Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 45

ADVANCED PILOT CAREER SPOTLIGHT
BY JILL W. TALLMAN
SPRAY TODAY
HELPING THE NATION'S FARMERS
AS AIRLINE PILOTS ARE REACHING RETIREMENT AGE and leaving
the workforce, aerial applicators-which the rest of the world
knows as crop dusters-are doing the same thing. The average
age of a U.S. ag pilot is more than 50 years. While 50-something
pilots are more than capable of flying for many years to come, the
advancing age of the workforce-which numbers about 3,400 in the
United States-signals a need to infuse the industry with younger
pilots and prepare a new generation to provide this service.
Aerial applicators fly both fixed-wing and rotary wing aircraft
to disperse fertilizer or pesticides over high-yield crops such as
corn, wheat, barley, soybeans, and alfalfa. They also help to deter
mosquito populations and can assist in aerial firefighting.
The typical ag pilot spends long days flying at low altitudes,
performing dozens of takeoffs and landings a day. GPS and
geographic information systems help the pilot pinpoint where
application needs to go so that less product can be applied to
more acres.
Ag pilots can work for themselves or a company that provides
these services to farmers. The National Agricultural Aviation
Association (NAAA) says it's not just a job; " it's a way of life. "
Agricultural aircraft operations are regulated under FAR Part
137, which states that applicants must demonstrate satisfactory
completion of knowledge and skill tests to an FAA representative
or chief pilot of the agriculture operation. The applicant will be
tested not only on safe maneuvering but also in the proper handling
and disposal of the dispersants they may carry. In addition,
the Environmental Protection Agency requires pilots to obtain a
spray license for each state in which they operate, according to
the NAAA. FT
jill.tallman@aopa.org
FLIGHT TRAINING NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
45
QUALIFICATIONS
Commercial certificate, second class
medical, successful completion of a
knowledge and skill test.
BENEFITS
Proficiency in low-level aerial
operations.
DRAWBACKS
Work may be seasonal. Low-level
operations can be hazardous.
PAY
Averages $84,145 per year. Typical
pay is between $59,750 and $104,178
per year, according to the Economic
Research Institute.
DAVID TULIS

Flight Training - November/December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - November/December 2021

Contents
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - Intro
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - Cover1
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - Cover2
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - Contents
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 2
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 3
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 4
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 5
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 6
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 7
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 8
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 9
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 10
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 11
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Flight Training - November/December 2021 - Cover3
Flight Training - November/December 2021 - Cover4
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