Currently, there has been an almost complete reduction in traditional agricultural aviation work in Europe. This is due to the increasing efficiency of ground work and the requirements for environmental protection during the use of plant protection products. The article presents issues related to the development of agricultural aviation and precision agriculture, which may contribute to the return of agricultural work to flying objects. Examples of manned and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are presented, and the environmental impact of agricultural work using manned and unmanned aerial vehicles is estimated based on literature data. It turns out that thanks to the use of modern technology, it is possible to reduce the emission of most exhaust components while meeting the requirements for the use of plant protection products. In comparison to manned aircraft, the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle enables the reduction of CO2, CO and NOx emissions by over 80%, while increasing SO2 emissions by approx. 15%.