Agricultural Flying (Crop dusting) as a career

t-cart said:
Wow Swen, sounds like a good thing coming your way. Good luck!

Twotwowoo, are you close to any operators where you live? Might try to line up a summer job if at all possible.
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Thanks man! After all, your advice two years ago got me into this!:D
 
t-cart said:
Are you talking about loading or flying?
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I've been following along and haven't asked yet because the previous poster asked. I'm interested to know what kind of money can be made flying ag. Of course since you've gotta start out on the ground I supposed it'd be nice to know how many other jobs I should hold in the 'off' season. So I guess I'd like to know both!

I wouldn't imagine it's 747 Captain pay but I'm sure it makes a decent living right? Certainly better than a regional FO? Hope I don't insult anyone as I honestly have no idea what kind of pay this work would get.
 
t-cart said:
Wow Swen, sounds like a good thing coming your way. Good luck!

Twotwowoo, are you close to any operators where you live? Might try to line up a summer job if at all possible.
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I'm moving to Harvey, ND next month, and I know there is an operator at the airport there. I'm starting a new full time job next month, and I told them I'd be there for at least 12 months, so I wouldn't feel right about leaving that. Also, I want to work on my commercial first and get that done. My supervisor at my new job knows the manager of the ag flying operation, and she said that she'd try to work something out for me if I wanted to transition back into aviation. Hopefully I will be able to next summer (2011). I'll definitely make sure to check it out.
 
bronco21016 said:
I've been following along and haven't asked yet because the previous poster asked. I'm interested to know what kind of money can be made flying ag. Of course since you've gotta start out on the ground I supposed it'd be nice to know how many other jobs I should hold in the 'off' season. So I guess I'd like to know both!

I wouldn't imagine it's 747 Captain pay but I'm sure it makes a decent living right? Certainly better than a regional FO? Hope I don't insult anyone as I honestly have no idea what kind of pay this work would get.
Click to expand...
:yeahthat:
 
bronco21016 said:
I've been following along and haven't asked yet because the previous poster asked. I'm interested to know what kind of money can be made flying ag. Of course since you've gotta start out on the ground I supposed it'd be nice to know how many other jobs I should hold in the 'off' season. So I guess I'd like to know both!

I wouldn't imagine it's 747 Captain pay but I'm sure it makes a decent living right? Certainly better than a regional FO? Hope I don't insult anyone as I honestly have no idea what kind of pay this work would get.
Click to expand...

That is kind of a hard question to answer and here is why. Some areas of the country might have a lot of farming going on but they might not depend upon the ag plane as much as other areas do. There isn't a cut and dried pay. The only time an ag pilot is getting paid is when he is crossing the field and actually applying a product, be it seed fertilizer or spray. That said, In an area that depends on the airplane, $100,000 is easily doable with many pilots making above $150,000.
 
t-cart said:
That is kind of a hard question to answer and here is why. Some areas of the country might have a lot of farming going on but they might not depend upon the ag plane as much as other areas do. There isn't a cut and dried pay. The only time an ag pilot is getting paid is when he is crossing the field and actually applying a product, be it seed fertilizer or spray. That said, In an area that depends on the airplane, $100,000 is easily doable with many pilots making above $150,000.
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:eek:

I had no idea you could make that much! I was thinking $20,000 - $30,000 max. That's legacy captain pay! As I said before, I'm not a money person, but that certainly isn't a bad living.
 
bronco21016 said:
You just can't shake the itch can you man? You just gotta get back in an airplane!
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Stupid addictions. Still trying for border patrol (been over a year now), trying out for Detroit Police next month (mcoles on the 10th), maybe even joining the army. June maybe, they told me I'm too fat right now:rotfl:. Extremely obese actually lol. Stupid BMI charts.

It is good to know I'm too qualified for any other job though. At least that is what I have been told by about a dozen employers already. And you? Find a job yet?
 
Let me just make something clear now about ag flying. Yes, the pay is good, and yes we get a lot of time off during the winter. BUT........

As has been noted here, when we work, we work. The hours are crazy and I wouldn't blame anyone for NOT persuing this job. I've written here before that I have missed a lot of important functions over the course of my career. Birthdays, weddings, school plays, and funerals too. You do actually give up a lot to do this. I'm not whining about it at all because I know what it is and what it takes to survive in the business.

I will admit that I know nothing about instructing or regional or mainline flying. This is the one little snippet of aviation that I know about and am very good at. So, when someone asks questions about it, I will give a no BS answer.

I've said in a lot of PM's. This is very serious, low down and dirty flying. This is not to be approached in anything but a serious, "game on" face. I laugh and carry-on about it but you can bet your ass that when I strap in, I am ready to go. No cowboy crap in me. I've also said before that if you fly the way we do, you will have plenty of un-wanted attention without bringing more upon yourself by doing stupid stuff.

To anyone thinking about this, look long and hard at it. It does have it's drawbacks but to me, there isn't a better job in the world.
 
Health insurance is also an issue for many pilots that fly seasonally. If the operator doesn't offer it, plan on taking it out of your earnings unless you have a sugar girl.
 
dbrault17 said:
Stupid addictions. Still trying for border patrol (been over a year now), trying out for Detroit Police next month (mcoles on the 10th), maybe even joining the army. June maybe, they told me I'm too fat right now:rotfl:. Extremely obese actually lol. Stupid BMI charts.

It is good to know I'm too qualified for any other job though. At least that is what I have been told by about a dozen employers already. And you? Find a job yet?
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Physical fitness for a job? Doesn't sound like my kind of job... Especially Detroit Police?! Talk to Brett from Monroe Sheriff he might be able to help you out. Are you back on the east side?

I'm working a few angles I'll have to give ya a call sometime to let ya know what's going on.

t-cart said:
That is kind of a hard question to answer and here is why. Some areas of the country might have a lot of farming going on but they might not depend upon the ag plane as much as other areas do. There isn't a cut and dried pay. The only time an ag pilot is getting paid is when he is crossing the field and actually applying a product, be it seed fertilizer or spray. That said, In an area that depends on the airplane, $100,000 is easily doable with many pilots making above $150,000.
Click to expand...

t-cart said:
Let me just make something clear now about ag flying. Yes, the pay is good, and yes we get a lot of time off during the winter. BUT........

As has been noted here, when we work, we work. The hours are crazy and I wouldn't blame anyone for NOT persuing this job. I've written here before that I have missed a lot of important functions over the course of my career. Birthdays, weddings, school plays, and funerals too. You do actually give up a lot to do this. I'm not whining about it at all because I know what it is and what it takes to survive in the business.

I will admit that I know nothing about instructing or regional or mainline flying. This is the one little snippet of aviation that I know about and am very good at. So, when someone asks questions about it, I will give a no BS answer.

I've said in a lot of PM's. This is very serious, low down and dirty flying. This is not to be approached in anything but a serious, "game on" face. I laugh and carry-on about it but you can bet your ass that when I strap in, I am ready to go. No cowboy crap in me. I've also said before that if you fly the way we do, you will have plenty of un-wanted attention without bringing more upon yourself by doing stupid stuff.

To anyone thinking about this, look long and hard at it. It does have it's drawbacks but to me, there isn't a better job in the world.
Click to expand...

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

So now I see why you've made a career out of crop dusting! I can imagine it's incredibly tough work during the season. I've worked on a farm before and everyone talks about sun up to sun down and they're not exaggerating AT ALL. I would imagine many of the airline pilots would say the same that they give up some time at home. It seems the difference is ag flying is during the high season where as airlines have it spread out throughout the year.

I can also see the flying being very humbling. I see wayyyy too many cocky SJS wannabes at my school who think they can fly it 2" above the deck at Mach 5. I'd love to see some of them be serious and actually be a sharp stick and rudder pilot. What kind of washout rates do people typically see if they go to a training program? It has to be pretty difficult to keep it so low to the ground and not hit anything that might have a higher altitude (power lines and trees!).

I think I'm going to at least call around and see what's out there in my area. A quick google search brought up a few Michigan companies so it might be worth chasing for someone like me who wants a good career and the good 'ol farm life!
 
t-cart said:
Let me just make something clear now about ag flying. Yes, the pay is good, and yes we get a lot of time off during the winter. BUT........

As has been noted here, when we work, we work. The hours are crazy and I wouldn't blame anyone for NOT persuing this job. I've written here before that I have missed a lot of important functions over the course of my career. Birthdays, weddings, school plays, and funerals too. You do actually give up a lot to do this. I'm not whining about it at all because I know what it is and what it takes to survive in the business.

I will admit that I know nothing about instructing or regional or mainline flying. This is the one little snippet of aviation that I know about and am very good at. So, when someone asks questions about it, I will give a no BS answer.

I've said in a lot of PM's. This is very serious, low down and dirty flying. This is not to be approached in anything but a serious, "game on" face. I laugh and carry-on about it but you can bet your ass that when I strap in, I am ready to go. No cowboy crap in me. I've also said before that if you fly the way we do, you will have plenty of un-wanted attention without bringing more upon yourself by doing stupid stuff.

To anyone thinking about this, look long and hard at it. It does have it's drawbacks but to me, there isn't a better job in the world.
Click to expand...

Thats exactly how it was put to me. This is a very serious job both on the ground and especially in the air. From the ground perspective that i have, you are constantly running around a very large running aircraft. We fuel the planes while they run which with the ag cat being a bi plane the fuel tank is on the top wing. So you have to climb up on the nose with the prop blast of a turbine engine trying to blow you off. And then there is always the fun of cleaning the windscreen when the pilot hits a duck!! But the way i look at it you gotta start somewhere, whether it be regionals, cargo, instructing, or loading ag planes. Im putting my time in and it is a fun job that i enjoy. As far as pay goes for working on the ground, i make $15 an hour for driving the loader truck, mixing chemicals, and whatever else the boss wants. Oh and by the way the only time i wanted to quit was when we spread a fine gourmet blend of granulated chicken manure and fish on some organic fields.........in 100 degree heat.......i cant even describe the smell.
 
Swen said:
Health insurance is also an issue for many pilots that fly seasonally. If the operator doesn't offer it, plan on taking it out of your earnings unless you have a sugar girl.
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Sugar momma... CHECK! :rawk:

I honestly didn't know you could have an aviation career without one? Do people actually do this?
 
bronco21016 said:
So now I see why you've made a career out of crop dusting! I can imagine it's incredibly tough work during the season. I've worked on a farm before and everyone talks about sun up to sun down and they're not exaggerating AT ALL. I would imagine many of the airline pilots would say the same that they give up some time at home. It seems the difference is ag flying is during the high season where as airlines have it spread out throughout the year.

I can also see the flying being very humbling. I see wayyyy too many cocky SJS wannabes at my school who think they can fly it 2" above the deck at Mach 5. I'd love to see some of them be serious and actually be a sharp stick and rudder pilot. What kind of washout rates do people typically see if they go to a training program? It has to be pretty difficult to keep it so low to the ground and not hit anything that might have a higher altitude (power lines and trees!).

I think I'm going to at least call around and see what's out there in my area. A quick google search brought up a few Michigan companies so it might be worth chasing for someone like me who wants a good career and the good 'ol farm life!
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

I went to the same school you did, and yes, SJS types abound. Most of them probably wouldn't make it in aerial application. Also, the nice thing about ag flying is that you're home at night, and not in some hotel. I really wish that I knew about this sooner, before I decided to take a non-aviation job. Oh well, such is life. I can at least get my commercial done, and try to make connections in the industry.
 
GLAS11 said:
Thats exactly how it was put to me. This is a very serious job both on the ground and especially in the air. From the ground perspective that i have, you are constantly running around a very large running aircraft. We fuel the planes while they run which with the ag cat being a bi plane the fuel tank is on the top wing. So you have to climb up on the nose with the prop blast of a turbine engine trying to blow you off. And then there is always the fun of cleaning the windscreen when the pilot hits a duck!! But the way i look at it you gotta start somewhere, whether it be regionals, cargo, instructing, or loading ag planes. Im putting my time in and it is a fun job that i enjoy. As far as pay goes for working on the ground, i make $15 an hour for driving the loader truck, mixing chemicals, and whatever else the boss wants. Oh and by the way the only time i wanted to quit was when we spread a fine gourmet blend of granulated chicken manure and fish on some organic fields.........in 100 degree heat.......i cant even describe the smell.
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T-cart and GLAS11, thanks for telling it like it is. Maybe I'm crazy, but that does sound like fun. I'm sure it's worth it to get a seat in an Ag-Cat or Thrush. The nice thing about North Dakota (and Michigan): no 100 degree heat.
 
twotwowoo said:
:yeahthat:

I went to the same school you did, and yes, SJS types abound. Most of them probably wouldn't make it in aerial application. Also, the nice thing about ag flying is that you're home at night, and not in some hotel. I really wish that I knew about this sooner, before I decided to take a non-aviation job. Oh well, such is life. I can at least get my commercial done, and try to make connections in the industry.
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twotwowoo makes sense now haha... N22WU

At least you're moving out to an area that I'm sure has much more ag flying going on. Get on the phone and try to work ground crew it sounds like!

Adler said:
Sounds like I need to take a trip to the College of Health and Human Services
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Found mine at Eastern Michigan haha!
 
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