7 Things That Suck About Ag Aviation
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
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It ain't all rainbows and sunshine. Sometimes we feel like we've misled people with our content because honestly when we're super busy or there are not-so-great things going on, we don't have the energy to share. So! Here are 7 things that suck about the industry. Or can suck. We have set our mentalities straight so we know when we go to MN, work is our number one priority. It didn't happen overnight and we'd be lying if we sometimes weren't bummed about turning around on what we thought was a night off to head back to the hangar to push the plane back out.
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Here’s a few reasons that I think ag flying can suck…I always felt that the customer, the farmer, was quick to nail the operator with a fat drift claim. Suing an ag operators insurence provider for an honest mistake is lots easier than actually bringing a crop to market. Instead of being partners in the process I felt that farmers were more often than not, advisories looking to hang Pilots and or operators for an easy buck. …….Ag pilots are exposed to risk, lots of risk. Nobody makes a big deal about it but it always there. You wreck an airplane with a load of organophosphate chemical in the hopper and you might wish that the crash had killed you…..You hit towered electrical transmission lines and you’ll likely burn to death in the ensuing crash. Ag pilots will eventually wreck, due to any number of causes, but you will wreck. Maybe several times during your career. Ag flying is akin to driving a NASCAR every day for a living, but it’s more dangerous😮….Ag pilots aren’t compensated enough for this risk, period.
The pay sucks!….A top turbine ag seat can pay a guy maybe $180000 annually, but he’ll likely be doing lots of night flying for that money. Night flying adds an another level of additional risk and fatigue factors. Average ag pilots probably earn $100000 or even less. On the contrary, airline pilots who have similar levels of basic flying proficiency, all be it with a different skill set, get paid much higher compensation. It’s my opinion that any competent ag pilot can be trained to be an airline pilot, especially with today’s modern automated jets. I mean really, my 87 yr old mom can fly an Airbus😂..I kid…However, you can’t go the other way nearly as easily. Most airline pilots I know would wither under the demands of ag flying. It’s hot, physical, dirty and dangerous…..I don’t think that many people are aware of the precision demanded of ag pilots. It’s not sipping Starbucks while reading the WSJ as you fly to Boston. The farming aspect, crop and chemical knowledge alone would eliminate most airline pilots. In Ag Aviation there is no mechanism by which a junior pilot can over time assend a wage ladder like airline pilots. An FO at one of today’s legacy airlines while already earning a salary equal too or double the very highest paying ag seat in the country has the opportunity to accumulate real wealth when he or she upgrades to Captain. These guys and gals routinely earn 400-500 grand annually. There are airline pilots at legacy carriers earning a million annually, thats an exception but not an exaggeration. You’ll never see that flying a cropduster no matter how long you live and fly. Having said all that, I still think that ag flying is a very cool way to make a living flying airplanes.
Thanks for adding to the conversation. It is very valuable! And I think you are right on all aspects. It is a completely different animal than flying airlines and we really want people to understand this when they think they want to be an ag pilot. That's why we advocate for loading for a season even if you have hours as a pilot, it's more than just a flying job and you'll learn all about the non flying side of it on the ground.
We really should've have done a flip side to this video, 7 things we love about ag aviation, because it's only fair that we share what we love too. Being a part of the agriculture industry is one of the most fulfilling parts of this job. We are helping farmers feed more people with less land and that feels good at the end of the day.
Thanks again for the comment! Pinning it to the top so that folks interested in this industry see it. BTW we shared a similar video on Tiktok, just in short form and got so much hate for it! It was odd. We just want to share the realities of this business.
@@AgAviationAdventures I have the highest regard for Ag Pilots and have always considered myself an Ag pilot first even though I just retired from a long airline career. My wife, a real life farmers daughter and I started right off as owner operators when we were fresh out of college. We were naive and terrible with the business aspects. We had a terrible, twice wrecked A model 450 AgCat. We borrowed money and built a custom loader truck and belt loader. It was incredibly fun but it was difficult in nearly every aspect. After a few years I got hurt and made the transition to the airlines. I always stayed pretty close to the business however, and flew a number of full seasons parallel with my airline career. I’ve always enjoyed agriculture and the lifestyle related to farming but, I always wanted to be a Cropduster first. It’s good work you’re doing with your RUclips channel. Young pilots need this information if they’re considering this interesting, challenging, frustrating but rewarding flying career.
Appreciate that!!
For 30 years I have basically only worked 5 months a year and that is one of the things that attracted me to the industry. I worked my backside off for 4 to 5 months depending on the season, do a years work for most all within that time but then have 7 months off. Not much into routine but most definitely into hands on flying, earning good dow and having shitloads of time off.
All great points!
I always enjoy watching the airplanes spraying whether spraying for us or someone else our local crop duster pilot was a legend walking away from at least 4 crashes
Thanks for watching Lee
It definitely takes a special breed to do what y’all do, and you two are an amazing team!! BTW, love the hat Cally!! 🤠👍 Tyson, I pray both of you always stay safe!! How is your PPL training coming Cally?
Thanks Rob! The plan is to attend Riggins in the spring for their accelerated PPL program. If you like my hat we have them for sale! Just send us an email info@agaviationadventures.com and we can get one sent out.
When I was a kid on the farm I used to watch the crop dusters every year. Just amazing the way they dodged the power lines and tree tops at the end of a field. One of them, my dad knew personally went north to work in the forest industry and never came back, that turned me off of driving one of those awesome machines for good. Still got my ppl though. Stay safe and don't think you can fight fires just bc you're good, the pilot I mentioned was "the best" in our area.
Thanks for watching Dab. Unfortunately it is very unforgiving.
As a pilot AND a farmer, I greatly appreciate all that you guys do!
We really appreciate you watching!
You said it all. Love your channel!!! Best to you both.
Thanks so much!!
Hi Greg, Roseau? Denny R. TRF
Russell
@@greggschultz9256 oh k sorry, though you was someone I knew. 👍
Yall keep up the good and hard work! Thanks!
Thanks Cliff!
The biggest problem I've seen from working in the industry is that my grandfather retired and I can't load for him anymore. He flew a 502, 301, pawnee pa-25, and a AGwagon.
Oh wow I bet those are great memories you have!
I send up prayers from Texas for y’all to stay safe out there. I would love to come visit y’all one of these days if it’s possible and yeah I would like to have one of those hats i’ll go on yawls website and try to order one
We would love to meet you! We don't have the hats on our website yet (some logistical issues to work out) but if you send us an email info@agaviationadventures@gmail.com we can send you one.
There's always a line pilot or flight instructor. I think those roles stunk as well! Now I'm depressed...
Everything has its pros and cons.
Hey y’all again yeah my cousin said the same thing it’s pretty demanding and long but I still support y’all ag Aviation seem like that would be a pretty much intense job Love it
We appreciate your support!
I feel for you. I've never been in your line of work, but I used to fly a lot in good weather and bad. It can get rough I know. With turbulence, icing, thunderstorms and mechanical problems with the aircraft, sometimes make flying no fun at all. Anyway, thanks for sharing your videos. I enjoy each and every one of them. God Bless.
Yeah you can definitely relate!
trust me they dont spray in bad weather chemical wont work wash right off icing lol
#6 is spot on. I would add having to push thru the late morning until late afternoon hours suck! Windy and bumpy makes it all much harder.
For sure!!
Update on your flight training please 🤗
I plan to go to Riggins for their accelerated PPL course in the spring time. Thanks for asking!
Great video - thank you for doing what you do!
Thanks for watching George.
@@AgAviationAdventures Grew up on a farm near Fresno, CA and flagged for crop dusters in the 1960's - just Stearman's and Ag Cats then. All my in-laws farm and do their own ag aviation, so what you do rings true. They're using more helicopters now, so they can use them for other tasks also. Hats off to you and your devotion and skills. Be safe always.
@@geohig01 Wow that is awesome George. I bet you have some great memories and wonderful stories.
Truisms right there!
My Pop did it for the better part of three decades and never personally bent up an airplane, others did that for him unfortunately! Hah. He also had an FBO the first part of his career and a power sports shop the last part. So he/we were always busy.
That's awesome, sounds like a heck of a career!
Hey…I’ll be showing this to my new snowmakers ! Date night doesn’t apply 🙄
As you two know, all else does.
Tyson was a snowmaker at one time 😃
Those were the best times in my life!!
should be 10 things because 6 of them is WASHING the plane.
So true!
Nice video! Hey, I heard you guys found an AT301 (it might actually be a AT400) in Pocahontas you can afford. Who needs wings anyways?
On a serious note, I ferried an AgTruck to Pocahontas a few days before you guys were there. Just missed you!
Thanks Alex! Haha yes we did find one we could afford. Bet you had a fun ferry!
Dang, fuel didn’t even make the list😎
I mean the list could have really been 100 + things.....
Yes but its not all year long.
Exactly.
I remember getting a phone call from a mad Nabour saying if I flew over his house again he would shoot me out of the sky
And this guy was an old teacher of mine
Wow!! That's scary. That's also a criminal offense!
Hey Tyson, I’m extremely interested in ag aviation and I’m currently taking the pilot institute ground school course. I’m looking into Riggin flight service in Madison South Dakota, and planning on working on the ground for a local company around olivia minnesota. I was just wondering if there’s anything you could tell me that could be beneficial. I’ve watched your other videos about the pursuit of this career but because you spray in Minnesota I was wondering if you could potentially give me some first hand advice. Thank you, love the videos.
Hi Andrew. It sounds like you're well on your way! I think that is a great plan so far. The operator in Olivia would be a good start and I think you'd find that to be beneficial.
Yep I agree on the seven but there are plenty more than just 7 reasons.....
Heck, it could go on for days I think.
Hey, quick couple questions if you don't mind. 1) how seasonal is this job?, and 2) what's the usual pay rate/type (i.e., salary, hourly, contract)? Thanks!
Thanks for watching. I’ve actually covered these topics in other videos. Just browse our channel and you’ll find the videos with those titles.
Yup. Life is great until it isn't.
Exactly.
So in this kind of business do you own the airplane or do you have to lease it? And do you prefer the air tractor over the ag cat? Because absolutely I'm in love with the ag cat❤. Which do you prefer and why?
There are a couple ways you can do it. One option is to work for a company that owns the aircraft and you fly it for them. Another option is to own the plane yourself and find the work. I prefer the AT as it's more comfortable to sit in for me and ferries faster and sprays faster than an Ag Cat.
@@AgAviationAdventures Interesting.. thanks for your input. Cheers!
The ONLY thing about this business that’s attractive is the lax winter time and the potential income. Nothing else.
The winters are pretty fun.
What kills people in your industry?
Hitting things and crashing or stalling in a turn or flying into IMC.
@@AgAviationAdventures
What does the actual killing?
Broken neck?
Pierced chest?
Crushed chest?
Blood loss?
Fire?
@@mballer All the above
@@AdventureRig
Do air bags exist in the industry?
Or tests like they do with cars with car crash dummies?
@@mballer They have air bag seat belts but no testing to my knowledge.
2 words: Harvista season...
😂
UNDERRATED channel
ahh thanks!! Appreciate you!