Ag Training

[JJR1670]

Interetested in peoples comments on getting an ag rating... who.. and why.. etc

Thanks in advance

[HarleyD]

If you havn't wanted to do this as a burning desire since you were a young'un, or first saw an ag-pilot at work, and if you're not off the land, or at least a bit agriculturally oriented, and if you haven't been working as a mixer or loader driver for an ag operator,.....forget it, you will last 2 minutes before you want to go home.

The best way to get a start is to work in the industry, get your licences and experience, then get a rating and then you may even get a job.

You start right at the pointy end in Ag, the work is exacting and the hours are long, and the boss is not inclined to hand out 1-2 million buck planes to sprogs so expect to start in a dunger and prove that you can get through a couple of seasons doing the hard yards before you get a really good seat.

maybe you should go to the annual AAAA convention, register and sit in on some sessions, drink a few (million) beers and have a good hard look at what you are going to turn out like after 20 years, that alone might just put you off. don't get me wrong these guys really are the best of the best when it comes to actual pure flying skill, if aviation was the olympics these guys are the gold medallists and record holders, but you may not be for their world.

Talk to lots of people about this, it is not a job that you just 'give go and see', yiou need real committment and a certain amount of natural ability of course.

[JJR1670]

Thanks for your reply.

Nothing really of any substance thou.

Thanks anyway

[questil]

take heed all of what harley said his/her reply is all substance before you progress any further. if the only info you hope to gain is on this forum perhaps you investigations are not from the heart ag flying is not just something you see as just an option.

[multime]

The dream is very different to the reality. Drought has decemated the industry to the point where in a few years (if it rains) there will be a shortage of pilots once again. Last year to my knowledge 2-3 ag ratings where done. Says it all really. Your chances are slim to nil at best in the present conditions, regardless of your ability if the works not there no job. For an ag 2 doubly so. Most employers see them as a liabilty and very expensive on the insurance front.
I,m not saying don,t have a serious look before committing but your heart must be in it 100% as you,ll be mixing/loading and working under alot of trucks and equipment before an opportunity.
Most ag 2,s do (their time) with many long days spent driving a trailor rather than an aircraft. Have a talk to Worayl Airservices in Leongatha.
Q/ -1 what are my chances of employment after the rating?.
(A licence to learn)
Q/ -2 Do i really have the will and self determination to do this??
(I,m still asking myself that one)
Anyway let us know of your decision.
Hope i provided something of substance?:E
M:ok:

[Flyer069]

Barry Foster
Woorayl Air Services
Leongatha
For your Ag Rating:ok:

[sugarbirdlady]

did mine in scone with pays

very good training:ok:

[Charlie1080]

I did mine with Pay's at Krui. Spot on. plenty people will give you an Ag rating but at the moment no one is going to give you a job. Beleive me im out of work!!

[YoungAggy]

I did mine with Barry 15 years ago and went back 2 years later to do my ag-1,If he is still doing ratings you wouldnt find a better(or nicer) bloke to do your training.It would definately pay to do some ground work for a season at least,to get a good idea of what is involved but also to get a foot in the door with an employer.I was lucky this way as my employer paid for my rating in return for 3 seasons employment.A win win situation for both of us.Good luck:ok:

[HarleyD]

JJR1670

Nothing really of any substance thou.


Sorry you feel that way.

I started ag flying 25 years ago and though I fly in a different field at the moment i still have strong associations with the industry. i started when other pilots laughed if you wore a stack hat, there were no tracking systems very few flow meters it was all hand and eye and a strong back and you better have a heavy vehicle licence and be prepared to fly all day drive all night. I was going to say it has changed a lot but I don't suppose the hours and effort required by a pilot these days is really much different, just more technology.

the grower doesn't care if you live or die, or if you are mr top gun himself, he just wants the perfect job for the lowest price. it is hard work, there is no glamour just an enourmous sense of self satisfaction (and bone weariness) at the end of the day and enough money to get you through to the next season. if you aren't going to at least listen to this advice then go and do your atpl's and fly with an airline, you attitude seems more suited to that .

Had my say, back to the real world

HD

[multime]

Thanks Harley for your post.
Honesty is the best policy.
Perhaps our thread starter might thank everyone.
BIG - PS - @ Thanks to see Ag out of Biz Jets???.
Why were we there in the first place @ who put us their.? We wanted our own forum but to place us with coperate pilots doesn,t sit well with me.
Prune Gods Take Notice !!
There was a hidden agenda there.
Behind the walls lurks.?
Regards
M:ok:

[JJR1670]

Thanks to all for your comments;

I am aware of the state of the Industry etc and the conditions of work.

My enquiry was more about Training and Training providers, I know who they are but I was after personnel experiences with training.

Thanks to all

[solowflyer]

Did mine with Barry 2 years ago had a ball. Half my rating was done with his son Tim and the rest with Baz.

All the posts above are spot on about the industry. I have a seat lined up but no rain means no work. Am currently Survey flying till the drought breaks.

What exactly do you want to know about the training?

[JJR1670]

Just whanted to know how you found the training.. difficult? what was the hardest part?
What were the a/c like?

[youngmic]

Definitely wise to do some loading before you commit to spending your dollars.

There are only a few in the country that can provide the rating and have been listed above, another is Super Spread at Deniliquin NSW. All of them are very competent.

As said early it would be prudent to wait till there is a bit of an up swing, however if you are committed to going this way come hell or high water then jump in and paddle like hell.

An Ag rating is viewed favourably by other industries such as Survey, Powerline/Pipeline Patrols etc.

Good luck

M

[HOMEWORK]

Hey PPRUNE,



Just a few AG questions;


What is the AG industry like at the moment? Is there still a decent demand for jobs?

What are the usual seasons for different types of spraying etc?

How long does one usually spend loading/mixing prior to advancing into the plane? Is advancing after one season unheard of?

Can AUS AG pilots exchange between countries in the off season fairly easily?


Thanks in advance.

HMWRK

[solowflyer]

Depends where you are looking as each area of the country is doing or growing something different it all depends on the weather in a nutshell if there is rain everyone is busy if it is dry many pilots will be out doing other types of work (truck driving etc) until it rains. WA spray season is end Aug till about Nov spraying wheat etc. Around this time of yr the girls and boys in NSW, South QLD are usually busy on the various crops.

Its not a job you just walk into it takes a total commitment in the industry to get a start. Jobs are there for those that have the drive and commitment. How long you are a loader all depends on the operator and how well you perform as a loader. Those that put in 150% effort and commitment are usually rewarded quickly, those that slack off and have a bad attitude will be culled out.

Experienced Ag pilots are in short supply world wide and many pilots work overseas in the off season. How in demand you will be will depend on your experience.

If you are curious go have a talk to an Ag operator and have a go at loading they are usually always chasing loader drivers.

[Username here]

Do you have to be in Ag to get involved in fire bombing?

[plucka]

'Sharp aviation services' (Google it) will be offering Ag. training and fire bombing endorsement training this year. Also I saw a facebook page offering this type of training. Search for 'Aero Advance' on facebook if you are interested.

There is an old thread here on Pprune called 'is Ag. Flying considered a poor career choice?' You may find an interesting read.

Good luck.

[Username here]

Thanks mate, that's great info!

[kaz3g]

Does anyone know what happened to John Cornish from Strathbogie?

I lost track of him years ago but did a little bit of work and some gliding with him 35 years ago.

Thanks

Kaz

[Ramjet555]

While I never did do an ag rating, I was provided with a one hour introduction.

Two of us sat side by side in a Pawnee, both of us were skinny but that is the way you got your training.

He got me to do a lot of the flying and we would reach cliffs and go into dam near vertical dives and at least 60 degrees nose up at times in near vertical procedure turns.

I watched all those extremely dangerous chemicals being poured around and watched how the grass and anything else seemed to die instantly.

Then there was another good instructor friend who used to do ag work, until his arms and hands started to shake. Extremely nice generous guy with a young family.

All that I'm sure rings a lot of bells with people who knew them.

For me, I valued my health and fitness.
It was the chemicals that they had to handle that made me decide that Ag work was not for me.

[Super Cecil]

"I watched all those extremely dangerous chemicals being poured around and watched how the grass and anything else seemed to die instantly"

Maybe you were using flame throwers instead of spraybooms? :8