Pyka secures FAA approval for Pelican 2 agricultural spray aircraft

Pelican 2. Source | Pyka

Autonomous electric aviation company Pyka (Alameda, Calif., U.S.) has unveiled its next-generation agricultural spray aircraft, Pelican 2. The agricultural aircraft features an expanded 300-liter payload and a work rate of up to 90 hectares per hour. Its airframe and structural components are constructed from carbon fiber composites, corrosion-resistant metallic components and complex 3D printed assemblies.

Pyka recently secured Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization for Pelican 2’s commercial operation in the U.S., making this the second of Pyka’s uncrewed aerial system (UAS) products that have gained approval. The company claims that Pelican 2 is the largest UAS ever approved for commercial use by the FAA, followed only by the original Pelican. 

In addition to its new product line, Pyka has secured a landmark order for 20 aircraft in Brazil. This expansion will enable large-scale autonomous aerial application operations in the country, boosting efficiency and cost savings.

Since launching its first commercial autonomous spray aircraft in 2021, Pyka has continuously refined its technology to meet the demands of challenging agricultural environments. Pelican 2 offers:

• Upgraded four-motor electric propulsion system for increased reliability and power.
• Expanded payload capacity for longer spray missions and fewer refills.
• Wider 18-meter swath width, supporting multiple spray boom configurations, including hydraulic nozzles and electric rotary atomizers.
• Dynamic droplet size adjustment to optimize chemical use and minimize drift.
• Five hot-swappable lithium-ion battery sets, ensuring continuous 24/7 operation.
• Advanced LIDAR and RADAR systems for fully autonomous day-and-night spraying, increasing efficacy and extending spray time. 

“With nearly five years of commercial operation under our belt, this aircraft exhibits the reliability, performance and ease of operation that growers demand,” says Michael Norcia, Pyka co-founder and CEO. The company’s customers have been instrumental in shaping this most recent product.

Pyka’s aircraft has already demonstrated its capabilities on a global scale. In 2023, Pyka launched successful commercial operations with Dole in Honduras, deploying Pelican to enhance efficiency and precision in banana crop protection. Building on this momentum, Pyka secured a landmark commercial agreement in July 2024 with SLC Agrícola, one of Brazil’s largest agricultural producers, to deliver Pelican for large-scale agricultural use. Shortly after, following its first FAA authorization for commercial operation in the U.S., Pyka delivered its aircraft to Heinen Brothers Agra Services, a North American aerial application provider.