Spend a significant amount of time as an apprentice/inexperienced ag pilot learning the nuances of the trade and eventually become a journeyman/seasoned aerial applicator. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, hours flown by crop-dusters rose 29% from 2003 to 2007. How many acres can a crop duster spray per hour? How Much Does a Private Pilot License Cost in 2023? These planes are outfitted with special containers and dispersal systems that carry 100s of gallons of liquid chemicals. To be a successful crop duster, it takes time. When you go into town, you meet someone new, they ask what you do, and you say youre a crop duster; 9 times out of 10 their faces light up and instantly start asking how crazy and dangerous and cool our job must be. Compared to the tractor, the helicopter: Sprays around 100 acres per hour. Also one can establish ones own business by purchasing crop duster planes later and then there is no limit to ones earnings. Flying over contractors farmlands and spaying pesticides and fertilisers. This includes passing a medical exam and flying for 250 hours. Because the term "crop dusting" automatically brings to mind the previously mentioned image, today's pilots generally prefer the term "aerial application" or "ag application.". The pilots themselves are referred to as "ag pilots" or "aerial applicators.". The airplanes used by farmers ranged from heavy World War II bombers to light, personal aircraft. In order to become a crop duster and work as an ag pilot, a pilot will have to undergo a series of examinations set forth by the FAA. Study Guide by Subject Their work begins early in the morning mixing chemicals and pumping them into the planes. The higher the plane value is, the more you will make. FlyingRon. . In the United States, approximately 119,200 pilots and flight engineers are employed. Finally, I was told I needed about aother 1000hrs of flight time (currently at 3000hrs). But being a crop dusting pilot is one of the most rewarding aviation careers available for individuals who enjoy the pleasures of flying. You then need to do an Agricultural Rating which is another 40hrs. Additionally, AlldorGarden.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. How many acres can a crop duster spray in a day? The pay can be very good; top salary at some of the higher paying major airlines is around $200,000 a year, for about 80 to 85 hours of flying per month. With planes valued at $1 million or more, no agricultural business owner will allow a novice near them until he shows maturity on the ground, the National Agricultural Aviation Association states in its March/April 2012 article, Landing a Seat. Very few dustings these days. In addition, ag pilots are sometimes called on to perform other piloting missions due to their specific expertise. Job Title: Crop Duster, Aerial Applicator, Agricultural PilotOffice: In a plane over farmlandDescription: Fly small planes and spray fertilizer and pesticides over cropsCertifications/Education: Commercial and Agricultural Pilot LicenseNecessary Skills: Flying experiencePotential Employers: Independent ContractorPay: Start at $20,000 per year, but with experience can make up to $100,000 per year, Search Agricultural Pilot and Other Pilot Jobs on JobMonkey 7 Best College Majors 2022: What Should I Major In? For those who dont work in the industry, it can be all too easy to overlook just how complex it is and how much goes into crop dusting. Attend state and regional trade shows and the national NAAA convention to meet new employers and pilots. Today crop dusting is known as aerial application in the agricultural industry, and it's one of the . Passing a medical exam and having logged at least 250 flying hours are required to qualify for a license. You need to get your tailwheel, high performance, and experience in a few different planes that are common (all which you get at the school). The application of product in a manner which results in off-target consequences should be reported to the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 1-800-641-3934. Many countries have severely limited aerial application of pesticides and . Typically, pilots spray early in the morning before the heat evaporates chemicals on the crops. Portland, AR 71663. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. You're gonna need alot more than 2 or 300hrs to be insurable. It's not called "crop dusting" anymore. Pilots could also go for special training that could provide them with the skills that they require for becoming a crop duster pilot. 2023 OnlineDegree.com, All Rights Reserved. We are more like farmers and less like daredevils. They fly just above the field and dump their cargo. The importance, intricacy, and hazards of the job all contribute to the positions increasing salary. The middle 50% of Aerial Crop Dusters earns $76,150, while the top 83% earns $147,890. but ive been looking into becoming an ag-pilot while im in school. We have tried to provide relevant, up to date information about colleges, careers and degree programs. 3. This figure compares favorably with the average salary of other pilots in different specializations within the aviation industry. What is a Post-Secondary Degree, and Do I Need One? Crop dusters are part of the aerial application industry. Most of our application is for spraying and that sort of thing is done at an altitude of between seven and ten feet above the crop, and we generally go in at about 140 to 150 miles per hour. Employers in this business are usually specialized crop dusting contractors and business owners. As a reference, a fixed-wing model can fly for about one hour and covers up to 900 acres, while a multi-rotor drone can fly a maximum of 40 minutes and covers up to 200 acres. He appears You can find regulations for agriculture aircraft operations (14 CFR Part 137) on the Government Printing Office's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Because of the chemicals extreme toxicity, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightly regulates the use of paraquat. Salary can range anywhere from $20,000 up to $100,000 or more. First, lets start with some simple math, the average cost of a fungicide is $10 to $15 per acre, the cost of application is $12 to $15 per acre for aerial and $5 to $8 per acre for ground. About 260 TT hopefully I'll have clocked around 100 tailwheel. Ag Pilot/Crop Duster "Day in the life of". It requires tremendous skill and precision and takes a significant amount of training. Most crop dusters will spray a crop once every 25 to 30 days, but some may spray more or less frequently. You must obtain a minimum of a Commercial pilot license to work for compensation. By Jon Slikker, Jr., Aerial Applicator, Vince Dusters, Crop Dustertoday we love to be called a Crop Duster. This article is about how to become an aerial applicator, aka Crop Duster.. The airplane takes off from the nearest airstrip fly past the crops spraying pesticides. Many of the current crop dusters are old timers that are nearing retirement. generally prefer the term aerial application or ag application. The pilots themselves are referred to as ag 150 hours might get you a commercial but insurance companies might want 250. Crop dusting provides regular work during the growing season, which is longer in the warmer, southern states. Some extra tasks you will perform as a crop duster may influence your remuneration. In fact, Getting a commercial pilot's license doesn't qualify you for an agricultural aviation career. An Air Tractor 502 using the smoker system . Most professional pilot programs offer ground and flight instruction that covers . Over congested areas crop duster planes cannot fly below 1000 feet. Maintaining records and reporting about the operational condition of the planes. By Michael Wildes. Washington, DC 20591 866.835.5322 (866-TELL-FAA)Contact Us, United States Department of Transportation, Aviation Safety Draft Documents Open for Comment, Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program, Legislation & Policies, Regulations & Guidance, Certificated Remote Pilots including Commercial Operators, Recreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based Organizations, regulations for agriculture aircraft operations, Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The impact tore off part of . They do not fly to exotic destinations like commercial airline pilots, nor do they experience the rush of pure adrenaline described by military pilots when pushing their aircraft toward the speed of sound. Ag flying sounds like a fantastic job, doesnt it? Completing these programs establishes your credibility and professionalism. Which Veterinary Assistant Certification is Best? Crop dusters, ag pilots who specialize in spraying agricultural areas, is a specialty pilot service thats growing fast. an ag pilot by promoting research, new technologies, and new application techniques. These include a medical examination as well as 250 hours of flight time. By law, airline pilots are required to retire at 65. Tuition and demographic data is based on recently published National Center for Education Statistics. Developing the relationship with the owner and then witnessing your growth will get your foot in the door. To help you decide what your best choice is for this career path, weve compiled a list of 14 different types of pilot jobs and the salaries you can expect in 2023! using a light bar and electronic mapping system. Get acquainted with them and learn more about the industry that you want to enter, advises NAAA Insurance Committee Member Doug Davidson in his May/June 2009 article, "Insuring New Ag Pilots." However, the industry is heavily dependent on high crop prices, and career growth can suffer when crop markets crash. Or you would fly for someone else. Beyond that, for those interested there are also calls for environmental studies, gathering data on vegetation using sensors, dousing forest fires. Acquire a private pilot license from the FAA by undergoing pilot training and certification from a flight school. Crop dusting ensures regular work during the growing season, which in the warmer, southern states is longer. Being an ag pilot is one of the most exciting jobs in aviation. If one is to move up through the ranks and earn those higher paychecks, therefore, it is vital to learn as much as possible about the industry and be cleared to perform that 80% of the pre and post-flight work as well as the 20% of flight time. Its hard to want to hire a pilot that is only about flying an airplane. About 3,000 pilots, most in their 50s and 60s, still take part in the storied business of crop dusting.In the past, the demand for their services was greater. The course is designed to take an existing Ag pilot and introduce a complex turbine powered aircraft. However, achieving that kind of salary also requires exceptional flying skills, knowledge of agricultural chemicals and a willingness to learn the industry. Four major schools exist in Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota and Canada. 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