Which drone for vineyard spraying in Switzerland? Models, FOCA and Agroscope approvals, and what a service costs

The regulatory answer: two approvals, not one

Spraying by drone is not covered by the ordinary registration that suffices for most professional flights. It falls under the specific category of the European framework applied in Switzerland since 1 January 2023 and supervised by FOCA, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. Two separate authorisations are needed, issued by two different bodies.

• FOCA issues an annual authorisation on request, via form PDRA-S01 accompanied by annex FOCA-UAS-APP-AGRI, to be filed at least two months before the first planned use. The schedule of safety distances was updated in early 2026.
• Agroscope approves the drone model for this specific use, with a check renewed every three years. A person holding the plant-protection permit must be responsible for the operation, and a flight-path tracking accuracy of about ±50 cm applies.

FOCA publishes no register of drone spraying operators. The trade press counted eight in 2019; no public source gives the current number. Agroscope holds the official list of approved models, and the exact figure should be checked with Agroscope case by case. Our vineyard spraying page details the operators and the framework, and our regulation page the general rules.

Which drone models are approved for vineyard spraying?

Agroscope approves models individually, and the approval is renewed every three years. Our catalogue of agricultural drones lists the families below, but approval is granted per model and per use, not per brand: a model listed here is not automatically approved for spraying in Switzerland. The official list is held by Agroscope.

Our catalogue presents the Agras T25 as the most compact model of its range, built for small plots and sloped vineyards; the larger tanks are aimed at row crops. The choice also depends on the Agroscope approval status of the exact model and on the operator's FOCA authorisation.

What a vineyard spraying service costs

No Swiss operator publishes a price list: the service is quoted case by case, depending on the number of passes, the slope, the area treated and the product applied. No current public rate exists. The only figures available are dated and must be read as such.

The drone is not the cheapest option against the helicopter. Its strengths are deposit precision, less drift and noise, and access to small terraced plots. For a firm price, describe your plot in the enquiry form at the bottom of the page.

Buying the drone or using a service provider

For a wine estate, using an approved operator avoids investing in the drone, the Agroscope approval and the annual FOCA applications, which remain the service provider's responsibility. Buying suits estates that treat several hectares regularly and have a trained pilot registered with FOCA.

In both cases, the general obligations apply: free registration on UAS.gate with a CH-Login, the operator number affixed to the aircraft, and third-party liability insurance from 250 g with minimum cover of one million Swiss francs. Airspace is managed through Swiss U-Space (Skyguide), app.swissuspace.ch.

On the purchase side, the catalogue gives indicative prices: DJI Agras T25 from about USD 12,500 (T25 only, observed price in the United States; T25P on request), Agras T50 from about EUR 13,500 (Europe, excluding assembly), Agras T100 from about USD 21,800 (aircraft kit only) or about USD 40,000 (complete RTF kit), XAG P150 Max from EUR 18,333.91 excluding VAT (aircraft only, listed by a European reseller on 4 November 2026; see our price index), EAVision J100 on quotation. These are not Swiss service rates and do not include approval, training or insurance.

What to check before signing with an operator

1. FOCA authorisation: annual, via PDRA-S01 and annex FOCA-UAS-APP-AGRI, filed at least two months before first use.
2. Agroscope approval of the exact model: renewed every three years; ask for the model reference, not just the brand.
3. Plant-protection permit held by the person responsible for the operation.
4. Tracking accuracy of about ±50 cm, to limit drift towards neighbouring plots, waterways and inhabited areas.
5. Insurance covering at least one million Swiss francs, and UAS.gate registration with the operator number affixed.

For the regulatory detail, consult bazl.admin.ch and agroscope.admin.ch; the official texts remain the only authoritative source. SinoDrone can direct you to an operator or a dealer but does not replace FOCA.