Pilot union urges FAA to reject Rainmaker’s drone cloud-seeding plan

Rainmaker Technology has proposed using small drones equipped with cloud-seeding flares to stimulate precipitation, seeking an exemption from FAA rules that prohibit small drones from carrying hazardous materials. Their Elijah quadcopter, capable of flying up to 15,000 feet MSL within controlled airspace, would deploy two types of flares to disperse particles that induce rainfall. The FAA has yet to rule on Rainmaker’s July petition, instead requesting more detailed information on operational and safety measures. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) strongly opposes the plan, urging the FAA to deny the request due to concerns over safety risks, lack of clear flight altitudes and locations, potential foreign object debris, fire hazards, and insufficient environmental impact analysis. Cloud seeding is a well-established practice, traditionally conducted by crewed aircraft to enhance precipitation, especially in the Western U.S. Rainmaker’s innovation lies in replacing manned flights with remotely piloted drones, which the company argues could be safer due to