Agricultural Pilots
The Ag pilot flies specially designed aircraft ( and that includes helicopters) that are used to apply herbicides, insecticides, seeds and fertilisers on crops, orchards, forests, fields and even swamps. In Australia, for example, helicopters and aircraft regularly spray marshy areas to kill off mosquitos that can spread deadly diseases.
Ag pilots also engage in aerial surveys, cattle mustering and often fire fighting, dumping fire retardant materials from either belly pods or from buckets slung under helicopters.
Flying at low levels with heavy loads is a routing part of an ag pilots job. This means flying in regular patterns over the spray area and avoiding trees, power lines, fences and any other obstacles. When spraying, the work is usually done early in the morning or late afternoon when the air is still.
Pilots work with trained ground crews and specialists who determine the best way to treat the land. The crews are working with posionous liquids and chemicals so protective clothing and masks must be worn. The work is irregular.. no two days are ever the same and most Ag Pilots wouldnt want to do anything else.
Ag Pilots need to have excellent flying skills, planning and decision -making skills, skills in interpreting charts, excellent concentration and communication skills. A knowledge of farming is an advantage.
If you love working outside with a small team then this might suit you better than the more formal structure of Airline flying.
For a taste of Ag Flying, just watch this great video courtesy of the Nebraska Daily News and Ag Pilot Dale Bitner