AgAir Update

Sliders — a revolution?0
- Editorials
- October 1, 2018
After more than forty years in the ag-aviation business, it never ceases to amaze me when a new idea becomes a reality. Of the many words that can describe ag-aviation, ingenuity would be one of those words. This month’s cover story, Sliders, is a perfect example. Just when you think that everything imaginable has been
Our losses 2
- Editorials
- March 7, 2018
Sometimes you don’t realize how important somebody is to you, until you lose them. It often takes a few days to understand what has happened. Unfortunately, at least four prominent members of the SEAF associations have passed on in the last 14 months. Eddie Andrews was from a multi-generation ag-pilot/operator family. He flew ag and
Find your friends 0
- Editorials
- February 1, 2018
Today, our industry is fortunate enough to have sophisticated GPS units that can track ag-aircraft in real time using the Internet. However, not all ag-aircraft have upgraded to this very valuable function. There was a time when not all ag-aircraft had a GPS unit, but that’s not true today. I believe it to be reasonable
Remember where you are 0
- Editorials
- August 1, 2017
The business of aerial application, or even general aviation, can be a dangerous endeavor. There is very little margin for error, which often can be deadly. If we stay in the business long enough, eventually we lose a loved one, friend or associate in a fatal accident. I have lost many over the last 43

Smooth Turns 0
- Hands On Flying
- October 1, 2018
We spend a lot of time talking about turns. Fast turns, slow turns, wide, narrow, low and high. We discuss in depth what a safe turn is and scold anyone who mentions the term “hammerhead”. As ag pilots, we spend an awful lot of time with one wing up and the other down. Mastering good,
Food 0
- Hands On Flying
- July 2, 2018
After I landed, I rolled up to the loader truck and spun the airplane around, watching the wing tip clearance as I did so. I set the brakes, flipped on the hopper light and leaned back to watch the milky substance gurgle into the airplane. A thought occurred to me, “I’m hungry.” A load of
By any other name 1
- Hands On Flying, United States
- June 13, 2018
The plump lady at the bank smiled sweetly and motioned for me to come forward. It was finally my turn to step out from the hold short line. I guess, for a grown up, it is a similar experience to being next to sit on Santa’s knee. She was a nice lady who invested heavily
Rock Ding!0
- Hands On Flying
- February 1, 2018
As I began rolling down the runway, a little pop of dust materialized in the prop arch. Less than a blink of an eye, it was there and gone. It was an unmistakable thing. A quick signature, signing off a rock ding in the prop. Ding! Crap! I hate getting a rock ding! I’d rather

A Few Incidental Comments 0
- In My Opinion
- October 1, 2018
It has been suggested to me by another ag pilot friend that I write about some of the safety-related items that we teach. A lot of this will be “old hat” to many of you or maybe more like “preaching to the choir.” I have been asked on several occasions, “How fast are you going
Reminiscing; behind the power curve 0
- In My Opinion
- August 1, 2018
I was fifteen years old and had my driver’s license for three, maybe four months. It was summertime 1955. I was a loader boy for Mr. Jimmy MacPherson (Jimmy Mac) owner of Mac’s Flying Service, a crop dusting service, not an aerial application business. We were located at Huggins Corner on Highway 82 across from
Hammerhead turns 0
- In My Opinion
- August 1, 2017
We all know of some ag pilots who make hammerhead turns, and maybe you are one of those who do make these hammerhead turns. It is my contention that those ag pilots who continue to make turns like this, will one day not be able to pull out of the dive in time and the
Wannabe 0
- In My Opinion
- April 3, 2017
This is a topic that I have touched on in a previous IMO, but I am inspired to expand and expound on the subject; and the subject is “Wannabees” ag pilots. Recently while flying in Illinois for Mr. Chuck Holzwarth, he and I briefly discussed some of what it takes to be a good ag