International

The only monotonous thing about the aviation industry is the constant change.   This quote from aviation pioneer and Delta Air Lines founder Collett Everman "C.E." Woolman reflected his working philosophy of creativity in concert with precise design guidelines. He collaborated with B.R. Coad, a government entomologist, in developing the...

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday vetoed key parts of a controversial law that is set to loosen the rules around the use of pesticides in the country. Brazil, an agricultural giant, is the world's biggest consumer of pesticides, many of which are classified as highly hazardous. The...

With 64 thousand engines delivered over six decades, the PT6 continues to be the engine of choice for the general aviation and helicopter segments, helping make a positive social impact every day. LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC (December 12, 2023) – Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, today celebrated the 60th anniversary of...

Senator Heinze’s request for a public hearing on the topic was approved on Wednesday, November 8th, and now awaits scheduling The Agriculture and Land Reform Committee of the Brazilian Senate approved, last Wednesday (8th), the holding of a public hearing on the importance of agricultural aviation for the country. The...

Yes, you read it right - beef. Usually, the operations we feature are situated in countries that significantly produce grains and fibers. Uruguay, a small but progressive country in South America, mainly has grains, rice and soybeans, but the country's main export commodity is beef. Over 70% of this country's...

In deciding to go flying, we implicitly accept some level of risk. Those unfamiliar with today's ag aviation industry often ask me how dangerous it must be. My response reflects that adage about flying not being inherently dangerous but very unforgiving of acts of carelessness or neglect. I also add...

Agricultural aviation faces difficult times. As if the usual and now unprecedented economic hurdles weren't enough, misinformed individuals often elect our highly visible airplanes as the main culprits and use any application drift incident as ammunition to push more and more restrictive regulations against us. That's the main reason so...

Fred Ayres, founder of Ayres Corporation (what would become Thrush Aircraft), and ag aviation pioneer passed away peacefully on October 6, 2023 in Albany, GA. Fred was inducted into the National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in 2002. Below is his...

Two striking incidents I witnessed during my early ag aviation career illustrated the hazards of rushing things and the need to adhere to standardized procedures in all phases of flight, from taxi to takeoff to landing. The first occurred while flying a Cessna 188 from a small airport with a...

Canada's aerial application industry is relatively small compared to the United States. There are an estimated 275 ag planes (this does not include firefighting aircraft) and approximately 5% arable land. Even with these lesser numbers, the Canadian aerial application industry has momentum. For years, Canadian ag operators were primarily utilized...