Learning to Fly a Crop Duster

[@brent1041]

I wanted to be a cropduster when I was in high school. Growing up seeing them was so cool. Till I learned how dangerous it was, they definitely don’t get paid enough for how much risk they take on. Luckily I can still enjoy aviation as a hobby which is enough for me

[@sparky.4725]

gotta send it

[@timothyroberts8347]

R.I P. MR Berry you were a legend in the Ag pilot industry. Soar high and free now

[@robertlafnear4865]

My instructor back in '78 said this is about as dangerous as it gets when it comes to flying.......,so..... I never took the leap from just flying to FLYING ( cropdusting ) and as I look back I think I'd still like to do that.......... This looks like a great school, now if I could just back the clock up. Thank You AOPA, nice video.

[@spartansheep915]

they look for bees? that sounds superhuman, with the training id imagine i could fly low effectively but i cannot fathom seeing bees in time to avoid them in a plane

[@hoardryan]

They look for Bee "Boxes/Hives." Not individual bees :P

[@mytech6779]

@@hoardryan specifically in neighboring fields. The contracted farmer won't ask for crop dusting if they have bees out.

[@pdt1452]

What is the approximate cost of this type of ag application school?

[@tgh223]

20000

[@sugershakify]

$ ?

[@michaelwashington2682]

Love to watch them as a kid. And still as an adult. Just wondering how much they get paid to fly these planes?

[@pilotmillerandbarbie]

Crop duster pilots get paid by the acre, not by the hour. We don't get paid for ferry flights or for time spent sitting in the loading pit, only when that handle is open. A turbine pilot typically makes 20% of what the operator charges the farmer. So basic math...if the farmer gets charged $10 per acre for application only, then the pilot gets $2 per acre. I can do a 100 acre field in 15 minutes of actual application. Anywhere from $30,000 - $90,000 per season, depending on where you live and how big your operator is.

[@michaelwashington2682]

@@pilotmillerandbarbie WOW Thanks for the info 👍

[@Rebel-eq7ul]

@@pilotmillerandbarbie any more information on how to start out. What’s the first steps I should take? Thank you

[@LuigiCotocea]

I saw one today, not only for farms but also for mosquitos!

[@merritttrucker]

My father in law used to come home with potato tops in the landing gear of his ag cat after a day spraying

[@Petunia31]

As an out of work survey guy, I wonder if it’s worth the time and money to join a (possibly) pandemic proof part of the industry....

[@ianpogue8980]

I feel your pain, I’ve worked for a company now for 2 years and it was my plan to be an ag pilot but it’s seeming less pandemic proof by the day.

[@Ubernator]

The crop dusters never stop spraying though the pandemic. People still need food and the food still needs to be sprayed.

[@davidthurmond2466]

No time to make an excuse first time may be your last

[@ephraimchristen8621]

I‘d do it 😍