Battery life varies greatly depending on amount of weight being carried, and how far it must be carried. In general the battery lasts long enough for one tank load, but not long enough for 2. If you have a very small fields with lots of turning around, your battery might not last long enough to empty a full tank. If you are trying to fly a long distance to your spray area you also might not be able to carry and spray out a full load before you need to change batteries. Under normal conditions there is plenty of battery life to empty a full load and return to the refill location safely with at least 30% battery life remaining.
Depending on how depleted your batteries are, and your generator setup, you can recharge batteries as quickly as you can deplete them. Rapid charge times range from 9-11 minutes, which is also about the same amount of time it takes to spray out and refill your tank.
Operational efficiency is improved by minimizing the distance between the spray area and refill location. A distance of a few hundred feet, and no more than ¼ mile, is recommended. Refill and battery swap times should be kept to one minute or less to reduce stress on motors and batteries caused by flying with a full payload.
Maintaining Your Drone
One of the best things about these drone sprayers is their lack of moving parts. No lubrication points, no oil or filters to change. Keeping your drone, especially the spray system clean when not in use, is the biggest maintenance item. Properly caring for your batteries is also important to ensure service for years to come. Storing them in a dry temperature-controlled area when not in use and periodically cycling them is all that is required for battery maintenance.
At Green Creek Drones, we offer a comprehensive Maintenance Inspection where our team of DJI trained technicians look over the entire drone to DJI’s specifications. Click here to learn more about our Maintenance Inspection.
Green Creek Drones offers a full parts inventory, as well as DJI trained repair technicians located in Effingham, IL. We work hard to minimize costly downtime for your operation.
Licensing
See the list below of required licenses and certifications needed to operate a spray drone in the United States.
- FAA Remote Pilot certificate (107 Drone Pilot license)
- 3rd Class Aviation medical exam
- State pesticide applicators license
- FAA Part 137 operating certificate (multiple pilots can operate on one operating certificate)
- FAA Section 44807 weight exemption (multiple drones can operate under this weight exemption; the exemption is not required for the T-10)
- FAA Aircraft registration
- Liability insurance for commercial pesticide application
Be sure to consult the FAA’s website as these requirements are subject to change.
