Does anyone feel it's necessary to have a current, valid 3rd class FAA physical to operate a spray drone? What is the point? I realize this is a flying machine, but no one is riding on it. Even if it were carrying passengers (I know, it's not!) the FAA allows lots of flying machines to be operated without ANY physical. Balloons, gliders, ultralights, and now Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). The LSA is legal to carry 2 passengers. The aircraft can weigh up to 1320 lbs gw. It can fly up to 10,000' MSL (vs 400' agl for drones) It can travel up to 138 mph!! Compare those specs to any ag drone. Not even close. But, it can be done in a LSA and they have become very popular. If you're not familiar, the LSA looks like a step between ultralights (aka flying lawn chairs) and small 2 seat fixed wing planes.

But yet to fly (or rather observe flying) a clunky drone going 20-40 mph and carrying no one, the operator (pilot?) needs a 3rd class FAA administered physical. I spent many years getting 2nd class and 1st class FAA physicals, so I'm familiar with them. Basically, they're supposed to help assure you won't fall over dead, or pass out while flying, or point out other human weaknesses that may hinder flight. But, any medical exam is just like the annual inspection of an aircraft. It says everything was good......at the moment of the inspection. 6 months from now is no guarantee of either still being good. Passing a 3rd class (same as private pilots get now) might show you have diabetes that you weren't aware of and may be subject to blackouts, which isn't good for flying planes. It's not good for driving a Corvette at 150 mph either. So, a drone operator might be assured he/she won't pass out due to diabetes, but it won't prevent you from "biting the dirt" from standing out in the 100 degree sun for 8 hrs watching a drone fly. Yes, you can still get a 3rd class with diabetes, but there are hoops to jump through. 50 yrs ago I had a couple students that were going to be great pilots. They showed a good feel for aircraft control & understood how to make it fly. Then you'd send the student to get a physical so they could "solo". Student(s) came back with tears in their eyes discovering they were mild diabetic. They were done flying (solo) back then. Now-a-days, there are possibilities, but they come with some major hoops to jump through.

My point....I don't think a 3rd class aviation flight physical should be a requirement to operate a spray drone with the "fail-safe" systems drones should have now.

Convince me it's necessary!