Being a crop duster pilot? Part time flying?

Question

Hey all, I would love to be a pilot, just part time though. What do I have to do to get a pilot's license? Also, is anyone a crop duster, or does anyone know how I can go about doing that? How much extra cash can you make from it? :) How hard/scary is it? Thanks!

Answer 1

First of all, you need a commercial pilot license do something like crop dusting. For a single engine commercial license without an instrument rating, plan on spending about $30,000. After that, you'll need to build some more flight time because the minimum 200-250 hours needed to become commercially rated is not enough to qualify for most jobs due to insurance requirements. The easiest job to get with low flight hours is flight instructing, but that requires both an instrument rating and a flight instructors license, so plan on spending another $10,000 for those.  To be a crop duster, you'll need to get a lot of your flight time in tailwheel airplanes, so I suggest you go to a school that has tailwheel training. There are a few Ag schools that train people to be crop dusters, but with low flight hours you still won't be considered for a job. However, if you can get your instructor license then you can teach others to fly tailwheel airplanes and you will eventually build enough time to be considered for a crop-dusting job. You'll also need to attend a special course to be certified for handling chemicals (each state requires this). While crop dusting can be a part-time job, it is seasonal, meaning you'll fly 6-7 days per week for several months in a row. In general, unless there is a lot of work near where you live, you'll have to travel to take the jobs wherever they are available. It is not uncommon to be "on the road" for 3 to 6 months and sometimes more, starting in the southern states and working your way north with the spring time. It is very demanding and hazardous work, but not scary once you learn how. At first it is actually quite fun, but after awhile it usually becomes drudgery. You can make pretty good money doing it, but personally, I didn't like having to work with all the unhealthy chemicles.

Answer 2

there is a school strictly for crop dusting  http://www.agflight.com/about.htm

you might want to start there.  To make good money you have to do it full time and travel a lot.  One of out instructors did ag works in fixed wing and helicopters, he crashed 6 times, walked away every time.  He has and angel on his shoulder.

Answer 3

To get a pilot's license you'll have to find an instructor, usually at some private airport (FBO). You'll probably need to have a commercial pilot's license and probably extra training since a lot of these crop dusting planes are high performance single engine turboprops.

It can be a very difficult job since you have to fly very close to the ground near roads, powerlines, and cows.  

Answer 4

See this link:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/pilot.h...

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Basically you start by taking flight lesson at your local flight school.  If you like it then you can move on to commercial pilot lessons.

Good Luck...

P.S.  As for crop duster, I would suspect you need to take some acrobatic lessons.