ag flying

[solowflyer]

have been surfing through the threads but no info about ag flying. I am just about to sit my CPL and like many others am a bit lost for direction when it comes time to step out into the big wide world of aviation.

Instructing is an option, but i fell i should be working smarter instead of beacoming one of the airfield sheep fighting for the limited oppertunities that do arise.

I have not come across any student or instructor that has even considered this route, how can this be as looking through old av mags there seems to be a huge aviation industry working away in the back ground that gets compleatly ignored.

has anyone had any experience in this side of aviation who can relay some info such as lifstyle, oppertunities, income, and how to get involved.

any info or stories would be appreciated

[C182 Drover]

You could try the other forums like;

http://www.aopa.com.au/forum/phpBB2/index.php
http://www.agacf.org/ (they have an ag section)
also try http://www.vpmag.com/yssy/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=3c726260d379a8fe3aacab1e655801af

Plus Newsgroup aus.aviation

:cool:

[Bendo]

I don't want to kill a dream, if that is what you have, because Ag flying can be great fun and very very rewarding - I know blokes who make $5000 per week on cotton and rice.

The downside is that they are currently making less than $500 per week on retainer only because the drought has knackered most of the agricultural industry out there.

OK there are still spots of spraying and so on but as an example, Pay's Airservice has done a whole 100 acres in the last 10 days - about a day's worth - and the other mob here has spread super on about one day in three this last month. Usually they spend dawn to dusk spreading super 7 days per week between May and November.

Bear in mind also that you have to have a good general mechanical knowledge (not to fix the aeroplanes so much as fix the old loader trucks), be a good "equipment operator" generally, and it helps immensely if you are a country boy or have spent a lot of time on properties.

The greenies will get aerial Ag in the end. I asked Col Pay how much spraying there was in Moree etc and he just looked at me and shook his head slowly.

"About enough for a Tigermoth and a small knapsack".

Best of luck with your career- if you have the determination you will do whatever you want to do.

[solowflyer]

BENDO

thanks for you insite into the industry, it sounds like how i thought, boom or bust.

Luckily the attributes u mentioned do apply to me having both an engineering and farming background. this is probably why this side of the industry appeals.

Wot i cant understand is how a relitivly large industry can go almost compleatly unnoticed by the rest of the aviation community.(Probably for the better career wise, less competition).

Bringing back to the lifstyle could i be wrong in saying ag flyers get to c some spectacular country and get to travel some fairly exotic destinations and have a great times while at it without all the political crap and but kissing that seems to plage the rest of the aviation world. not to mention the actual flying, it seems pretty pure and adventurous stuff.

[currawong]

solowflyer,

if you want to fly an aircraft, no, really fly an aircraft, it could be for you.

Do a season loading, see if you like the lifestyle. Take a long hard look, before spending on the rating. Some do not and waste their money, or are stuck with a job they do not like.

Operators are recruiting NOW for the upcoming season. Check out the classifieds atwww.fieldair.com.au (http://)

Briefly - when it is busy, you have time for nothing else. When it is quiet, you do very little.

Some work all year, some just the summer, some just the winter.

Conditions vary. Flat rate 20%, 10% + retainer, or whatever the operator feels like. It depends.

Can supply contact details of people to talk to re rating. PM me if interested.

Plenty of ag people get into six figures, plenty do not. Do the math. Aircraft earns $1000/hr for 600 hrs. It might only do 200 hrs. It might do 1000 hrs. Depends on the season.

Career path - is a career in its own right. Can lead to survey or fire work. Not a common path to the airlines anymore.

Yes there is a drought. (this is Australia, after all) Does affect us. Much like SARS/terrorism has an effect on GA/airlines. Take your pick.

Was spraying about an hour ago, so go figure.

Good luck.

[solowflyer]

Currawong

Wow thanks for the info. Have placed a add on the noticeboard as loader. Cant c me in the airlines, px might frown apon the pilot wearing Gumboots and a swannie:}

[airag2]

Christ I never thought I'd see the day Aerial Ag was discussed on these forums but good on you Solowflyer.

I wouldn't recommend instructing if you are already thinking of Ag' , even though the I/R will improve your basic flying accuracy and theory knowledge it will bear little relevance to what you'll learn during an Ag' Rating which will cost a further 10-12 grand.

Currawongs post is all good , take his advice re loading for a few seasons as this will give you a look at the game and a grounding in all the considerations for the various types of application , meanwhile flying anything you can get your hands on (glider towing is good).

Don't glam up the lifestyle as it's often dirty, grubby hard work which I suspect answers your question of why so few are interested.

P.S. Bendo, 100 ac is about 15 min work!

[solowflyer]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your help just got offered a job today so packing my Bags and off to Oz in 3 weeks.:D :} :ok:

[Bendo]

Fair nuff...

...depends how far away it is, doesn't it?

[currawong]

PPRUNE:ok:

Zero to job in 48 hours.

Does it get any better?

[asw28-866]

Have read this thread with interest as am also planning to try and get into AG work. Aim to do CPL,Ag-Rating early next year in Queensland and would welcome responses on where to do it and the overall sensibility of the plan!

I am a latecomer to commercial aviation so am not looking for an airline seat etc. Already have 300hrs tailwheel time and 1100hrs in Gliders.

[currawong]

Here goes -

Pays - NSW - 0265451166

Pratt - QLD - 0741622629

Rebel - NSW - 0268887101

Super Spread - NSW - 0358812642

Woorayl Air - VIC - 0356643288

Dunns - WA - 0899233151

Fieldair - VIC - 0353394222

Low Level - SA - 0883443944

In no particular order, although I have dealt with the first three listed.

The times you have will serve you well; tail is good, loaded a/c and gliders have a similar climb performance....

When you hit QLD stop by for a cold one :ok:

[asw28-866]

Thanks mate,
Probably go down in next few weeks and call up on some of these guys. My Mrs is already doing her CPL at Archerfield as we speak.

Howard

[tinpis]

I remember the good ole days when Goof Whitless was running the show the only pilots that could qualify for assistance for govt. funding for instrument rating training were ag pilots based on recent hour requirements.
Hence lotta ag pilots out there in the cotton doin ILS approaches:}

Dont think the industry has got any less dumber.
:mad:

[currawong]

tinpis,

Upon reflection, probably not.

If govt. legislation were to suddenly put many of us out of work again these days I doubt they would give us a pot to pi55 in, let alone assistance into another sector of the industry.:(

Then again, in todays litigeous environment I would be hitting them for far more than an IR.:E

[josephshankes]

currawong

Would you have any email addresses for some of those companies, would you?

[currawong]

josephshankes,

can do fax # or postal addresses, have not got e-mail addresses, may be able to get them. If you can wait I can try to get them.

Cheers.