Pyka and Grupo HAME Begin Guatemala's First Autonomous Electric Aerial Crop Spraying Operation‍

First-of-its-kind DGAC approval enables Pyka Pelican operations in Guatemala’s banana industry
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ALAMEDA, Calif. — October 21, 2026 — Pyka and Grupo HAME today announced the beginning of Pyka Pelican operations at Tecún Umán, San Marcos, Guatemala, bringing autonomous electric aerial spraying to the country’s banana industry for the first time.

Pyka’s Pelican aircraft has received approval from Guatemala’s Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) for agricultural spraying operations, marking a technological and sustainability milestone for the country.
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Pelican will support Grupo HAME’s banana operations in the management of Black Sigatoka, a fungus with severe impacts on banana production.
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“We are excited to begin this new chapter with Pyka and introduce autonomous electric aircraft into our banana operations,” said Enrique Pallais, Head of the Banana and Plantain Business Unit at Grupo HAME. “This technology offers an opportunity to improve operational efficiency while giving our teams greater flexibility in how and when crop protection applications are performed.”
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“We’re thrilled to begin operating Pelican with Grupo HAME in Guatemala,” said Michael Norcia, CEO and Co-Founder of Pyka. “We’ve spent years putting Pelican to work with commercial growers around the world and have been waiting for the right opportunity to deploy our technology to Grupo HAME for several years now. This deployment builds on our experience to date, while expanding this technology into a new agricultural market.”
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The deployment builds on Pyka’s experience in banana operations with Dole, as well as its extensive commercial operations in Brazil, where Pelican aircraft are being used by agricultural producers across the country.
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The fully electric, autonomous Pelican is purpose-built for agricultural spraying and can operate without an onboard pilot, including during nighttime hours. Its deployment in Guatemala adds another country to Pyka’s growing international commercial footprint.
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About Pyka
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Pyka is America's leading manufacturer of dual-use heavy-lift autonomous aircraft. Pyka's aircraft are in commercial operation globally with customers across agriculture, logistics, and defense. The company's technologies are designed for demanding, real-world environments and proven to enhance safety, efficiency, and reliability in critical missions worldwide.
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About Grupo HAME
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Grupo HAME is a leading Latin American agribusiness with almost 75 years of experience and operations in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, and the United States. As one of the region’s largest independent banana producers, HAME combines agricultural expertise, technology, innovation, and sustainability to improve productivity, quality, and responsible production. The company continues to invest in better ways of working, with a focus on strong operations, continuous improvement, and delivering high-quality products to international markets.