Rainmaker’s bid of technology To deploy Cloud seeding on a small drone is meeting the resistance of the airline pilot union, which has called on the Federal Aviation Administration to consider the refusal of the initial application until they meet the strict security guidelines.
The FAA’s decision will indicate how the regulator pushes the weather amendment through the pilot’s air system. Rainmaker’s condition on a small drone hangs in balance.
The Airline Pilot Association (ALPA) told the FAA that the Rain Maker’s application “failed to demonstrate equal level of safety” and poses a “high risk of safety”.
However, Rain Maker’s CEO Augustus Dorco said that all the union’s objections were based only on public notice, rather than the non -public documents submitted to the FAA, the company’s safety data and risk -related reduction were presented.
Rainmaker is taking immunity from the rules that prevents small drones from carrying hazardous material. The startup was filed in July, and the FAA has not yet ruled. Instead, he issued a follow -up request for information, which for actions and safety details. Press
In his filing, the Rain Maker recommended two flames, a “burn in place” and the other on his Elijah quadcopter, to disperse the particles of rain. The maximum height of Elias is 15,000 feet of MSL (measured by sea level), which is sitting within the controlled airspace where commercial planes fly as usual. Drones need permission from air traffic control to fly inside the bubble.
Rain Maker’s request states that he will work in Class G (uncontrollable) airspace unless it is otherwise. ALPA notes that the filing does not clearly tell where the flights will be or what height will be used. However, documents submitted to the FAA have revealed that the flights will be held in airspace, in addition to keeping the flights to a maximum height of 15,000 feet of MSL, which is pre -determined by aviation authorities to remain safe, “height of a height or airspace.” ALPA did not respond to Tech Crunch requests to comment.
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The Union also objected to the outbreak of foreign objects, citing concerns about the debris and fire protection. ALPA said the application does not include modeling or analysis of cousins ​​that evacuate the environmental effects of chemical agents.
“Regarding their objections to the use of flames, independent agencies and natural resources, such as the administration’s EPA, have studied the use of materials used in cloud seeds for more than 70 years and have never had any negative effect from the cloud,” said Dorco.
“The company respects the pilot’s union and hopes” will strengthen our relationship with the organization, “said Sam Kim, Sam Kim, Sam Kim, but claimed that” why the Rainmaker has filed for this immunity, “said Sam Kim.
Kim added, “Our flare in unmanned systems is fully for research purposes in a controlled flying environment and this is not part of our major ongoing works.”
Doreco said that a normal rainfall operation disperses 50-100 grams of silver iodide, and in flight with far less flares, while an hour of flight of a commercial plane flights unstable organic organic organic organic, and mascara kilograms.
“Rainmaker is interested in doing the best, responsible environmental research, and thus comparing flames with our proprietary aerosolism system that will flare up and eliminate silver iodide in particular.
“Regarding ALPA’s concerns about aviation officials and airspace with airspace, our flight works contain broadcast gestures, deliberate harmony with local ATCs, certified pilots, and collision systems, including electronic and physiological observers,” he said.
However, Rainmaker says the flights will be on properties owned by rural areas and private landowners, “with which the rain maker has built close -working relationships.”
Cloud seeding is already located today, with large -scale airplanes flying with state agencies in Western America. Sky Resorts commissioned operations to help keep their runs white, and helps to feed their reservoirs while melting in the spring to make irrigation and water districts in the winter.
Cloud Beijing’s general process is the 1950s. Sprinkling small particles in some clouds, scientists found that they could give birth to rain. Generally, cloud seeding operations use silver iodide for particles, mostly because they imitate ice crystal shape.
When the silver iodide particle collides with water droplets that are extremely cool, they cause the drop to fold the drop because its water is already below the frozen point. Once after becoming an ice crystal, it can grow rapidly if the conditions are right, in the same way that the liquid is faster than the drop of water. In addition, rapid growth helps stick to longer than water droplets, which can make vapors before the chance to fall as a rain.
Rain Maker’s turn – doing this with a drone instead of pilots – can be more secure in the long run. The company said the flight profiles are firmly bound, which is monitored in a remote pilot and trained staff, in the countryside, with other security checks.
What happens then what happens whether the FAA thinks they are sufficient. However, it has been decided that the agency’s response will potentially tone the tone of the novel cloud seeding approach.
9/13/2025: The story has been updated to include comments from Rain Maker’s founder and CEO, and Rain Maker’s Aviation Regulatory Manager Sam Kim’s Rain Maker’s comments..