UAV's take over crop dusting in the US (officially)

I can understand how this "giant" would help on small patches (there are some videos of similar helicopters working rice fields on youtube).
Otherwise an average crop-duster (Pawnee) can take 12 times the load of the rmax, and deliver it in timely manner, which from what I gather is crucial in some applications.
 
xargos said:
I can understand how this "giant" would help on small patches (there are some videos of similar helicopters working rice fields on youtube).
Otherwise an average crop-duster (Pawnee) can take 12 times the load of the rmax, and deliver it in timely manner, which from what I gather is crucial in some applications.
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And if a Pawnee (antiquated) can carry that much more, then imagine the amount a typical 400-500 gallon Thrush or Air Tractor...
 
xargos said:
I guess someone should take the editor for a ride on a corn field in Iowa just to put the "giant" in perspective.
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Either that or down in the Arkansas/Mississippi Delta during a rainy June and watch as a 600 gallon Air Tractor is not enough volume for working muddy cotton fields.

Or just watch it attempt to fertilize rice :)

Way too many acres out there for that toy to put even a tiny dent in what the aerial application operators do on a daily basis.
 
ctab5060X said:
... and you can get a fairly new AT-802 for the same price :)
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Last time I spoke with a op manager around here they spoke highly of a radial Thrush (for blueberry mostly). Also the Eagle (not that popular).
I think eventually (soon) someone will transform a full size duster into a drone. Just a matter of time.
 
xargos said:
Last time I spoke with a op manager around here they spoke highly of a radial Thrush (for blueberry mostly). Also the Eagle (not that popular).
I think eventually (soon) someone will transform a full size duster into a drone. Just a matter of time.
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I don't think so, or at least any time soon. Way too many variables in aerial application and decisions that must be made to have it done by drone.
 
xargos said:
Maybe not for the small guys, with a lot of smaller fields, adjacent farmers etc. But what about an enormous farm (no liability issues)?
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There are always liability issues. Somebody's car got sprayed, someone's heirloom rose died, somebody sneezed, etc.

I have friends that work in the state department that basically oversees the regulation of the agricultural aviation industry back home. You would be surprised how hard they work and how many claims they have every season... and this is with the average experience of the pilots in the area pushing 15+ years.

If the general public is going to have a hard time accepting a pilot less airliner, how are they going to feel about a drone spraying chemicals next to their house/family?
 
The foot-in-the-door could be "environmentally friendly" agents (like larvae spread for mosquito control or bacteria for corn borer etc.) or fertilizers.
 
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xargos said:
The foot in the door could be starting with "environmentally friendly" agents (like larvae spread for mosquito control or bacteria for corn borer etc.) or fertilizers.
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True, but for every nice chemical... there are those that will kill you pretty quickly.

There are a couple of classes of chemicals that the state licensing boards in most areas require several years agricultural flying experience before they will let you spray them. Nasty, nasty stuff.
 
ctab5060X said:
Nasty, nasty stuff.
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Some of the people I know remember spreading DDT for Potato Beetle. At the time it was believed to be completely safe, and even spread by workers walking the fields with old nylons filled with the powder. I wonder what they will have to say in the future, about the "safe" chemicals used nowadays.
 
xargos said:
Some of the people I know remember spreading DDT for Potato Beetle. At the time it was believed to be completely safe, and even spread by workers walking the fields with old nylons filled with the powder. I wonder what they will have to say in the future, about the "safe" chemicals used nowadays.
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mmmmmmm... DDT

Now there's a controversy if there has ever been one with a particular chemical.
 
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