Author Topic: Ag Pilot  (Read 809 times)

Offline wpeters

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Ag Pilot
« on: June 25, 2014, 05:51:30 AM »
Guys, I have been recommended to look in to a new job career of being a ag pilot.   I was wondering what schools would you recommend going to and is there any government or ag programs a guy can enroll in???
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Offline Randy1

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2014, 05:58:00 AM »
"This week in ag business" TV program did a show covering the crop dusting business  this last Sunday.  You should be able to find that program replay on the internet. 

http://www.agbizweek.com/

Offline Cremator

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2014, 08:38:17 AM »
Tough job market to get into and an occupation that will phase itself out. I have time in a 450 ag cat. If I were going to go to a school I'd recommend Flying TIger aviation in Louisiana. You can go from no time to commercial ticket with infisis on agricultural type aircraft. Where do you live?
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Offline Dragon

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2014, 09:33:28 AM »
Guys, I have been recommended to look in to a new job career of being a ag pilot.   I was wondering what schools would you recommend going to and is there any government or ag programs a guy can enroll in???

So your 4 years as a middle school teacher isn't going to turn into 5?  That sucks.
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Offline wpeters

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2014, 10:14:32 AM »
So your 4 years as a middle school teacher isn't going to turn into 5?  That sucks.
Well grossing $23,000 annually doesn't give a big hope for the future. I have promise til school end of next spring. But like start getting financial aid
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Offline Golfer

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2014, 11:52:53 PM »
Can you even get a cockpit seat without being a loader for a while?

I have no idea other than occasionally I see some GoPro videos a buddy makes and posts to Facebook occasionally.

Offline MrRiplEy[H]

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #6 on: June 26, 2014, 12:50:00 AM »
Loader?
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Offline DaveBB

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #7 on: June 26, 2014, 04:58:33 AM »
I was driving down I-10 between Houston and Lake Charles, Louisiana.  I saw an airstrip with two Ag-planes.  One plane was on the runway, ready to takeoff .  Further down the road, I saw the same plane, spraying a field.  Now I always thought Ag-planes flew low and slow, relatively level, and sprayed fertilizer/herbicide/etc at a leisurely pace.  NO!  This plane was spraying a large field, with power lines at one end, and tall trees at the other.  The plane never remained level for more than 2 or 3 seconds.  It would come in at a steep dive, spray the chemicals, nose up sharply, almost do a complete wing-over, and repeat the process.  It looked incredibly dangerous, and I realized then that crop dusting was something totally different than I thought.  Before you become an agricultural pilot, you better watch one of these planes in action.  They fly low, the maneuvers are violent, the CoG of the plane is constantly shifting, and there is no altitude for mistakes.
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Offline Traveler

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2014, 10:48:48 AM »
Guys, I have been recommended to look in to a new job career of being a ag pilot.   I was wondering what schools would you recommend going to and is there any government or ag programs a guy can enroll in???

Check out NAAA, National Agricultural Aviation Association.  I did Ag work for 10 years,   You also need to hold a State administered EPA Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification, for each state you work in.   You will also need a 2nd class medical on an annual basis.  It helps if you know someone in the business, I worked for an ag company and dusted everything from NY, NJ, DE, MD and VA.  Late 72 through 82.  I flew an F8 Waco, Split time between dusting and towing banners.

If you ever watched Sesame Street as a kid, in the beginning of the show they showed an old Biplane Sky Writing  the alphabet, writing each letter, not the sky typing where a formation of planes each release a puff of smoke to form a letter, well that aircraft was an F8 Waco and the pilot was my boss Cecil Cofferin, a very interesting guy, do a google search on him.  At that time one of the few remaining pilots in the US that could still skywrite.   
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Offline wpeters

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #9 on: June 27, 2014, 10:12:39 AM »
Thanks on the pointers guys.
I am checking into going to Ag flight in Georgia. Anyone know about it?
LtCondor
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Offline DaCoon

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #10 on: June 27, 2014, 10:44:12 AM »
I was driving down I-10 between Houston and Lake Charles, Louisiana.  I saw an airstrip with two Ag-planes.  One plane was on the runway, ready to takeoff .  Further down the road, I saw the same plane, spraying a field.  Now I always thought Ag-planes flew low and slow, relatively level, and sprayed fertilizer/herbicide/etc at a leisurely pace.  NO!  This plane was spraying a large field, with power lines at one end, and tall trees at the other.  The plane never remained level for more than 2 or 3 seconds.  It would come in at a steep dive, spray the chemicals, nose up sharply, almost do a complete wing-over, and repeat the process.  It looked incredibly dangerous, and I realized then that crop dusting was something totally different than I thought.  Before you become an agricultural pilot, you better watch one of these planes in action.  They fly low, the maneuvers are violent, the CoG of the plane is constantly shifting, and there is no altitude for mistakes.
not just in La.   As an OTR driver I see those guys dusting fields all over the country.  pretty much the same job state to state.   and by the way......looks like awesome fun job....wish I'd thought of it instead of driving.     :cheers:
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Offline Randy1

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #11 on: June 27, 2014, 11:10:13 AM »
Thanks on the pointers guys.
I am checking into going to Ag flight in Georgia. Anyone know about it?

You might be able to teach in Ga as well.  Teachers in GA are well paid. In our county the school parking lot is filled with Cadillac Escalates and other large SUVs due to automatic raises they got passed.

Offline rpm

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2014, 11:17:04 AM »
You can go from no time to commercial ticket with infisis on agricultural type aircraft.
You want to make sure to get that infisis. It's a sign of quality instruction.
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Offline Cremator

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Re: Ag Pilot
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2014, 11:34:00 AM »
Thanks on the pointers guys.
I am checking into going to Ag flight in Georgia. Anyone know about it?

I'd be leary. The ability to get a seat is growing less and less, regardless of what someone will tell you to get you into their school. I spent countless hours on the ground, loading, mixing, coordinating, washing and building hours just waiting on a seat. Finally got some time in Iowa on a whim in an ag cat for a crook. Never got paid and the plane was out of annual. It crashed a short time later. I would look into building hours at home, get a commercial ticket then go get some time in a dual cockpit ag plane. I bought my first plane for around 14k, Cessna 150. Got plenty of hours, sign offs and sold the plane for more than I gave for it. Learned at my own pace, learned about maintenance and air worthiness of my craft. Once you start hanging around airports you will meet folks who will help you. My instructor had a complex aircraft and I used it for my commercial ticket.

I'd for sure explore my options before writing a check to Billy Howell. Just my opinion.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2014, 12:13:31 PM by Cremator »
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