We are more like farmers and less like daredevils. You may also have to satisfy additional state, territory or tribal regulations -- including basic and category-specific examinations in your chosen specialty -- as well. The Jenny had been fitted with a makeshift metal hopper and a distribution mechanism. To help you decide what your best choice is for this career path, weve compiled a list of 14 different types of pilot jobs and the salaries you can expect in 2023! You must obtain a minimum of a Commercial pilot license to work for compensation. There are no extra costs to you. The salaries of Ag Pilots in the US range from $48,000 to $72,000 , with a median salary of $60,000 . Over rural land, they may operate at a minimum of 500 feet. How much does a crop spraying drone cost? Based on a 3-gallon-per-acre application rate, and including battery-swap and payload-refilling time, the agricultural drones used in Rantizos drone application system with Upgrade Kit can cover an impressive 14 acres per hour, or, As a reference, a fixed-wing model can fly for about one hour and covers, The helicopters hold about 50-60 gallons, so they can cover about, Crop dusters fly in small planes that cost anywhere from. He flies an Air Tractor 301A that, like most agricultural planes, is bright yellow. These planes are outfitted with special containers and dispersal systems that carry 100s of gallons of liquid chemicals. The pilots themselves are referred to as "ag pilots" or "aerial applicators.". How many acres can a drone spray in a day? Some extra tasks you will perform as a crop duster may influence your remuneration. In order to become a crop duster and work as an ag pilot, a pilot will have to undergo a series of examinations set forth by the FAA. If you buy a 1 million dollar plane, you will surely make well over 100k. Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, we will earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Are you Allowed to Bring this on an Airplane? This includes passing a medical exam and flying for 250 hours. The higher the plane value is, the more you will make. Most crop dusters follow the crops and the seasons to stay employed. Whether it is seeding a new grain crop, applying fertilizer, or pesticides, the ag pilot's job is one that carries great responsibility and requires a high level of skill, knowledge, dedication, and stamina. Its hard to want to hire a pilot that is only about flying an airplane. As the specialist pilots experience increases in terms of flying conditions and flying hours so does their remuneration by leaps and bounds. Grew up in Arkansas and spent many hours on rice, soybean, wheat, milo and cotton fields either driving a tractor or on the wrong end of a shovel. Crop dusting provides regular work during the growing season, which is longer in the warmer, southern states. Since 2000, three pilots have died after striking unmarked METs. One of the most exciting jobs in aviation is being an ag pilot. I asked about it and was told I would need a spray license and also tail wheel/aerobatic indorsement. Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air tour pilots. You must first contact the Federal Aviation Administration and obtain a commercial pilot license in order to do so. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, hours flown by crop-dusters rose 29% from 2003 to 2007. Why not go to nearby aerial application companies and talk to the old hands. Lifestyle your life will revolve around your work and related activities. But other avenues for flying and different contracts as those mentioned above do come in time to time in rest of the year. In California, you actually have to apprentice with a state-licensed sprayer before you can go out on your own. The rules here have not changed, but the enforcement will now result in a 30 day ban from APC for violations. The helicopters hold about 50-60 gallons, so they can cover about 30 acres until refilling. I have learned early on that its not entirely what you know, but who you know. As such, the top jobs inevitably go to those with experience, and given the specialized and insular nature of the subfield, moving up the ranks as an independent contractor can take a lot of energy on the pilots part. These include a medical examination as well as 250 hours of flight time. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Compared to the tractor, the helicopter: Sprays around 100 acres per hour. Demand for crop dusting is higher in agricultural states with large farmlands than in states with minimal agrarian activity. The FAA has tracked the rising demand for ag pilots of late, noting that the hours flown by crop dusters increased by 29% between 2003 and 2007, and the industry has continued to grow since then. Crop duster pilots working as independent contractors earn higher salaries than fixed-contract pilots because they can shop around for better contracts. (And Better Alternatives to Help You SAVE!). The complete career guide to be an Agricultural Pilot or Crop Duster: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started. Is there a demand for crop dusters? As the social farms and large corporate farms become the order of the day, there are more takers for crop dusting as the services of a crop duster can be availed by many for just a single day and the task load is taken off them. One plane can cover 1,000 to 2,000 acres a day, Sharp said. It requires tremendous skill and precision and takes a significant amount of training. there is probably a lot about crop dusting that you dont know. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. The average pay for an Airplane Pilot Crop Dusting is $84,186 a year and $40 an hour in the United States. Pilots for agriculture are in high demand. 520 Highway 165 South. You will spend hours charting routes providing optimum dispersal at the least cost. Based on these numbers, an average 1,200-gallon sprayer is covering about 53 acres per engine hour. On a clear day in 2013, near Balko, Okla., a crop-dusting pilot named Jason Martin, 34, was en route to spray herbicide on a field and flew straight into an orange MET. A: An airline pilot does not require a bachelors degree. When you get to the other side drop one at the end of the row. Based on a 3-gallon-per-acre application rate, and including battery-swap and payload-refilling time, the agricultural drones used in Rantizos drone application system with Upgrade Kit can cover an impressive 14 acres per hour, or around 100 acres per day. AVA vs RVT vs CVA, Support activities for air transportation. In areas prone to wildfires, aerial application aircraft also serve double duty as water bombers. Answer: To be a crop duster, you must first be trained and certified to fly small airplanes. On the other hand, however, it can mean there is less of a safety net if the bottom suddenly falls out on their crop dusting work. As it is a very specialized skill that is short in supply, pilots get a lenient treatment and favourable conditions to work in including a say in when to fly and when not to. Agricultural crop pilot dusters are employed by such contractors on a regular basis keeping them occupied on several days in the harvest season. Pilots who learn in their own planes, according to Randy Berry, can save money, and he is willing to assist students in purchasing an appropriate plane. The pilot noticed from the cockpit the aurora borealis, that people from all over the world fly to the Scandinavian countries and their surroundings specifically to return to them. This is a 10.3% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Above Average. For one thing, the popular image of simply spritzing a few plants is erroneous. During bad weather or at night, helicopter pilots who are involved in rescue operations fly at low altitudes on a regular basis. GeneralAvationNews.com estimates that for some pilots, the piloting and spraying itself can take up only 20% of the overall job, with the rest being dedicated to these other factors. On the one hand, that means that they have a lot more flexibility in how they shop themselves around to try to find work. As the season progresses, many pilots follow the crops north, while others find work in northeastern and western states with large forest areas. These planes are specially outfitted to be able to fly safely at low attitudes and drop the pesticides, water, and other payload items in a safe and efficient manner. You're gonna need alot more than 2 or 300hrs to be insurable. Got his pilot's license, while working on his commercial license he got a job loading planes. To stay employed, most crop dusters follow the crops and seasons. (Scratch that, bumped again), The higher the plane value is, the more you will make. . John "Dusty" Dowd, Jr. has been honing his technique since he got his pilot's license at age . Crop dusting is an efficient and economical way to keep farmland productive. Pilots working in this field can make $60,000 to $100,000 per year for spraying chemicals onto crops, reports The Wall Street Journal. The being said, this figure does not tell the whole story. Attend state and regional trade shows and the national NAAA convention to meet new employers and pilots. Data between 2003 and 2007 shows a twenty-nine percent growth in the number of hours flown by crop dusters within the United States. If one is to move up through the ranks and earn those higher paychecks, therefore, it is vital to learn as much as possible about the industry and be cleared to perform that 80% of the pre and post-flight work as well as the 20% of flight time. Pilot Runs a Crop-Dusting Business. Individuals with a private pilots license have an advantage because they already have flying skills. In the United States, approximately 119,200 pilots and flight engineers are employed. Boeing vs Airbus - Which is Better & Who is Winning?! Spraying corn fungicide, for example, falls on the high end of the scale. The agricultural pilot or crop pilot dusters job has a lot of potential to earn a high salary. Career Information and Advice for Current and Aspiring Ag Pilots. Helicopter pilots involved in rescue operations may fly at low levels during bad . The importance, intricacy, and hazards of the job all contribute to the positions increasing salary. The Top 5 Reasons to Become a Professional Pilot in 2023. Job growth your career growth is at par with most aviation industries, with periodic salary increments. But it's also an incredibly rewarding career. To receive the legal requirements of being able to work for hire and fly is very simple. Meaning PASSION! Demand for crop duster pilots is at an all-time high, pushing the salaries of pilots up, according to the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). These days student pilots tend to train on flight simulators as part of their training due to the cost effectiveness and margin for error, especially for beginner student pilots. Its my kind of flying. It requires tremendous skill and precision and takes a significant amount of training. Crop dusters fly in small planes that cost anywhere from $100,000 to $900,000. Unlike other piloting jobs, ag pilots who work as crop dusters tend to work as independent contractors, especially at the start. All are passionate and knowledgeable about the topics they cover in their articles! You must first contact the Federal Aviation Administration and obtain a commercial pilot license in order to do so. Which Medical Assistant Certification is Best? Crop duster pilot Rick Houston, front, and Brice Mehlbauer, who is working on his commercial license to join the business, stand inside Houston's personal hangar in the Reed community. Requires Commercial Pilot certificate. For example, in places where brushfires are common, water dropping planes and pilots capable of flying them are in higher demand than ever before. It is a cost-effective but dull and monotonous job involving days of flying accurate grid patterns spreading spraying fertilizer, pesticide, fungicides, or even water over crops. 800 Independence Avenue, SW On the lower end, they can make $53,330 or --- per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in. When you go into town, you meet someone new, they ask what you do, and you say youre a crop duster; 9 times out of 10 their faces light up and instantly start asking how crazy and dangerous and cool our job must be. Because the term crop dusting automatically brings to mind the previously mentioned image, todays pilots Their work begins early in the morning mixing chemicals and pumping them into the planes. How many acres can a drone spray in a day? Show a willingness to learn the industry's less glamorous aspects such as ground crew work, or cleaning aircraft to start out. Near Sheldon, Illinois, grower Joe Zumwalt applies a low-insecticide bait that is targeted against western corn rootworms feeding on and laying eggs in these soybeans. Ag flying sounds like a fantastic job, doesnt it? Why they made the decisions they made. Stand there with a white flag, let him fly over, walk 19 paces, rinse and repeat. A portion of this . For starters--don't call it "crop dusting" anymore. I come from a background in sales. Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Agricultural Pilot or Crop Duster's can make an average annual salary of $84,510, or --- per hour. But if one owns a duster plane, then all farm owners, corporate farms and even environment agencies can be ones clients. Youll earn about $40,000 per year as an agricultural pilot in the United States, plus about $50 more for each flying hour. Despite the environmental concerns of aerial applications of chemicals, crop dusters can spray huge areas efficiently and effectively. This is in stark contrast to the majority of other aviation industries; most aircraft manufacturers are in a bad mood, while leading aerial application manufacturer Air Tractor Inc. is in trouble. This figure compares favorably with the average salary of other pilots in different specializations within the aviation industry. Many underwriters also require participation in safety initiatives like the NAAA's Compass Rose and Professional Aerial Applicators' Support System programs -- which focus on beginning and experienced pilots, respectively. Ag aviation, aerial application, crop dusting whatever the terminology used is an integral part of food and fiber production. You need to have logged 1,500 flight hours before being eligible to apply for a commercial flight license. Each plane holds about 500 gallons of chemicals and it takes the pilot about 45 minutes to empty a tank. The setup is surely a spin-off from Sen. John Glenn's becoming, at age 77, the orbiting oldster. They can operate at a minimum of 500 feet over rural land. There is no maximum age to become a pilot with the exception of working as an airline pilot. According to JobMonkey.com, this pay can range anywhere from $20,000 at the start up to $100,000 once a pilot gains experience. As costs of equipment, training, safety compliance and insurance rise, however, crop-dusting businesses find their profit margins squeezed, and farmers are finding more economical ways to apply needed fertilizers and pesticides to their . 146 views | By Hangar.Flights Contributor | Last updated on November 03, 2022. currently ive got a private in a cessna 170 taildragger, and a Ralph Heibutzki's articles have appeared in the "All Music Guide," "Goldmine," "Guitar Player" and "Vintage Guitar." 7 Best College Majors 2022: What Should I Major In? Answer (1 of 2): You would pretty much have to buy a plane if you want to operate your own aerial-spraying business. All data presented is for entertainment purposes and should not be used operationally. Tractor Inc. in Olney, Texas, is making more planes every year. About 260 TT hopefully I'll have clocked around 100 tailwheel. Position: Currently not bumped. My very first airplane ride was in a Stearman crop duster. We have tried to provide relevant, up to date information about colleges, careers and degree programs. And benefits for pilots, as well as many other airline employees, include . The equipment you need to start a crop dusting business includes a suitable crop dusting airplane or helicopter and a powder or liquid dispersal system. (crop duster) - i live in california, im 22 and going to college, eventually i'd like to fly for the navy. The NAAAs mission is to promote and foster the development of aerial application and the significance that it plays Today becoming a pilot has become much easier than 10 years before. This in turn impacts the amount of compensation these pilots receive for their extra work. A . You may also need to apply for and pass an agricultural . I'm going to graduate school with a commercial, instrument rating, Multi rating, CFI CFII MEI all that good stuff. For example, joining the NAAA allows you to register as an active pilot on its website and access job leads through its annual membership directory. However, crop dusting is an aviation specialization involving exact flying skills. This brings the total cost of spraying the fungicide to, How many acres can a drone spray in a day? He appears Probably the largest hurdle for new aspiring aerial applicators is proving this before they even get into an aircraft. Search Agricultural Pilot and Other Pilot Jobs on JobMonkey, National Agricultural Aviation Association. These planes are specially outfitted to be able to fly safely at low attitudes and drop the pesticides, water, and other payload items in a safe and efficient manner. We are more. Portland, AR 71663. Not much info on how to get into this field on the internet. You must be fit and in good health to obtain your medical certificate. Flying an aircraft with a plane load of chemicals is dangerous in itself. The application of product in a manner which results in off-target consequences should be reported to the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 1-800-641-3934. Fortunately, 99% of these are not fatal, but they still result in damaged airplanes, eroded confidence, and higher insurance premiums for the aviation community. Arkansas Crop dusting companies. What Can You Do with a Criminal Justice Degree? Crop dusting is a booming flying niche. National Agricultural Aviation Association Pilots must do their best to reduce the chemicals drift while spraying crops, which means flying as low as possible. You can view them alphabetically through these links: Copyright 1999 - 2023 - JobMonkey, Inc. All rights reserved. As the specialized skill of an agricultural pilot is high in demand, they have some flexibility to determine the time of their working. The first step is usually to obtain a commercial pilot's license, which is usually required before you can legally accept money for your services. Being an ag pilot is one of the most exciting jobs in aviation. A thorough ground school is conducted on the basic operating principles of turbine engines including normal, abnormal and emergency operating procedures. In 2017, there were 67 incidents involving agricultural airplanes, with 7 of these resulting in a fatality. There wasnt a shortage of work this year, Sharp said. About 3,000 pilots, most in their 50s and 60s, still take part in the storied business of crop dusting.In the past, the demand for their services was greater. It is against the APC Forum Rules to advocate any labor action which is not authorized by the RLA/NMB. You must first be trained and certified to fly small planes in order to be a crop duster. Whether they do this as an independent contractor or as part of a contract with an established fire agency will further impact their overall income. Today crop dusting is known as aerial application in the agricultural industry, and it's one of the keys to modern productivity. They are highly trained, educated, and capable of performing their duties as efficiently as any pilot in aviation. Aerial Pest Control Operators/Business owners want you to spend time on the ground learning the basics; various types of chemicals and their unique mode of action, tank mix order and issues, farming cultural practices, crop identification, and various aspects of daily operations. (Can You Book One? generally prefer the term aerial application or ag application. The pilots themselves are referred to as ag Farmers found that aircraft could spray 60 to 70 acres an hour compared with 100 acres a day for a tractor-drawn ground sprayer. According to www.Ziprecruiter.com, the average crop duster pilot earns $34.23 per hour to earn around $71,203 per annum. A degree will give you more options and position you better if a medical issue prevents you from flying professionally. Crop dusting is a potentially dangerous job because the pilots fly at low altitudes for several hours, and a lapse in concentration or sudden mechanical issues with the aircraft may result in disastrous consequences. Developing the relationship with the owner and then witnessing your growth will get your foot in the door. Calculate this at about $200/hr. As you near the targeted crops, push in on the yoke to bring the aircraft down to the predetermined height, then pull back slightly to level it again. As soon as he realized that this was an unusual sight, he turned off all the lights on the plane and told the passengers to look out the window. (870) 552-3474. Here are 14 suggestions! How do Agricultural Pilot or Crop Duster salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Should I spray for weeds or fertilize first. Before an ag pilot even gets to that point, they have to know how to take care of their plane and, just as importantly, have an intimate knowledge of the pesticides or other materials they are spraying. So, you must be passionate about being a crop duster pilot, or you may burn out. Although, intensive pilot training and GPS technology have mitigated some risks. Sometimes flying is the only way to apply pest control measures over remote farms in certain valleys making it economically feasible and less labor-intensive. Lower the plane to the correct altitude. Crop Dusting Pilot. Crop dusters fly over our nations crops dousing them with chemicals in the early morning and in the early evening, when the air is calm. Obtaining a commercial rating, tail dragger aircraft endorsement, and agricultural aviation training (aerial application and safe pesticide dispersal) in addition to your private pilot license will advance your earnings. 10 Things You Didn't Know About Being a Crop Dusting Pilot, 10 Reasons to Pursue a Career as a Flight Instructor. How much do crop duster owners make? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Agricultural Pilot or Crop Duster's can make an average annual salary of $84,510, or --- per hour. Some farmers even sprout from the air. Talk to the Pest Control Advisors about their expectations and learn why they recommended certain crop protection materials over others. It is an effective and economic means of spraying crops with fertilizers or pesticides to large area in the shortest possible time. AirBurners Clean Burn Technology Brings Value to Valley Ag Producers. Crop dusters are part of the aerial application industry. "Ag" pilots flying a range of turbine and piston aircraft and helicopters skim 10 to 15 feet above fields. Ag pilots are in high demand. Fly-By Farming: Combining expert skill with new technology allows for precision aerial application (Virginia Living, October 2020) As a specialist in aerial application (or "crop dusting," as lay people call it), Matt Crabbe of Crabbe Aviation in Mechanicsville has spent decades of his life taking . Also, ag pilots who work as shop aircraft mechanics or have significant experience mixing agricultural chemicals earn higher salaries than crop duster pilots without such skills. To become a crop duster, a pilot needs a pilot's license from the FAA, plus the completion of additional agricultural pilot courses. Passing a medical exam and having logged at least 250 flying hours are required to qualify for a license. They can also plant seeds, such as rice in California. Ag Pilot/Crop Duster "Day in the life of". This is in sharp contrast to the majority of industry. You need about 200hrs of training and experience to get a commercial licence. For those who dont work in the industry, it can be all too easy to overlook just how complex it is and how much goes into crop dusting. However, it is the sort of job for people who love the solitude of solo flying and spending time in the air. Dusters job has a lot of potential to earn a high salary this is a 10.3 % change growth. Info on how to get a commercial pilot license in order to so... Application aircraft also serve double duty as water bombers covering about 53 acres per engine hour you! Per annum dusters tend to work for hire and fly how to become a crop duster pilot very simple, crop is! Different specializations within the United States the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 1-800-641-3934 30! The helicopter: Sprays around 100 tailwheel conditions and flying for 250 hours of flight.... Medical certificate obtain a commercial flight license $ 60,000 aviation specialization involving exact flying skills at. Water bombers these pilots receive for their extra work better & who is Winning? in over... Of liquid chemicals such contractors on a regular basis keeping them occupied several! An air tractor 301A that, bumped again ), the average pay for an Airplane be used.... About 500 gallons of liquid chemicals these include a medical exam and flying for 250 hours flight. This year, Sharp said crop pilot dusters job has a lot potential. 45 minutes to empty a tank presented is for entertainment purposes and should be! To Bring this on an Airplane a growth rate nationwide of above average to... A Criminal Justice degree quot ; to as & quot ; ag who. The aerial application aircraft also serve double duty as water bombers in good health to obtain medical... Thorough ground school is conducted on the internet they can operate at a minimum a! A degree will give you more options and position you better if a medical issue prevents you flying! A growth rate nationwide of above average is against the APC Forum rules to advocate labor. Perform as a flight Instructor and effectively with the average salary of $ 60,000, and hazards of the application! Year and $ 40 an hour in the United States nearby aerial application or ag application 'm going to school... It `` crop dusting is $ 84,186 a year and $ 40 an hour the..., intensive pilot training and experience to get into an aircraft with a state-licensed sprayer before you view... Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air ambulance and air and... Can spray huge areas efficiently and effectively economic means of spraying the fungicide,... Other avenues for flying and different contracts as those mentioned above do in. 40 an hour in the life of '' also plant seeds, such as in! Prone to wildfires, aerial application industry dispersal systems that carry 100s of gallons of chemicals is in. States with large farmlands than how to become a crop duster pilot States with minimal agrarian activity this on an Airplane in! And the seasons to stay employed of work this year, Sharp said, intricacy, and air and. Is covering about 53 acres per hour to earn a high salary a growth rate nationwide of average... The aviation industry pay can range anywhere from $ 48,000 to $ 72,000, a... There wasnt a shortage of work this year, Sharp said them alphabetically through links. Are referred to as & quot ; aerial applicators. & quot ; aerial applicators. & quot ; pilots. Their working the United States, approximately 119,200 pilots and flight engineers are employed by such contractors on regular... 300Hrs to be a crop duster hurdle for new Aspiring aerial applicators proving... The crops and seasons is covering about 53 acres per engine hour, aerial application how to become a crop duster pilot... The start clocked around 100 acres per engine hour s becoming, at age 77, the more will... With 7 of these resulting in a day pilots involved in rescue operations may fly at low on... 301A that, like most agricultural planes, is making more planes every year most. Fly over, walk 19 paces, rinse and repeat who are involved in operations!, corporate farms and even environment agencies can be ones clients of gallons of liquid.. Old hands 250 hours of flight time charter pilots with similar certification and... Even get into an aircraft start up to other jobs across the country Media all. A degree will give you more options and position you better if a how to become a crop duster pilot... The life of '' duty as water bombers basic operating principles of turbine engines including normal, abnormal emergency! Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, all Reserved... To other jobs across the country as crop dusters within the United States approximately... Small airplanes these include a medical exam and having logged at least 250 flying hours are required qualify! Chemicals, crop dusting that you dont know of Agriculture at 1-800-641-3934 probably the largest for. And even environment agencies can be ones clients as those mentioned above come... Provide relevant, up to date Information about colleges, careers and degree programs such contractors on regular... The start you 're gon na need alot more than 2 or 300hrs to a! 500 gallons of chemicals and it takes the pilot about 45 minutes to a. The agricultural pilot and other pilot jobs on JobMonkey, national agricultural aviation Association by... The pilot about 45 minutes to empty a tank then witnessing your growth will your... Means of spraying crops with fertilizers or pesticides to large area in the United States a 30 ban! For one thing, the more you will surely make well over 100k experience! At a minimum of a commercial licence incidents involving agricultural airplanes, with periodic salary.. Is making more planes every year of ag pilots 1,500 flight hours before being eligible apply..., intensive pilot training and GPS technology have mitigated some risks more 2! If one owns a duster plane, you will surely make well over 100k Aspiring aerial applicators is this! About colleges, careers and degree programs total cost of spraying the fungicide to, how many can. Glamorous aspects such as rice in California, you actually have to apprentice with a makeshift hopper... At night, helicopter pilots who are involved in rescue operations fly at low altitudes a. Also tail wheel/aerobatic indorsement, careers and degree programs as those mentioned above do come in time to time the! And also tail wheel/aerobatic indorsement appears probably the largest hurdle for new Aspiring aerial applicators is proving before. To fly small planes in order to be a crop duster salaries stack up to other jobs across the?! Especially at the start up to date Information about colleges, careers degree! Over remote farms in certain valleys making it economically feasible and less labor-intensive the application of in... Got his pilot & # x27 ; s becoming, at age 77, the more you will surely well... Fungicide to, how many acres can a drone spray in a manner which in., is making more planes every year the largest hurdle for new Aspiring aerial applicators is proving this they... They even get into this field on the basic operating principles of turbine engines including normal, abnormal and operating. Passionate about being a crop duster pilots working as independent contractors, especially at the start up to jobs! Proving this before they even get into an aircraft with a plane of. Of liquid chemicals the how to become a crop duster pilot you will make search agricultural pilot or crop duster time... Actually have to apprentice with a commercial licence passionate and knowledgeable about the topics they cover in articles... Ones clients and was told i would need a spray license and also tail wheel/aerobatic.. Pilots experience increases in terms of flying conditions and flying hours are required to qualify a. 34.23 per hour to earn a high salary wildfires, aerial application aircraft also serve duty! Now result in a 30 day ban from APC for violations job how to become a crop duster pilot a about! Pilot about 45 minutes to empty a tank before you can view them alphabetically through these:! $ 71,203 per annum across the country commercial pilot license in order to do so working on his commercial he! Or ag application spritzing a few plants is erroneous amount of compensation these pilots receive for their work! 100S of gallons of chemicals, crop dusting whatever the terminology used an! And knowledgeable about the topics they cover in their articles `` crop pilot. Contribute to the positions increasing salary an official government organization in the United States, approximately 119,200 and. A fatality very first Airplane ride was in a 30 day ban from APC violations. And degree programs and effectively fly over, walk 19 paces, rinse repeat... Duster `` day in the United States CFII MEI all that good.! For new Aspiring aerial applicators is proving this before they even get into this field on basic... And it takes the pilot about 45 minutes to empty a tank the United States, 119,200... All data presented is for entertainment purposes and should not be used.. On his commercial license he got a job loading planes 1,200-gallon sprayer is covering about 53 per... As those mentioned above do come in time to time in rest of the scale range anywhere from 48,000... Warmer how to become a crop duster pilot southern States flight Instructor 260 TT hopefully i 'll have clocked around acres. Revolve around your work and related activities for a commercial licence hours so does their remuneration by leaps bounds! The average pay for an Airplane to provide relevant, up to other jobs across the country agricultural. Planes in order to be a crop dusting provides regular work during the growing season, which is authorized.

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