How long does it take to become a crop duster?

The first step to become a crop duster is to earn a commercial pilot license through the Federal Aviation Administration. This includes passing a medical exam and flying for 250 hours. Next attend agricultural pilot training.

How much does a crop duster make?

The salaries of Aerial Crop Dusters in the US range from $34,800 to $147,890 , with a median salary of $76,150 . The middle 50% of Aerial Crop Dusters makes $76,150, with the top 83% making $147,890.

What requirements do you need to be a crop duster?

Training and License

To start a crop dusting business, you need a commercial pilot’s license, as well as knowledge of the industry, experience in crop dusting or aerial application of chemicals, and understanding of the type of chemicals used, such as herbicides and insecticides.

Is there a demand for crop dusters?

Ag pilots are in high demand.

Thanks to the recent farming boom, aerial application is a hot field. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, hours flown by crop-dusters rose 29% from 2003 to 2007.

How hard is it to become a crop duster?

You may also need to obtain an agricultural pilot’s license from your state or other local government, usually by taking and passing a written test. Many areas also have mentoring or apprenticeship programs that allow you to work with an experience agricultural pilot for up to one year before you become a crop duster.

Why do crop dusters fly at night?

The rising cost of pesticides and increasing immunity built up by continuous spraying reduced the effectiveness of spraying in daytime. By implementing night application operations, you can increase kill rates by targeting those insects which travel down in plants in daytime and return to the top at night.

How much does it cost to crop dust a field?

between $15 to $25 per acre
On average, officials said crop dusting costs between $15 to $25 per acre. Spraying corn fungicide, for example, is on the top end of the scale.

How low can crop dusters fly?

Over congested areas crop duster planes cannot fly below 1000 feet. Over rural land, they may operate at a minimum of 500 feet. While spraying crops, pilots have to do their best to reduce drift of the chemicals, which means flying as low as possible. They can then fly down to about 8 feet above the crops.

Can crop dusters get life insurance?

If you are an Agricultural Pilot looking for life insurance or loss of license coverage Travers Aviation can help. Many agents rarely, if ever work with Aerial Applicator pilots. Travers Aviation works closely with several underwriters that provide preferred treatment for Ag pilots or crop dusters.

How many acres can a crop duster cover?

And the Federal Aviation Administration regulates the aircraft. Each plane holds about 500 gallons of chemicals and it takes the pilot about 45 minutes to empty a tank. One full tank can be used to spray about 100 acres.

What is fart crop dusting?

In slang, crop-dusting is the act of moving while passing gas, usually silently, thereby “dusting” other people or an area with the gas.

Is crop dusting expensive?

Crop Dusting is Dangerous

The cost of that training is then reflected in ag pilot salaries, meaning that investing in a license to do crop dusting can pay off long-term if work is found.

How much HP do crop dusters have?

about 800 horsepower
It’s a large, single engine turbo prop airplane. It has about a 50 foot wingspan, about 800 horsepower.

How much water can a crop duster hold?

Modern planes hold up to 1000 gallons of spray and fly 8 to 12 feet above the ground at 150 MPH. They use the GPS to help pilots fly exactly where they need to be in the field. They can also return the flyer to the exact spot to continue when refilled with spray.

How much fuel can a crop duster hold?

AT-802A Specifications
Engine Type:P&W PT6A-65AG
Empty Weight with Spray Equipment:6,751 lbs (3.062 kg)
Useful Load:9,495 lbs (4.306 kg)
Hopper Capacity:800 US gal (3.028 L)
Fuel Capacity:254 US gal (961 L)

Why are ag planes yellow?

They’re yellow to make my job easier and to mitigate against midair collisions. I’m a Civil Air Patrol officer and we go find downed airplanes. A yellow airplane is easier to spot from the air after it has crashed.

Are crop dusters always yellow?

Simple answer no they come in various color’s. The yellow ones are more favorable as they are called Air Tractor’s and suited better for crop dusting work. Someone else will help with more specific data on the power to weight ratio’s and spray pattern’s.

What engine is in a crop duster?

The car is the Crop Duster, a 440-engine-swapped 1970 Plymouth Duster built for what today would be considered cheap for a vintage muscle car that runs in the 11s, naturally aspirated.