Agricultural drone spraying rules in Indonesia
What you need to spray crops with a drone in Indonesia: legal status, authorities, permits, requirements and operating limits, with links to the official sources.
Legal status
Restricted or by exception. Spraying pesticides or sowing seed by drone is allowed only over the farm or plantation area stated in the flight plan, and PM 37/2020 grants approval only if no residential settlement lies within 500 m of the area's outer boundary. The drone must be registered and the pilot certified under CASR Part 107.
Who regulates it
- Aviation: Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transportation (DJPU)
- Aviation: Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations (SIDOPI drone and pilot registration) (DKPPU)
- Agriculture: Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan)
Legal basis
- Peraturan Menteri Perhubungan Nomor PM 37 Tahun 2020: Operation of unmanned aircraft in Indonesian airspace: airspace limits, daylight rule, third-party insurance, approval procedure, and points 3.14–3.15 on agricultural spraying and seeding.
- Peraturan Menteri Perhubungan Nomor PM 63 Tahun 2021 (PKPS/CASR Bagian 107): Small unmanned aircraft up to 25 kg (55 lb): registration and registration marks, remote pilot certificate, operating rules.
What you need
- Register the drone with the Directorate General (SIDOPI) and display its registration mark (PKPS 107.13). (imsis-djpu.dephub.go.id)
- The pilot must hold a remote pilot certificate with a small unmanned aircraft rating. (imsis-djpu.dephub.go.id)
- Commercial operations with drones under 55 lb need a safety assessment by the Directorate General; drones over 55 lb need certification under CASR Part 21 (PM 37/2020, point 3.2). (imsis-djpu.dephub.go.id)
- Hold insurance covering third-party losses from the operation (PM 37/2020, points 3.4 and 4.5–4.6). (imsis-djpu.dephub.go.id)
- Use only pesticides registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and follow the label. (pertanian.go.id)
How to get authorised
- Register the drone and apply for the remote pilot certificate in SIDOPI. (imsis-djpu.dephub.go.id)
- Check that no residential settlement lies within 500 m of the field boundary and whether the field is in controlled airspace. (imsis-djpu.dephub.go.id)
- Prepare a flight plan stating agricultural operation and sprayer equipment, and apply for approval at least 14 working days before the operation where approval is required. (imsis-djpu.dephub.go.id)
- Coordinate with the air navigation service unit at least 24 hours before the flight when the procedure applies. (imsis-djpu.dephub.go.id)
Operating limits for spraying
- Spraying and seeding approval only if no residential settlement is within 500 m of the outer boundary of the farm or plantation (PM 37/2020, point 3.15).
- Agricultural drones may operate only over the farm or plantation area described in the flight plan (PM 37/2020, point 3.14).
- Flights in principle only from sunrise to sunset; night flights need Directorate General approval (PM 37/2020, points 3.6–3.7).
- In uncontrolled airspace, up to 400 ft (120 m) without approval; above that, approval is needed; controlled airspace always needs approval (PM 37/2020, point 2.1).
Good to know
- After approval, a NOTAM is published for the unmanned aircraft operation (PM 37/2020, point 4.12).
Checked against official sources on 2026-09-18. Rules change: confirm with the authorities before operating. This page is a planning summary, not legal advice. The product label and the official rules always prevail.