crop spraying and banner towing after ATPL training??
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Vancouver Island
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Hi Rowley:
I am sure WWW. is able to live with someone discussing flying with him and judging by his last post he has recovered from my stating my opinion. Remember this is a wannabes forum and when I answer or reply to questions I try to seperate fact from fiction. There is nothing wrong with WWW or anyone else giving their opinion on any subject, however there is also nothing wrong with expressing a differing opinion based on experience in the field in question. That was what I was attempting to do.
Calypso:
The J3 Cub configured for crop spraying operations and loaded with chemicals is not as "relatively tame" as the Piper Pawnee. In 1962 I bought the first Piper Pawnee 235 in Canada and having flown both types extensively ( J3 / Pawnee ) I found the J3 to be more demanding and less forgiving than the Pawnee. Then that is only my opinion and I could have been wrong.
Anyhow all of us are only giving our own opinions about the various subjects and we are equally entitled to express same. The wannabes will read the different ideas and come to their own conclusions.
.................. .
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
I am sure WWW. is able to live with someone discussing flying with him and judging by his last post he has recovered from my stating my opinion. Remember this is a wannabes forum and when I answer or reply to questions I try to seperate fact from fiction. There is nothing wrong with WWW or anyone else giving their opinion on any subject, however there is also nothing wrong with expressing a differing opinion based on experience in the field in question. That was what I was attempting to do.
Calypso:
The J3 Cub configured for crop spraying operations and loaded with chemicals is not as "relatively tame" as the Piper Pawnee. In 1962 I bought the first Piper Pawnee 235 in Canada and having flown both types extensively ( J3 / Pawnee ) I found the J3 to be more demanding and less forgiving than the Pawnee. Then that is only my opinion and I could have been wrong.
Anyhow all of us are only giving our own opinions about the various subjects and we are equally entitled to express same. The wannabes will read the different ideas and come to their own conclusions.
.................. .
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
Hey hey - I have no problem with people like Cat Driver giving what they feel to be honest advice. I have survived FAR more scathing argument on PPRuNe than this over the years. I am the original Immoderate Moderator <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
To be honest the crop spraying is a non starter for a brit with 200hrs. You ain't up to the job, nobody is going to hire you in a tiny market and its all very well believing in fair play in Europe but Juan Sanchez the Ag flying Boss will hire young Pedro before young Peter EVERY time. And rightly so really. Operating with a handful of people in a VFR hazardous environment the inablity to communicate effectively would be dangerous and detrimental to operational effectiveness.
The chap from Wales needing a tug driver is deluged with applicants this year. There are unemployed pilots looking to be tug pilots up and down the country who have hundreds of hours gliding under their belts and I know of at least one club (Long Mynd) that has turned down someone with an unfrozen ATPL and a BGA Silver to his name...
A relevant ground job as suggested might be the most realistic proposition I am afraid.
WWW
To be honest the crop spraying is a non starter for a brit with 200hrs. You ain't up to the job, nobody is going to hire you in a tiny market and its all very well believing in fair play in Europe but Juan Sanchez the Ag flying Boss will hire young Pedro before young Peter EVERY time. And rightly so really. Operating with a handful of people in a VFR hazardous environment the inablity to communicate effectively would be dangerous and detrimental to operational effectiveness.
The chap from Wales needing a tug driver is deluged with applicants this year. There are unemployed pilots looking to be tug pilots up and down the country who have hundreds of hours gliding under their belts and I know of at least one club (Long Mynd) that has turned down someone with an unfrozen ATPL and a BGA Silver to his name...
A relevant ground job as suggested might be the most realistic proposition I am afraid.
WWW
Join Date: Oct 2001
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WWW:
Yeh, I didn't think you would lose any sleep over me and you not being on the same frequency, especially when it was me that was tuned in wrong.
The truth is that aviation is cyclical and has historically had highs and lows.
Another factor is just plain dumb luck and being in the right place at the right time.
When I started my career the market was flooded with airforce pilots from WW2 and a general slowdown during the early and mid fifties. However I was in the right place at the right time. I worked at the airport in my sprae time fuelling and washing airplanes. They finally got so fed up with me they gave me a job.
We must never allow ourselves to lose faith in being able to succeed in whatever we want to do. If at first you fail try again.
The only problem with that advice is sure looks hollow when you compare it to reality.
.................. . The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
Yeh, I didn't think you would lose any sleep over me and you not being on the same frequency, especially when it was me that was tuned in wrong.
The truth is that aviation is cyclical and has historically had highs and lows.
Another factor is just plain dumb luck and being in the right place at the right time.
When I started my career the market was flooded with airforce pilots from WW2 and a general slowdown during the early and mid fifties. However I was in the right place at the right time. I worked at the airport in my sprae time fuelling and washing airplanes. They finally got so fed up with me they gave me a job.
We must never allow ourselves to lose faith in being able to succeed in whatever we want to do. If at first you fail try again.
The only problem with that advice is sure looks hollow when you compare it to reality.
.................. .
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
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it's a BIG advantage these days to have a rural background for ag work, infact its almost essential, and its a tough industry to get a break, because of the seasonal nature it can take years, but once you are in the right place at the right time it is amazing what can happen and how quick the ladder can be climbed.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
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WWW i'm not asking for critism on my lack of experience or possible inability to fly an AG aircraft. I just ask for a little advice on a subject I know little about. We all have to start somewhere and asking questions shouldnt be faced with a demeaning attitude.. . Thankyou though for the more postive and constructive advice you posted later on and thankyou to everyone else who has replied in a helpful manner, Ben.
Join Date: Feb 2000
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O looked into Ag flying years back when i first started to fly, as with an agricultural bacjground i wanted to put the 2 together. didn't prove much of a starter as my flying career went elsewhere. I was in aus/NZ at the time. Ag flying over there is mainly alomg the lines of topdressing in NZ, and rice sowing/spraying in Vic/NSW. General way in is as a loader driver for a few years, then as the vacancies come up some of the easier work until you get the experience. At least from the NZ view the 'golden age' has been over for a few years now and it's the well established owner operators doing the work. NZ also has a strong general link with flying and farming, so it's the boys on the stations that get the work.
Aus is a pretty similar scene with the rice work. The old hands have a world season of several months in Africa, followed by a few months in Aus and then Europe. Not much (none?) in the Uk due to the Food & Environment Protection Act (1988). One of the points that sticks in my mind is that you need to inform the local piloce and the local bee-keepers liaision officer 24 hours before you inted to operate!!
Try <a href="http://www.agair-update.com" target="_blank">www.agair-update.com</a>
As for banner towing, there doesn't seem to be much about, if looking out the window is anything to go by. I used to work at Exeter Flying Club, and they had a whole set of banner equipment stored away that hadn't been used for a number of years. Might still be there. Make them an offer and set up for yourself!!
Aus is a pretty similar scene with the rice work. The old hands have a world season of several months in Africa, followed by a few months in Aus and then Europe. Not much (none?) in the Uk due to the Food & Environment Protection Act (1988). One of the points that sticks in my mind is that you need to inform the local piloce and the local bee-keepers liaision officer 24 hours before you inted to operate!!
Try <a href="http://www.agair-update.com" target="_blank">www.agair-update.com</a>
As for banner towing, there doesn't seem to be much about, if looking out the window is anything to go by. I used to work at Exeter Flying Club, and they had a whole set of banner equipment stored away that hadn't been used for a number of years. Might still be there. Make them an offer and set up for yourself!!
Join Date: Aug 1999
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cloudn9ne
Seeing as you are young, and keen to go overseas, why not head off to Africa and try your luck there.
Plenty of guys have started their careers flying tourists around the bush and are now flying for airlines. There is also some interesting work flying for the relief organisations, often on turbine aircraft, if you can find it.
As is the case everywhere, it helps to be in the right place and you need to get to know the people involved.
Good luck. .Dutchie
Seeing as you are young, and keen to go overseas, why not head off to Africa and try your luck there.
Plenty of guys have started their careers flying tourists around the bush and are now flying for airlines. There is also some interesting work flying for the relief organisations, often on turbine aircraft, if you can find it.
As is the case everywhere, it helps to be in the right place and you need to get to know the people involved.
Good luck. .Dutchie
