Geting an agriculture rating?

Question

how can i get employed as an air duster/crop sprayer. I have heard that a rating is required and also, is it fun and is the money reasonibly good.

Answer 1

Answer based on the Ag industry in the USA and Canada.

1) There is no flight rating for crop dusting other than a tailwheel endorsement in your logbook, but each state requires that you receive some training and pass a test in the handling and application of the chemicals used.

2) Is it fun? Like all flying, the answer is yes and no. It is interesting and challenging, and while that type of flying may seem fun initially, it is repetetive. I wouldn't exactly call it boring (flying low level never is) but the routine of it is not for everybody. Plus it is hard work, physically demanding, you put in long hours (often at night, depending on the region of the country), and sometimes it can be quite stressful.

3) Can you get a job doing this? Yes, but it very much depends on your training and experience. If you're not a competent tailwheel pilot, you have no chance. It's also helpful if you have an agricultural background, since that knowledge is very useful, though not strictly a requirement. A two-year agricultural degree would be a plus. Also, most hiring is now driven by insurance requirements, so you will need to contact individual operators to learn what their specific requirements are. Some will hire low-time pilots if they've gone through a course in ag flying , show good potential, and pay a portion of their insurance coverage.

4) The fixed-wing aerial application industry has been steadily shrinking for the last 20 years, so there aren't the opportunities there used to be, although it is not a job most pilots would consider, so there are usually always openings every season somewhere in the country. It's not unusual for someone interested in Ag flying to work a season or two first as ground crew and flagger in order to learn the business.

5) Ag flying is by and large an itinerant, seasonal lifestyle. Feast or famine. Depending on where you live, you often need to travel from state to state, following the changes in weather. If you're a family person, it's a tough way to make a living. If you're footloose and single, it's much easier. There are places in the country where you can work locally or regionally, but if you want to make a good living at it, be prepared to travel a lot.

6) Many, if not most, Ag flying jobs do not include retirement, health benefits (other than Workmans Comp) or paid vacation time, and the potential health effects of long-term exposure to chemicals is something worth considering. Without a retirement plan you have to be smart with your money. Although I know some who are emminently successful, I know too many retired old duster pilots who now survive on social security only, and generally they are in pretty poor health. On the other side of the coin, those that I know would do it all over again, because overall they not only enjoyed the flying and the lifestyle, they loved the type of people involved in that industry.

7) My personal experience is that ag flying can open some interesting doors: bush flying, mosquito spraying, firefighting, fish and game work, and others all require some background in low-level flying.

Answer 2

there is no agrating . you will need a commercial pilot certificate.

more info here ....

http://www.avjobs.com/careers/detail.asp...

Answer 3

All wrong answers so far. Indeed there are ag ratings. Not FAA ratings but state ratings. You'll need to find a good ag school. Many exist in the midwest. Agricultural application ratings apply to most chemicals you'll be spraying as well as seed. Handling the chemicals can be dangerous and controlling drift to other nearby crops is crucial. You'll need some certification in almost every state. If you see my picture, the guy with the beard, that's me in a Piper Pawnee crop duster. Just one of my many adventures in aviation.

Answer 4

There is no rating for aerial applicators.  The bare minimum needed to qualify for this profession is a commercial certificate.  Beyond that, it is very difficult to get your first seat.  The cost of insurance for new pilots is extremely high, and if you do find an operator willing to take you on, you will almost certainly pay a large portion of your own insurance.  You will also not be insurable at any premium to apply herbicides because of drift concerns, which means you will be restricted to insecticides and fungicides.  This means that it will take longer to build hours, which is what is needed to get lower insurance premiums.  Any ag operator that I know is not going to be willing to hire a new pilot without experience unless that operator knows the pilot.  Your best bet is to work for an aerial applicator for a couple of seasons as a loader while you go to flight school.  This will familiarize you with the operation and allow the operator to get to know you and how you work.  Then if things work out, you may get to fly on a limited basis the first few seasons after you finish flight school, and eventually work your way into a full time seat.  This is one of the most demanding and difficult flight occupations to try to get into.  It will take time and patience, but if you are willing to put in the work, it can be done.  The days and hours are long, so be prepared.  

Fun?  It is an absolute kick in the pants.  There is no other type of flying that I would ever consider doing, besides maybe military.  

Good money?  The truth is, like all flying jobs, you are going to starve for the first few years until you gain some hours.  Then the pay will improve, and ultimately you can be paid pretty well.  The dictating factor in how well you get paid is weather.  If the weather conditions are not right, there will be a lot less work to do than in a season with ideal weather conditions.  The better the crop, the more work there will be to do, the more money to be made.