ag ratings? aerial spraying Info

[Jburgess95]

Hi,

Last real thread I found on here about spraying/dusting is from 04/07 I was wo dering if anyone has any I fo in the industry where I could go about getting an ag rating. At the point where soon ill have to decide what path I want to go down in my pilot career. Have been I terested in spraying for a while bow and had a chat to a couple of pilots in the industry just looking for any current info anyone could provide. Wasn't quite sure where else to post this thread either....

Cheers James

[solowflyer]

Have a look at the aaaa website has all the info you needy to get you started. Really need to do a season or two on the ground mixing befor anyone will give you a seat. All the old threads are still pretty acurate as to what you need to know. Happy to try and answer any questions you have if you want to pm

[Lucerne]

Slow Flyer had the best idea. Get your contact details from the AAAA's website.

Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia > Home.

Make sure you get a job loading and/or mixing before you do anything further.

Are you off the land? have you had a fair bit of machinery experience in the past? Do you enjoy leading or being led?

One thing I noticed was a certain challenge with spelling that was evident in your thread. (Ok, I can understand if it was a bad keyboard or screen that you were using. It seems you have a recessive N). If the spelling hastle is a persistent one and you have not yet decided where your career will take you, I would pursue a career in the airlines where the spelling issue won't matter.

Good luck with it all Mate!

[Jburgess95]

Cheers guys, yeah haha my spelling is fine. Just a dodgy keyboard. Yeah I've got pretty general knowledge about machinery I understand getting a loader job first makes sense, and I personally think its always a good idea to understand all aspects of a business. Is it worth getting my ag 2 rating before a loader position?

[Lucerne]

If you have the time and the money before starting your first loading job then get it done. Dont put it in front of developing a relationship with a good operator though.

[gerry111]

Lucerne wrote:


"... the spelling hastle...."

[Lucerne]

Yes gerry111. That is the correct spelling. Don't let your American spell check tell you otherwise.

[gerry111]

Lucerne,


Not according to my reference: The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary.


That advises: "hassle".


Anyway this was only meant to be fun. Your advice to jburgess95 is spot on. Cheers,

[Super Cecil]

Ag is getting more and more condensed, the booms seems fewer and further between. There is definitely less work now than there was even five years ago. The likes of the topdressing industry has virtually stopped all over the country. Years ago a every well rounded Ag pilot had done a bit, now there are pilots who have never spread a ton. As a future career I don't see long term prospects.

[Lucerne]

Those prospects will definitely be there for those who chasethem Cecil. There are definitely fewer aircraft as the average hopper size is now much larger than it was even five years ago. There are very few new pilots training and the average age is over 50. There is a very bright future for a young starter to get into an 800 gallon machine very quickly. That's a good prospect I reckon.

The fertiliser work has been fading for many years and it's a given that the writing is on the wall there. The future is in the larger machines treating high value crops and flying fires during bad seasons such as the one we are now entering.

[HarleyD]

Plenty of info here:

http://www.pprune.org/pacific-genera...er-choice.html

The search function will save some time

HD