Here in Canada the average pilot wage is $2.00 per acre in 2022. A 500 gal Turbine aircraft usually does around 40,000 - 60,000 acres per season. Average flight hours is from 200 - 300 hours per season. Our season runs from Mid May to end of September. Also we have forestry spraying work in Eastern Canada that runs from end of May to July 1st. Lots of aircraft from Western Canada will be sent to do the forestry run and then return home for the fungicide run. I have over 42 years of spraying flying many different aircraft like the Piper 150, 235, 300, 450 Callair , Ag Cat, Thrush, Air Tractor 401, 402A, 402B, 502XP, 802. Have Fun, Do A Good Job, Make Money.
You are an inspiration so continue doing what your doing. Really enjoy your content! Towing gliders on a single seat crop duster is the single most rewarding and fun aviation experience I’ve had! - commercial Boing pilot with 17 years of experience.
Thanks for the pay info, I was curious about that. I really loved the rotating panoramic shot your camera does. I get a better feeling for what it's like in you plane. Thanks 😊
A friend lost 2 air tractors as a result of guy wires on cell towers in the same year. I think in between these towers and turbines popping up all over the rural landscape definitely makes spraying a underpaid career. Your thoughts?
Hello great video and helped me answer some questions. However what kind of experience did you have before becoming a ag pilot? Such as what ratings endorsements were you a CFI and did you have a degree? I am possibly looking into this industry and I’m from Texas if you have any additional information from ag pilots down there!
I had a college degree but that really doesn’t matter in this industry. I also had my instrument and multi but again neither of those are needed. I had around 500 hours when I got my first job. You may find some answers in the “do you want to be an Ag pilot” video.
My Dad's friend was a fighter pilot in WW2. After the War, he flew crop dusters to earn money while going to school. One morning, he had some problems and put thepkane down quite rudely in the middle of a field. He wasgoing to be late for class, so he just high tailed it to class. When he didn't come home before going to class, his wife got real upset.
With all the thousands and thousands of crop plots I guess you are given GPS coordinates for a specific one to spray? Explain please. Probably a lot more than that! Many thanks. Mac
Hi Austin. I can't make any personal recommendations (although hopefully after Cally attends a program this fall for her PPL we can) but I do recommend trying to find an accelerated program where you can go and get your licenses quickly.
I'm actually in the middle of lessons to get my private pilot's license.. 2 questions, I'm currently a very young 59 years old (I ride a harley and race stock cars.. lol) do you think that's too old to get into AG flying? And 2nd question, what other training/endorsements are needed to do this? Thanks! Love your channel!
If you’re committed it’s not too old but it will not be as easy as someone who is 20. The only thing you’ll “need” is your applicators license for the state you spray in.
They can range from $100k to $1.6 million depending on what you’re looking for. Maintenance all depends on how new it is. And every year it may be drastically different. As low as $5k a year to could be $300k if you need motor work. I’m not sure how how many pilots. Maybe 4,000 in the US.
You missed one thing.. yes you get paid BUT you also are gaining hours! Most people don't understand the value of hours in their log book! Instead of renting a plane everyday to get hours on the log book you can do it while making money.
Don't let this guy hype you up I'm becoming a crop duster cuz there's not that much money in it unless you're in Florida or California place of where they spray fruit trees and things like that you'll starve to death
I retired from crop dusting in 2019. I can vouch for the numbers. My career included 9 years of B747 flying. 2.5 years of Alaska bush flying , 4 years of commuter flying and 22 years of crop dusting. Of those, for me crop dusting was the most enjoyable. Home every night and 6 1/2 months per year off. I actually made more one year crop dusting than I did as a 747 captain.
@@mdbryan9525 A lot of jobs I did up here required me to fly all over the state in all types of aircraft and helicopters. I have a few scary stories where the pilot looked over and said shit I thought we were done. I spent a lot of years around aviation including an enlistment in the P3 Navy and a few years assembling jet engines at P&WA. I worked there in the late 70s. I might have helped assemble your JT9s on that 747.I even had a7ECA Champ about 30 years ago. It was a fun plane but life has changes and got rid of it.
where did you operate out of that got you home every night? thats one thing I'm trying to figure out about Ag flying. I assume some people are just away most of the time during the season. is your experience average?
@@ryancrazy1 it really all depends on the company that you’re working for. I did get sent out of town for a couple weeks each season with my last employer but the previous 3 , I didn’t. So if you want more money ( because of slow periods of work) and you are willing to work for a company that wants you flying every day regardless of where they have to send you, then you can choose to work for them. If being home every night is more important than making more money then choose an outfit that doesn’t make you go out of town. I retired from a operation in SD. The places that I worked where I never was out of town were in central Washington state.
You aren't being paid enough risking your life like that......and your talent is a money maker for those of us using your services. You guys rock. BALLS OF STEEL
Yeah a friend of mine saw someone talk to him or moving from Florida to Kentucky and he that went broke crop dusting full time maybe if you lived in Florida or California where they spray their fruit trees and all that junk a lot and things that you might make good money but forget about it otherwise
Ain't that the damn truth. I know about a dozen ag pilots and all of them keep whining about not making enough. haha A life long friend just closed his ag business of 30+ years this year when his engine swarmed. He was charging $8.20 acre for 5 gallon spray work. The only thing I've heard them complain about that's even close to the making more money complaint is the price of fuel.
Now if you were sitting at a desk, or in your truck telling us this, it wouldn't be as cool as in the cockpit!! I just really like your channel, the content you present and your positive attitude.
The best paid pilots are in the mid south. Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi due to the longer growing season and dependence on Ag planes for agriculture. Our pilot flies an 802 Air Tractor and he works every month out of the year. Obviously the growing season is his busiest time with April through October being the busiest and May and June being the peak. Ag planes spread a massive amount of dry urea fertilizer on rice and corn in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas. Our pilot also does variable rate P and K on our soybeans. So if you want to be an ag pilot be prepared to move to a southern state because that’s where the action is. There are more Ag planes working in Arkansas than any other state due to the fact that rice production depends heavily on Ag aviation, Mississippi, where I live comes in second. In a 50 mile radius from where I live there are 50 Ag planes working. At any given moment on a relatively calm day during the growing season you can look in any direction and see an Ag plane in a turn, usually more than one.
Can someone find a loading position for the winter months? I’m employed up north during the summer and want to try loading but it falls on the busy months for me up here. If I decided to peruse this I would drop what I’m doing of course.
I am from Louisiana I have two crop dusting hangers by my house on is about 600 yards in back of my house and one about 3 miles down the road from were i live here in Reddell Louisiana about 3 miles north of Mamou here does planes start flying at 6am till 7pm 7 days a week none stop for about 8 months so yes what you sade is true.🤠
I watched The most amazing display of crop dusting a rice field outside Beaumont Texas one afternoon. The field had trees at one end and power lines at the other. The pilot would make a pass and pull up into a hammerhead stall turn to reverse course for his next track and he would repeat the maneuver at the opposite end. Usually a crop duster will pull up and make a wide steep turn to align for his next pass. This pilot could complete the hammerhead maneuver turn in 1/2 the time that the steep turn required. Looked like a time saver but awfully risky.
I remember as kid (early 70s in Oklahoma) watching a local ag pilot. In order to continue spraying the field on both sides of the road without having to stop (because of the road), he would fly under the power lines and just keep spraying onto the other field. There were some instances where he would also have to be below the power lines and ABOVE a barbwire fence. Crazy!
This ag pilot has it down to a profession and he does it the same every day that he gets in the aircraft and doesn’t change his ways and his risks are lower just got a watch out for that high-speed stall at the bottom
I've witnessed the same. Precision flying for sure! When I was working for crop-dusters in Idaho, one of our pilots broke the line that goes from the cockpit to the top of the tail when he flew under an electrical line and got a little too close to it. He just laughed it off.
Well I would hope you get paid good cause I have to admit... First I'll say I had thought about crop dusting as a career one time long ago.. but after seeing how low you fly and at what speeds ahh it sent chills down my spine. Flying under power lines! Are ya kidding me! Love to watch your videos!
Always was curious on wages with a shorter, while FAST paced season in the upper great lakes region. Please keep the great content coming Tyson and Cally!!! You guys rock!!!
I was an A&P for a crop dusting company in the Imperial Valley,CA. We fly 12 months a year and when cotton is in the field we fly 24 hours a day. During the summer its mostly night flying. All our pilots made in excess of $100,000 a year.
It honestly looks like so fun. My dream is to fly cargo, but also have some kind of bush plane. So if I do learn tailwheel, I'd love to do this. I know you probably mention it in other videos (new here), but how do you keep track of what you've already sprayed?
I keep up with my pay per tach hour and what I have averaged throught my career is ~$200/hr in a 400 gal plane, $250 in a 500 gal and $300 in an 800 gal plane.
Hey Patrick. I just retired this week after 45 years and 15000 ag hours. You must have tough work or low rates. My hourly avg in the 802 has been fairly consistent at $500. Of course, I’m in Canada, so I guess that’s around $375 USD. 😕
@@finneganfly Hey Kevin, we do a lot of dry work that we have to ferry which brings the hourly wage down a little bit. There is a lot of competition in this area which drives down the rates as well. How many hours did you fly per season? I am usually around 700 hours at the end of the year.
@@pcohen85 Well that certainly makes sense, then. You’re spending a lot of time not applying product. Most years here my season was around 400 hrs. Primarily Fungicide and desiccation. Back in the 70’s it was all low gal herbicide work. I spent a number of years on potatoes at 5 gpa from the mid-80’s to late 90’s. That was some heavy slugging. Wish I had an 802 back then! I’ve done very little dry work in my 45 years. We had a cat way back when that had done some mine tailing reclamation - the log showed 60+ loads/day. Takeoff, dump, land, repeat. Ugh.
You REALLY need to connect with @MNMillennialFarmer and see about getting on his Off The Husk podcast! I think you would have an incredible perspective on the Ag world, that most people don't even think about!
@@AgAviationAdventures that is awesome! I've been wanting an agricultural aviation perspective on that podcast for a long time! Hopefully you guys can work something out!!
I've been flying with B747, crop dusted for 67 years now, then I moved to Alaska doing bush flying, Air Force recruited me as a warp-pulse tunnelig engineers and I worked aboard C17, C5, AN-225 and I believe several ultralight wings also for over 28 years, then I got married and started a carreer on boat-flying, went at war twice bombing enemy fields with some modified crop dusters, then I moved on A380 civil aviation career, after roughly 60 years I was assigned to Mars station at first, then I was transferred to Saturn orbital international station where I got my graduation in crop dusting so far. Now I'm retired but TBH, I didn't take half of a shit of a penny in those jobs. Next time I swear I'll go for door-to-door households selling business. :-(((
@@AgAviationAdventures Tyson, I am from Adelaide, South Australia. There are many many Ag Tractors here in Australia and used for various purposes as would be in the USA. I do admire guys and girls like you not only for the work you do but the risks involved. As you are an experienced pilot of the Ag Tractor, are there any improvements that could be undertaken with this aircraft? and if so, do you provide feedback to the manufacturer? All the best and as we say when parachuting. "Blue Skies". Cheers John Purdy
I used to think it looked like a perfect job. After reading of two deaths in Kansas recently and seeing one in the ditch upside down moments after it had crashed in Mexico this spring I'm not so sure. I worked on plenty of dangerous jobs in my life, oil field roughneck, high iron construction to name a couple and always walked away much richer. When the pay got too low I'd ask myself if it was worth it. Now I just risk it to keep life interesting. :)
Most average pilots will not be able to handle the work load! You will fly 7 days a week, weather permitting. Till the first frost! But what a great life!
@@AgAviationAdventures I worked as mechanic for 2 ag operators for about 28 years! Yes it is hard work but worth every minute of it. My best memories was finishing the season, working a couple of weeks figuring out what parts are need to fix the planes and then heading to Mexico for a week! We would fly to south of Mazatalan about 3 times a winter! You kids have fun enjoying a great life!
Nope, only when you are spraying the field. Whether it's 10 miles from the airport or 40 miles from the airport. However, it's not super likely that you're going to ferry 1 hour for one field. Can be done though.
You can buy the shirt here: agaviationadventures.com/shop I think the book you have to be a member of the NAAA to receive the data/publications. You may be able to reach out to them to request specific information - www.agaviation.org/ Thanks for watching!
A quick note on planes. Air tractors are kind of the standard. They probably sell more than all the rest combined. Your question needs to be answered in context. Do you have 2000 acres to be sprayed? You need a big plane with a large hopper. Is the gallon/ acre high? You probably need a big plane unless the fields are small, in which case a helicopter might be best. Your question is sort of like what’s the best car. It depends.
Well I’m working on a golf course now and going to school for turf management. I’m mixing and spraying greens with a boom sprayer but Iv always been interested in crop dusting. Would my skills in turf somewhat transfer to crop dusting? I know I would need my pilots license and all but I could get that. I’m 21 now and have another year of school for turf. I know fuel is going up to making everything a lot more expensive which doesn’t help!
Not bad money for driving a tractor... That thing really does look like a John Deere inside the cab. Great respect for what you do, it's tough work. Keep it shiny side up!
@@AgAviationAdventures Hello I am an agricultural pilot on a Cessna 188 and have about 1000 hours experience خبرة Do you have any jobs? The second question Do you have a course for converting to turbocharged engines such as the Air Tractor 502 I am from Libya Thank you so much
@@AgAviationAdventures since my last post I met a very generous gentleman who owns 2 air tractors, a P 51 Mustang, a Citribria, C-172 and a handful of other airplanes. I hauled a WWII F4U Corsair for him from ND to CA. We got to talking and I asked him "What would it take to come work for you with no tail wheel experience and an un-finished PLL?" He said it would be possible since I'm in great health and have many years of flying left age wise. He said "You could fly the C 172 and finish your PPL then fly the Citribria and get comfortable in that, then we could transition you to the air tractor and you would be spraying in no time" Initially I thought he was joking but then the next day (I spent the night at his airport in my semi truck) he said "Keep in touch and let me know" meaning he was serious about me transitioning out of trucking and into AG flying. He also mentioned he could train me to be an A&P mechanic so during winter I could work in the shop when there was no spraying. This all happened less than a week ago and I've been thinking about ways to make this happen ever since!
Hello sir, My name is Colby Snow and I’m from south east Arkansas and my family farms row crop. My cousin owns his own plan but hires a pilot to come and fly it. But the main reason I’m writing in the comment section is because I’m wanting to ask you how van I get into a school? Aviation flying school. I don’t go around my cousin because of family issues but I worked for him through my teenage years and I loaded the crop duster. I loaded fertilizer and spray. But at that time being young I never did think to ask this question to him or his pilot. But now that I’m 36years old its time to do something. I love flying. I fly in his and his little cub. I’m a certified diesel tech by trade. I’m just ready for something different if you know what I mean. I just always liked flying..... so I’m trying to see how to get started. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
Hey Colby. You’re in a great area and in general Arkansas has a TON of Ag flying. I would go around to different operators and talk with them. Let them know you’re interested in getting into it and if they would be able to point you in the right direction or give you advise. Also take a look at the video “do you want to be a a Ag pilot”. I would make as many connections as you can and see what the job opportunities look like.
Interesting. Shouldn't forget though - that $60-$120k likely won't include health benefits or retirement. If you're at the high end you can provide those for yourself. If not, best be married to someone who has a regular job. Those things aside, beats the heck out of my job.
How bout the one that makes big bucks all summer, then gets laid off in fall and collects unemployment all winter?? I know one that did that every year. Then mechaniced on the side while drawing unemployment.
EMS 8 years and counting, Honestly, I think flying chooses a person, money just makes it sweeter. If your deciding to start a flying career just for the money, you may wanna do some more pre flight planning, haha. If ya wanna make $200hr…become a doctor.
Really depends on how much risk you want to take. It pays more as an owner/operator but there is more risk and time involved running the business and keeping customers.
Hi guys. I would like to make a carrera at 54. Does the AG aviotion industries accept new pilots at this age (54) unlike airlines that after 30 you basically off the market
Yeah as long as you are willing to put in the work. It’ll take a few years to probably get into an aircraft that can do enough work that you’ll make money to live off of.
Nice video, Grew up swamping and flagging for my father (San Joaquin Valley, Ca.) in 50's & 60's, when Stearmans were king! , later in Ag Cats. To maximized earnings , several things, work where the large farming is, an know there are different seasons, pest abatement, defoliiation, etc. and that dusters often times temporarily follow seasons away from home. You also have to deal with work hours that keep you away from family as you're usually home and asleep at about 2 pm. and the seasons are 7 days a week I do know todays aircraft are certainly safer, but I do remember sitting in class at school thinking my father could be hitting the ground in a ball of flame right now! Father dusted for over 30 yrs, 1 mech failure (thrown rod) 1 pilot error, caught wing. Walked away unharmed. Lucky!! But brother and I grew up spoiled brats, money was good!
The loader boys and chemical handlers like me before I could afford pilot training were stiffed badly. And I held an A&P. It's a trickle down effect in the ag aviation world.
Good stuff Tyson. My Pop charged two bucks an acre with his 235 Pawnee, but that was many many years ago now. He also at different time periods had an Ag Cat, an Ag Wagon, and last of all a 400 Brave. He lost his medical for awhile and had to hire pilots. So while flagging I got to see some dork cartwheel the Ag wagon in on a turn, guy got a little banged up but nothing serious. yup airplane was done for and the dang thing was still practically brand new!
Burns about 1 gallon of jet fuel a minute. So when you’re ferrying to fields it makes a big difference how close or far away they are. And when you’re not spraying you’re not making money.
I grew up on a farm in central IL and am a senior citizen - our ag sprayers flew Stearman - having flown in the Navy your turbine ag flying has to be better than a day in a Stearman
Do the operators/companies provide you with a place to stay/live during the ag season at the field? Or do you have to find your own living accommodations. and how much they charge typically if they have rooms on field
Nicely done video, retired but spent 40 years flying and always wished I could have sprayed a little. Chemicals scared me away. I wish you the best of luck on this channel and flying.
Greetings! Thanks for your fun videos. Just a quick question, although unlikely, is there a place or site where a photographer can find out where and when ag flights might be conducted?
Here in Canada the average pilot wage is $2.00 per acre in 2022. A 500 gal Turbine aircraft usually does around 40,000 - 60,000 acres per season. Average flight hours is from 200 - 300 hours per season. Our season runs from Mid May to end of September. Also we have forestry spraying work in Eastern Canada that runs from end of May to July 1st. Lots of aircraft from Western Canada will be sent to do the forestry run and then return home for the fungicide run. I have over 42 years of spraying flying many different aircraft like the Piper 150, 235, 300, 450 Callair , Ag Cat, Thrush, Air Tractor 401, 402A, 402B, 502XP, 802. Have Fun, Do A Good Job, Make Money.
Thanks for the insight Terry! That’s very useful information and I’ve always been curious how things compare north of the border.
How many hours would you need under your belt for an operator to want to hire you?
Or do you just build hours on the job?
A canadian asking....
I like the channel very much, it so much information. I am watching it out of pure nostalgic feelings, started out „ages“ ago as cropduster
Thanks for watching Andi.
You are an inspiration so continue doing what your doing. Really enjoy your content!
Towing gliders on a single seat crop duster is the single most rewarding and fun aviation experience I’ve had!
- commercial Boing pilot with 17 years of experience.
That’s awesome! I started by towing gliders in a Pawnee.
@@AgAviationAdventures best airplane I’ve ever flown! Nothing really worked but it still got the job done. Really miss that bird!
Yeah the one I flew was similar. Airspeed didn’t work and it didn’t have an electrical system. Had to hand prop it every day.
Please. Whatever you do, never ever fly for free 'for experience'. Even as a new pilot know that you are worth something and should be paied!
Thanks for watching Dan.
Thanks for the pay info, I was curious about that. I really loved the rotating panoramic shot your camera does. I get a better feeling for what it's like in you plane. Thanks 😊
Thanks for watching.
you have a new subscriber!!! im finishing up my private and my goal is to get into spraying! still a ways to go but im soo excited!
Awesome thanks for subscribing!
Wait, do I know you from somewhere?
@@NileMcMillion fancy seeing you here
Our founder started out as an arial applicator before he went on to building hangar doors! It's a great job.
For sure!
A friend lost 2 air tractors as a result of guy wires on cell towers in the same year. I think in between these towers and turbines popping up all over the rural landscape definitely makes spraying a underpaid career. Your thoughts?
There are a lot of obstacles to watch out for. There is definitely not room for error. But I like the schedule of having the winters off.
Any thoughts on drones and whether they might make this type of flying obsolete for manned aircraft?
Check out the drone video.
I have the utmost respect for AG pilots
Thanks for watching Eugene.
What plane did you get your PL in and how did you convert over to learning how to fly an ag plane?
I flew a Cessna 152 for my private. I towed banners in a Pawnee to get tailwheel time and then went into a radial Thrush when I started spraying.
Hey buddy you’re awesome keep it up I’m a commercial pilot but I don’t want to do that what I wanna do is fly low and fast yeah buddy so cool! :-)
I was in the same boat as you and didn’t want to go to the airlines.
When I worked as a truck driver hauling hay, that’s what we made was 25% of whatever the load made
That's interesting!
@@AgAviationAdventures it’s probably just an agricultural standard
@@AgAviationAdventures because I worked for two or three different farms and they paid the same in Mojave Valley, Arizona
Hello great video and helped me answer some questions. However what kind of experience did you have before becoming a ag pilot? Such as what ratings endorsements were you a CFI and did you have a degree? I am possibly looking into this industry and I’m from Texas if you have any additional information from ag pilots down there!
I had a college degree but that really doesn’t matter in this industry. I also had my instrument and multi but again neither of those are needed. I had around 500 hours when I got my first job. You may find some answers in the “do you want to be an Ag pilot” video.
My Dad's friend was a fighter pilot in WW2. After the War, he flew crop dusters to earn money while going to school.
One morning, he had some problems and put thepkane down quite rudely in the middle of a field. He wasgoing to be late for class, so he just high tailed it to class. When he didn't come home before going to class, his wife got real upset.
With all the thousands and thousands of crop plots I guess you are given GPS coordinates for a specific one to spray? Explain please. Probably a lot more than that! Many thanks. Mac
Hi Mac. Check out the video explaining the GPS. Short answer is I have coordinates or a shape file.
I’m in Indiana, what flight schools would you recommend to get into this field and into flying period.
Hi Austin. I can't make any personal recommendations (although hopefully after Cally attends a program this fall for her PPL we can) but I do recommend trying to find an accelerated program where you can go and get your licenses quickly.
Very seasonal ,
Depends on where you’re located but generally yes it is.
I'm actually in the middle of lessons to get my private pilot's license.. 2 questions, I'm currently a very young 59 years old (I ride a harley and race stock cars.. lol) do you think that's too old to get into AG flying? And 2nd question, what other training/endorsements are needed to do this? Thanks! Love your channel!
If you’re committed it’s not too old but it will not be as easy as someone who is 20. The only thing you’ll “need” is your applicators license for the state you spray in.
@@AgAviationAdventures you also need a 1st class medical and a Commercial Ticket.
How much does an ag-plane cost to purchase, to perate, to maintain... How many are they in the US, in the world, etc. How many pilots...
They can range from $100k to $1.6 million depending on what you’re looking for. Maintenance all depends on how new it is. And every year it may be drastically different. As low as $5k a year to could be $300k if you need motor work. I’m not sure how how many pilots. Maybe 4,000 in the US.
Good video
The price would be similar for up hear in Canada??
I’m not sure what prices are in Canada.
you look cool in your helmet
Thanks!
What endorsement do you need and what endorsements do the employers expect you to have?
At a minimum you would need your limited commercial. I know a lot of people that only have the minimum and have no problem getting jobs.
You missed one thing.. yes you get paid BUT you also are gaining hours! Most people don't understand the value of hours in their log book! Instead of renting a plane everyday to get hours on the log book you can do it while making money.
For sure!
Are there positions available for a&p mechanics in ag aviation?
Absolutely. There are always a few operators it seems like every year that are looking for a mechanic.
Is your 2021 season starting already?
Not quite. We’ll head out to Minnesota at the end of May.
Oh i forgot your in Minnesota no trees an powerlines
I wish that was the case.
For the risk you take not enough.
Some days it seems that way.
Pending on work
Lots of variables for sure.
My dad flies a AT 502 and he has the same helmet!
That’s awesome!
The answer is as long as a piece of string !!!!!!!!!!!!!
😂
It seems like your camera man got bored with what you were saying and his attention started to wander outside the cockpit 😆😆😆
😂
Don't let this guy hype you up I'm becoming a crop duster cuz there's not that much money in it unless you're in Florida or California place of where they spray fruit trees and things like that you'll starve to death
Definitely.
I retired from crop dusting in 2019. I can vouch for the numbers. My career included 9 years of B747 flying. 2.5 years of Alaska bush flying , 4 years of commuter flying and 22 years of crop dusting. Of those, for me crop dusting was the most enjoyable. Home every night and 6 1/2 months per year off. I actually made more one year crop dusting than I did as a 747 captain.
I would love to head up to Alaska! That sure sounds like fun flying as well.
@@AgAviationAdventures Don’t do it. Scary scary stuff. I’m glad I lived through it. Seriously, don’t do it.
@@mdbryan9525 A lot of jobs I did up here required me to fly all over the state in all types of aircraft and helicopters. I have a few scary stories where the pilot looked over and said shit I thought we were done. I spent a lot of years around aviation including an enlistment in the P3 Navy and a few years assembling jet engines at P&WA. I worked there in the late 70s. I might have helped assemble your JT9s on that 747.I even had a7ECA Champ about 30 years ago. It was a fun plane but life has changes and got rid of it.
where did you operate out of that got you home every night? thats one thing I'm trying to figure out about Ag flying. I assume some people are just away most of the time during the season. is your experience average?
@@ryancrazy1 it really all depends on the company that you’re working for. I did get sent out of town for a couple weeks each season with my last employer but the previous 3 , I didn’t. So if you want more money ( because of slow periods of work) and you are willing to work for a company that wants you flying every day regardless of where they have to send you, then you can choose to work for them. If being home every night is more important than making more money then choose an outfit that doesn’t make you go out of town. I retired from a operation in SD. The places that I worked where I never was out of town were in central Washington state.
You aren't being paid enough risking your life like that......and your talent is a money maker for those of us using your services. You guys rock. BALLS OF STEEL
Thanks for watching
I've Never met one that wasn't going Broke, to hear them talk.
🤣
😂
Yeah a friend of mine saw someone talk to him or moving from Florida to Kentucky and he that went broke crop dusting full time maybe if you lived in Florida or California where they spray their fruit trees and all that junk a lot and things that you might make good money but forget about it otherwise
Ain't that the damn truth. I know about a dozen ag pilots and all of them keep whining about not making enough. haha A life long friend just closed his ag business of 30+ years this year when his engine swarmed. He was charging $8.20 acre for 5 gallon spray work. The only thing I've heard them complain about that's even close to the making more money complaint is the price of fuel.
Now that I think about it?
The farmer has Always going Broke too. 🤣
Awesome video, very informative, I appreciate you talking about your own experience and giving us some roughly real numbers to think about.
For sure thanks for watching.
q
Ok
Ok Ok sounds
Now if you were sitting at a desk, or in your truck telling us this, it wouldn't be as cool as in the cockpit!! I just really like your channel, the content you present and your positive attitude.
Thanks Gregg.
Great video once again, Tyson! Thanks for the insight into the industry.
Appreciate you watching James.
Hey we have the same name! Lol
The best paid pilots are in the mid south. Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi due to the longer growing season and dependence on Ag planes for agriculture. Our pilot flies an 802 Air Tractor and he works every month out of the year. Obviously the growing season is his busiest time with April through October being the busiest and May and June being the peak. Ag planes spread a massive amount of dry urea fertilizer on rice and corn in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas. Our pilot also does variable rate P and K on our soybeans. So if you want to be an ag pilot be prepared to move to a southern state because that’s where the action is. There are more Ag planes working in Arkansas than any other state due to the fact that rice production depends heavily on Ag aviation, Mississippi, where I live comes in second. In a 50 mile radius from where I live there are 50 Ag planes working. At any given moment on a relatively calm day during the growing season you can look in any direction and see an Ag plane in a turn, usually more than one.
Great input!
Can someone find a loading position for the winter months? I’m employed up north during the summer and want to try loading but it falls on the busy months for me up here. If I decided to peruse this I would drop what I’m doing of course.
I am from Louisiana I have two crop dusting hangers by my house on is about 600 yards in back of my house and one about 3 miles down the road from were i live here in Reddell Louisiana about 3 miles north of Mamou here does planes start flying at 6am till 7pm 7 days a week none stop for about 8 months so yes what you sade is true.🤠
Can you do a video on what you do to scout a field prior to spraying it and what kinds of things you are on the lookout for?
Check out the ride along video.
Multitasking on point!!! Gold Nuggets through out this video Tyson....Fly Low and Fly Fast
Haha thanks for watching Neels.
Solid and eye-opening information. Thank you. I used to “dust” vegetable gardens with my Starduster Too back in the 1980’s.
That’s awesome!
Do what you love and the money will come. Hopefully!
For sure!
I watched The most amazing display of crop dusting a rice field outside Beaumont Texas one afternoon. The field had trees at one end and power lines at the other. The pilot would make a pass and pull up into a hammerhead stall turn to reverse course for his next track and he would repeat the maneuver at the opposite end. Usually a crop duster will pull up and make a wide steep turn to align for his next pass. This pilot could complete the hammerhead maneuver turn in 1/2 the time that the steep turn required. Looked like a time saver but awfully risky.
Risky for sure.
That would have been fun to watch!
I remember as kid (early 70s in Oklahoma) watching a local ag pilot. In order to continue spraying the field on both sides of the road without having to stop (because of the road), he would fly under the power lines and just keep spraying onto the other field. There were some instances where he would also have to be below the power lines and ABOVE a barbwire fence. Crazy!
This ag pilot has it down to a profession and he does it the same every day that he gets in the aircraft and doesn’t change his ways and his risks are lower just got a watch out for that high-speed stall at the bottom
I've witnessed the same. Precision flying for sure! When I was working for crop-dusters in Idaho, one of our pilots broke the line that goes from the cockpit to the top of the tail when he flew under an electrical line and got a little too close to it. He just laughed it off.
Well I would hope you get paid good cause I have to admit... First I'll say I had thought about crop dusting as a career one time long ago.. but after seeing how low you fly and at what speeds ahh it sent chills down my spine. Flying under power lines! Are ya kidding me! Love to watch your videos!
Thanks for watching Tyson.
Always was curious on wages with a shorter, while FAST paced season in the upper great lakes region. Please keep the great content coming Tyson and Cally!!! You guys rock!!!
Thanks AG appreciate you watching.
What is the season like where you fly? Do you spray night? Is it Florida?
I have a video published on the spray season but it’s 4 months and I don’t do anything at night. I’m up in Minnesota.
I was an A&P for a crop dusting company in the Imperial Valley,CA. We fly 12 months a year and when cotton is in the field we fly 24 hours a day. During the summer its mostly night flying. All our pilots made in excess of $100,000 a year.
That would be a great place to fly to make some money.
What company did you work for? I’m doing my private pilots license and live in the Imperial Valley. I would like to be a crop duster.
It honestly looks like so fun. My dream is to fly cargo, but also have some kind of bush plane. So if I do learn tailwheel, I'd love to do this.
I know you probably mention it in other videos (new here), but how do you keep track of what you've already sprayed?
Thanks for watching Anna. Take a look at the GPS video but it keeps track of where I’ve sprayed.
I keep up with my pay per tach hour and what I have averaged throught my career is ~$200/hr in a 400 gal plane, $250 in a 500 gal and $300 in an 800 gal plane.
That’s great info thanks.
Hey Patrick. I just retired this week after 45 years and 15000 ag hours. You must have tough work or low rates. My hourly avg in the 802 has been fairly consistent at $500. Of course, I’m in Canada, so I guess that’s around $375 USD. 😕
@@finneganfly Hey Kevin, we do a lot of dry work that we have to ferry which brings the hourly wage down a little bit. There is a lot of competition in this area which drives down the rates as well. How many hours did you fly per season? I am usually around 700 hours at the end of the year.
@@pcohen85 Well that certainly makes sense, then. You’re spending a lot of time not applying product. Most years here my season was around 400 hrs. Primarily Fungicide and desiccation. Back in the 70’s it was all low gal herbicide work. I spent a number of years on potatoes at 5 gpa from the mid-80’s to late 90’s. That was some heavy slugging. Wish I had an 802 back then! I’ve done very little dry work in my 45 years. We had a cat way back when that had done some mine tailing reclamation - the log showed 60+ loads/day. Takeoff, dump, land, repeat. Ugh.
@@finneganfly If I only sprayed you could easily add $100/hr to my averages.
You REALLY need to connect with @MNMillennialFarmer and see about getting on his Off The Husk podcast! I think you would have an incredible perspective on the Ag world, that most people don't even think about!
Yes we know of him! I agree. We’ll reach out.
@@AgAviationAdventures that is awesome! I've been wanting an agricultural aviation perspective on that podcast for a long time! Hopefully you guys can work something out!!
I've been flying with B747, crop dusted for 67 years now, then I moved to Alaska doing bush flying, Air Force recruited me as a warp-pulse tunnelig engineers and I worked aboard C17, C5, AN-225 and I believe several ultralight wings also for over 28 years, then I got married and started a carreer on boat-flying, went at war twice bombing enemy fields with some modified crop dusters, then I moved on A380 civil aviation career, after roughly 60 years I was assigned to Mars station at first, then I was transferred to Saturn orbital international station where I got my graduation in crop dusting so far. Now I'm retired but TBH, I didn't take half of a shit of a penny in those jobs. Next time I swear I'll go for door-to-door households selling business. :-(((
Holy smokes you’ve done it all!
George on the rookie Facebook page has been preaching recently that pay will not be very good for newbies
George is a hero for rookies!
Yeah it can take a couple years.
Duster pilots are some of the most experienced out there. This isn't really an entry-level job.
It’s difficult to break into for sure.
Very informative video! Thank you for taking the time to make this!
You bet thanks for watching
Hello Tyson. Am new here to your channel. Did you ever get your GoPro camera back from when it fell off your Tractor back in October 2019?
No I didn’t.
@@AgAviationAdventures Tyson, I am from Adelaide, South Australia. There are many many Ag Tractors here in Australia and used for various purposes as would be in the USA. I do admire guys and girls like you not only for the work you do but the risks involved. As you are an experienced pilot of the Ag Tractor, are there any improvements that could be undertaken with this aircraft? and if so, do you provide feedback to the manufacturer? All the best and as we say when parachuting. "Blue Skies". Cheers John Purdy
Thanks John. Yeah Australia has quite a few Ag pilots and fire pilots for sure.
With a family, not worth risking your life for any amount, unless you don't mind if another man raises your kids
Interesting point. I can't speak to this because we don't have kids but, we know a lot of people who do and have a very healthy family life as well.
I used to think it looked like a perfect job. After reading of two deaths in Kansas recently and seeing one in the ditch upside down moments after it had crashed in Mexico this spring I'm not so sure. I worked on plenty of dangerous jobs in my life, oil field roughneck, high iron construction to name a couple and always walked away much richer. When the pay got too low I'd ask myself if it was worth it. Now I just risk it to keep life interesting. :)
Not a lot of room for error.
What is the Work/home ratio like? During the season are you often away from home most nights?
I travel for about 4-6 weeks but I know others who never travel. Just kind of depends on where you are working.
Most average pilots will not be able to handle the work load! You will fly 7 days a week, weather permitting. Till the first frost! But what a great life!
Very true John!
@@AgAviationAdventures I worked as mechanic for 2 ag operators for about 28 years! Yes it is hard work but worth every minute of it. My best memories was finishing the season, working a couple of weeks figuring out what parts are need to fix the planes and then heading to Mexico for a week! We would fly to south of Mazatalan about 3 times a winter! You kids have fun enjoying a great life!
Not a lot of assured income there!…better have a plan B revenue stream. Even nowadays $125k is not rolling in the dough!
For sure.
This looks like the 2nd best thing to being a fighter pilot.
I want to be a fighter pilot! I think that ship has sailed though.
Limited commercial OK?
Yes
If you would get paid per acre do you earn any money on your way to the field if it is more than an hour away from the airport
Nope, only when you are spraying the field. Whether it's 10 miles from the airport or 40 miles from the airport. However, it's not super likely that you're going to ferry 1 hour for one field. Can be done though.
60 crashes a year. 7 die.
Thanks for watching.
can you tell me where can i buy that book an the shirt you are wearring
You can buy the shirt here: agaviationadventures.com/shop
I think the book you have to be a member of the NAAA to receive the data/publications. You may be able to reach out to them to request specific information - www.agaviation.org/
Thanks for watching!
Great vid. Can you do one on what you think the best ag plane, best for the money, and/or differences?
Thanks for watching Chris. I’ll see what I can do.
A quick note on planes. Air tractors are kind of the standard. They probably sell more than all the rest combined. Your question needs to be answered in context. Do you have 2000 acres to be sprayed? You need a big plane with a large hopper. Is the gallon/ acre high? You probably need a big plane unless the fields are small, in which case a helicopter might be best. Your question is sort of like what’s the best car. It depends.
Great video and info. This is what TH-cam is all about.
Thanks!
I wanna fly!
It’s a blast!
Well I’m working on a golf course now and going to school for turf management. I’m mixing and spraying greens with a boom sprayer but Iv always been interested in crop dusting. Would my skills in turf somewhat transfer to crop dusting? I know I would need my pilots license and all but I could get that. I’m 21 now and have another year of school for turf. I know fuel is going up to making everything a lot more expensive which doesn’t help!
Yeah some things would definitely transfer over.
Great video, really interesting :)
What kind of experience did you have to land that first job ?
I towed banners and had around 500hr total hours and 150 tailwheel.
@@AgAviationAdventures thanks :) always good to hear how someone else got there foot in the door. Keep up the great videos 👍
Not bad money for driving a tractor... That thing really does look like a John Deere inside the cab. Great respect for what you do, it's tough work. Keep it shiny side up!
@@AgAviationAdventures Hello
I am an agricultural pilot on a Cessna 188 and have about 1000 hours experience خبرة
Do you have any jobs?
The second question
Do you have a course for converting to turbocharged engines such as the Air Tractor 502
I am from Libya
Thank you so much
What's the upper age limit for Ag Pilot?
There is no age limit as long as you can get a medical.
@@AgAviationAdventures since my last post I met a very generous gentleman who owns 2 air tractors, a P 51 Mustang, a Citribria, C-172 and a handful of other airplanes. I hauled a WWII F4U Corsair for him from ND to CA. We got to talking and I asked him "What would it take to come work for you with no tail wheel experience and an un-finished PLL?" He said it would be possible since I'm in great health and have many years of flying left age wise. He said "You could fly the C 172 and finish your PPL then fly the Citribria and get comfortable in that, then we could transition you to the air tractor and you would be spraying in no time" Initially I thought he was joking but then the next day (I spent the night at his airport in my semi truck) he said "Keep in touch and let me know" meaning he was serious about me transitioning out of trucking and into AG flying. He also mentioned he could train me to be an A&P mechanic so during winter I could work in the shop when there was no spraying. This all happened less than a week ago and I've been thinking about ways to make this happen ever since!
175.00 an hour
We've never seen an hourly pay structure, but I guess you could get there if you broke it down hourly.
Do you believe this?
NAAA!
??
Bro the sound is only from one earphone😭 it’s driving me insane
Doesn't happen to us Bro
Hello sir, My name is Colby Snow and I’m from south east Arkansas and my family farms row crop. My cousin owns his own plan but hires a pilot to come and fly it. But the main reason I’m writing in the comment section is because I’m wanting to ask you how van I get into a school? Aviation flying school. I don’t go around my cousin because of family issues but I worked for him through my teenage years and I loaded the crop duster. I loaded fertilizer and spray. But at that time being young I never did think to ask this question to him or his pilot. But now that I’m 36years old its time to do something. I love flying. I fly in his and his little cub. I’m a certified diesel tech by trade. I’m just ready for something different if you know what I mean. I just always liked flying..... so I’m trying to see how to get started. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
Hey Colby. You’re in a great area and in general Arkansas has a TON of Ag flying. I would go around to different operators and talk with them. Let them know you’re interested in getting into it and if they would be able to point you in the right direction or give you advise. Also take a look at the video “do you want to be a a Ag pilot”. I would make as many connections as you can and see what the job opportunities look like.
Interesting. Shouldn't forget though - that $60-$120k likely won't include health benefits or retirement. If you're at the high end you can provide those for yourself. If not, best be married to someone who has a regular job. Those things aside, beats the heck out of my job.
All good points.
How bout the one that makes big bucks all summer, then gets laid off in fall and collects unemployment all winter?? I know one that did that every year. Then mechaniced on the side while drawing unemployment.
That’s pitiful.
Hey man! What’s the best way to get into ag aviation? I’ve got 100 hours of tail wheel training. Just wondering
Take a look at some other videos I’ve published that go into more detail on that subject.
@@AgAviationAdventures alright man!!
EMS 8 years and counting, Honestly, I think flying chooses a person, money just makes it sweeter. If your deciding to start a flying career just for the money, you may wanna do some more pre flight planning, haha. If ya wanna make $200hr…become a doctor.
For sure!! Thanks for watching.
Curious: does it pay to be an owner-operator, or make more sense just to be a hired gun?
Really depends on how much risk you want to take. It pays more as an owner/operator but there is more risk and time involved running the business and keeping customers.
what ever you guys are making is NOT enough
😂
Hi guys. I would like to make a carrera at 54. Does the AG aviotion industries accept new pilots at this age (54) unlike airlines that after 30 you basically off the market
Yeah as long as you are willing to put in the work. It’ll take a few years to probably get into an aircraft that can do enough work that you’ll make money to live off of.
That wage and lifestyle is actually pretty good. Just a hard experience curve to deal with at first. But it helps immensely if you have a wife.
Having a partner that supports you makes all the difference.
Nice video, Grew up swamping and flagging for my father (San Joaquin Valley, Ca.) in 50's & 60's, when Stearmans were king! , later in Ag Cats. To maximized earnings , several things, work where the large farming is, an know there are different seasons, pest abatement, defoliiation, etc. and that dusters often times temporarily follow seasons away from home. You also have to deal with work hours that keep you away from family as you're usually home and asleep at about 2 pm. and the seasons are 7 days a week I do know todays aircraft are certainly safer, but I do remember sitting in class at school thinking my father could be hitting the ground in a ball of flame right now! Father dusted for over 30 yrs, 1 mech failure (thrown rod) 1 pilot error, caught wing. Walked away unharmed. Lucky!! But brother and I grew up spoiled brats, money was good!
Very true Kessler!
Hey, Tyson!
Are those net or before tax numbers?
If before tax, what percentage would you be taxed?
That’s before tax. Depends on how you are paid and what the overall sum is but probably figure around 20 percent for taxes.
Nice video bro, and how long it takes the season? how many months?
I have some videos covering that but our season is 4 months.
The loader boys and chemical handlers like me before I could afford pilot training were stiffed badly. And I held an A&P. It's a trickle down effect in the ag aviation world.
Yeah no doubt.
My biggest question. What health risks are associated with spraying these chemicals all day long??
You don’t fly through your spray and you are in an enclosed cockpit. So your exposure is limited to a certain extent.
Great job. You may wanna discuss what you would make as an owner operator? Maybe your next video? As an owner operator that would be interesting.
For sure
Hey Tyson. Great video! I am an operator in Iowa and luckily my season finished up 4 days before the Derecho hit. Do you spray in Iowa as well?
That is good! Yes I help an operator in Creston.
@@AgAviationAdventures Creston is my hometown and is where I did my PPL training.
Good stuff Tyson. My Pop charged two bucks an acre with his 235 Pawnee, but that was many many years ago now. He also at different time periods had an Ag Cat, an Ag Wagon, and last of all a 400 Brave. He lost his medical for awhile and had to hire pilots. So while flagging I got to see some dork cartwheel the Ag wagon in on a turn, guy got a little banged up but nothing serious. yup airplane was done for and the dang thing was still practically brand new!
It’s tough finding good pilots.
So in other words, it cost a lot of money to fly along while not spraying during the making this video.!
Burns about 1 gallon of jet fuel a minute. So when you’re ferrying to fields it makes a big difference how close or far away they are. And when you’re not spraying you’re not making money.
I grew up on a farm in central IL and am a senior citizen - our ag sprayers flew Stearman - having flown in the Navy your turbine ag flying has to be better than a day in a Stearman
That’s very cool! I’d love to take a stearman for a flight.
Wisner Louisiana 20 years ago pilots where hitting 100k a season.
Many people died, others crashed 10 times and never got a scratch.
Unfortunately that can be part of it.
I've been in a helo during combat flying knap of the earth but you guys give that a whole new meaning. That would be so much fun to do that job.
You’re deal sounds pretty awesome too!
Ag pilots will give way to drones
Thanks for watching.
Do the operators/companies provide you with a place to stay/live during the ag season at the field? Or do you have to find your own living accommodations. and how much they charge typically if they have rooms on field
We live out of our camper but some companies will certainly pay for your accommodations. Just depends on what you can work out.
Nicely done video, retired but spent 40 years flying and always wished I could have sprayed a little. Chemicals scared me away. I wish you the best of luck on this channel and flying.
Thanks appreciate you watching!
Greetings! Thanks for your fun videos. Just a quick question, although unlikely, is there a place or site where a photographer can find out where and when ag flights might be conducted?
Thanks for watching David. There’s nothing like that available.
Do crop-dusters own their own planes or does the company they work for provide the plane?
You can have both but most of the time they work for a company that owns the plane.