Brazilian regulators have approved operations of US firm Rotor Technologies’ R550 Sprayhawk, marking the first such approval for the remotely-piloted variant of Robinson Helicopter’s single-piston R44.
New Hampshire-based Rotor says the green light from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) means operators can now begin flying R550s, which are controlled by a remote operator on the ground.
“ANAC is the first regulatory body globally to allow commercial operations for the Sprayhawk,” Rotor says, adding that it does not face any other regulatory requirements for agriculture missions in Brazil.
Launched in 2021 by aerospace engineer and chief executive Hector Xu, Rotor has been developing both the R550 Sprayhawk and a remotely-piloted R44 intended for utility missions called the R550 Airtruck. The company is selling new-build R550s and modification packages for R44s already in service.
The R550 Sprayhawk, priced at $1.5 million and designed for crop dusting and other agricultural missions, has a 1,134kg (2,500lb) maximum gross weight and can carry 416 litres (110USgal) of spray liquid, nearly double the capacity of the baseline R44, Rotor says.
Sprayhawk can remain airborne for 50min, treat 81ha (200 acres) of cropland hourly and be programmed to fly automated spray patterns.
The Brazilian regulations under which Rotor’s R550 can operate enable the aircraft “to perform tasks such as the application of agro-chemicals, fertilisers and seeds over uninhabited areas”.
Rotor says ANAC “understands the need for large remote-piloted and autonomous UAVs and their benefits… in particular for agriculture operations.”
The aircraft is not permitted to exceed 400ft altitude and must remain with sight of its operator or an observer working with the operator, under “extended visual line of sight rules”. Additionally, Brazil requires that the operation be overseen by a licensed commercial pilot.
“They’ve streamlined their regulatory framework to allow for growth in the agricultural aviation industry,” Rotor says of ANAC.
