Frequently asked questions
What people ask us about crop dusting.
Aerial application is one of the more visible parts of agriculture and one of the least understood. Here are the questions that come up most often.
A.K.A. aerial applicators, A.K.A. ag pilots. Ag products delivered on crops used to only be available in a “dust” form; therefore the pilot who distributed these crop protectors became known as a “crop duster”.
“Aerial application accounts for almost 25% of crop protection applications and nearly 100% of forest protection applications. Aerial application is often the safest, fastest, most efficient, and most economical way to get the job done.” — National Agricultural Aviation Association
Today’s crop spraying planes are equipped with mapping technology that makes it possible to pinpoint exact areas to be sprayed and assures even distribution — thus protecting the crop and the environment.
Alliance members also attend continuing education every year, including the P.A.A.S.S. programme and Operation S.A.F.E. pattern clinics, which measure and correct each aircraft’s actual spray pattern.
“An airplane or helicopter may accomplish more in one hour than ground equipment can in one day. This means less fuel used, less air pollution and no soil compaction. The aerial application industry appreciates the importance of ground sprayers as a tool needed in agriculture when aerial or chemigation work cannot be done. In fact, many aerial application businesses today use both aircraft and ground rigs to make crop protection product applications.”
— Andrew D. Moore, Executive Director, National Agricultural Aviation Association
“Almost everybody.”
Individual states regulate pesticide application certification and certain loading and storage containment requirements. The federal agencies include the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), among others.
State agriculture departments and FSDO offices for all four states are listed in the resources directory at the bottom of every page.
“Many security experts in government and in the private sector are in agreement with the NAAA position that ag aviation aircraft represent a poor option as potential vehicles for terrorist attacks.”
— Agricultural Aviation Security, published by the National Agricultural Aviation Association
Membership is open to operators, pilots, allied industry and associate members. You can pay PNWAAA dues, your state association dues and NAAA on one form with one payment — not required, just easier.