AG Aviation Then and Now
I just spoke for the 50th convention of the Kansas Agricultural Aviation Association (KAAA). I used to sell ag aircraft, so it’s always good to get back among the people and to see what’s changed in the industry and what has not.
In the first place, ag aviation really is a business—one of the most businesslike segment of aviation. And it is also a part—a vital part—of agriculture. Ag aviation uses special equipment not seen in other segments of aviation. You can’t stop at just any aviation shop or parts’ house and buy a spreader, for example, or a spray nozzle either.
The flying is, of course, different from other aviation fields. The ag pilot may or may not be able to fly an ILS to minimums, but he can do some things the rest of us can’t do. He can take off at max weight on a hot day, fly under a thick, cross-country power line, and spray a field of wheat or cotton while his airplane gets lighter with every pass over the field..
Interesting, I went to their programs early in the day, and learned things about bees, chemicals, certifications, and equipment. That’s the way it was 30 years ago when I was selling to the industry. Then at lunch I listened to ag aviators discuss the trials and tribulations of finding and hiring a new pilot. That’s exactly as it was decades ago.
At the banquet that night I found out that ag aviators are still great audiences. They laughed, roared, and bought books. I had more fun than anyone else in the room.
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I liked the article about Ag aviation. Im up here in Michigan and have been researching ag aviation for the last year. Im really interested in learning more about it. The schools I’ve looked at cost about 40k-50k! From the outside looking in, Im just wondering if its worth it. Are the spray services looking for pilots or are the pilots fighting for jobs? Do they work all year? Spending that kind of money could get me pretty far along the way to getting some kind of button down degree so Im just trying to do some research. thanks!
Ralph - Your comments are refreshing. Ag-aviation has made quantum leaps in the last 25 years with the advent of turbo prop a/c (cost approaching $1 mil and only one seat!), sophisticated GPS units accurate within less than a meter that updates 10 times a second, datalogging the entire flight including off and on of the application, to sophisticated application equipment, like the electrostatic spray system that uses electrically charged droplets to attach to plant of an opposite charge. Prescriptions are digitally written whereby on board computers vary the application rate during flight, and even inject specific chemicals at certain times during the application. A different group of pilots than Jim described. Today’s ag-pilots are highly, on-going trained professionals.
Bill Lavender / Publisher / http://www.agairupdate.com
Ahmad Motalebi–
Thanks for writing.
I do not live in Kansas. I live in East Tennessee. I was in Kansas in late October, to speak for the Kansas Ag Aviation Assoc, and had a grand time. I flew in and out of Wichita. Wish I’d known you were there. I’d like to know more about ag aviation in Iran.
Thanks so much for writing,
Ralph Hood
Dear Ralph, I am an agricultural pilot from Iran with more than 20 years experience in different types of ag aircraft. Right now I am in Wichita visiting a classmate from my USAF pilot training class. We were students together at Vance AFB in 1972-1973, after which I returned to Iran to fly F-4 Phantoms. Where in Kansas do you live? I would be interesting in speaking with you about ag aviation in America. Regards, Ahmad
Sir Ralfus - re”Oh, no–I ain’t about to answer that either way. I hope to speak for both of ‘em again. They are both great!”"
, copy-copy and concur!
best, randy
Jim Hackman—
I met some of those lying pilots in the 1970s. I stopped by one of the ag pilot schools once and asked the instructor, “How much real ag time have you got?” He looked me straight in the eye and asked, “How much do you want?”
No doubt, he was dead serious.
Thanks for writing,
Ralph Hood
Cap’n Randy–
Oh, no–I ain’t about to answer that either way. I hope to speak for both of ‘em again.
They are both great!
Thanks,
Ralph Hood
Ralph, in the old days (before the enviro Nazi’s required state licenses) the rule was, the way to break in crop dusting was to go a hundred miles from home and lie like h***! In the early 90’s, we did a 10 day IFR course for an ag pilot so he could fight fires in his prop-jet duster. He did good, only problem was he thought standard rate turns were 60 degree bank!
Sir Ralfus - Those Kansas guys the equal of the Mississippi guys ?
best, randy