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SC Ohio | Some of these comments are wild from supposed farmers. Some of you obviously have no idea what is all going on in the cockpit of an Air Tractor during the busiest 4 weeks of the year. It's not just about flying from sun up to dark to make more money, it's to keep you guys off our backs when everyone calls at once and we're up against wind or rain or heat trying to get everyone's crop sprayed in a timely manner. We all love our job but sitting in a ag plane 14-15 hours a day for weeks on end in the wind and heat will wear you out faster than any manual labor you could ever do on the farm. Combine that with the mental exhaustion of having to be focused 110% of the time the entire day, working around other traffic, working close to roads watching cars, people stopping on the highway taking pictures only to call and complain we got too close, kids running out in the yard at the last second, livestock, I could go on and on. Add having to worry about someone shooting at you as well is just ridiculous. It is a harder job than most realize and myself and any of the guys I know personally in the business are constantly mindful of what is around us and where the wind is blowing and are not trying to get as close to people and objects as we can, rather do a good job while staying as far away from things as we can. As far as flight paths, we are supposed to be 500' minimum to and from field, but unless it's taking us right over a congested area, we're taking the straightest, quickest path to the field. Same thing when we get to the field.....depending on the wind, it's gonna get sprayed whatever way allows the best application due to obstacles and gets us in and out of the area the quickest. If that means coming out of the field over your house or pasture, that's what it's gonna be unless there are obstacles on the ends of the field or a part of a town or developement that would hinder that. We could definitely take the scenic route around all your houses and horse barns and cow pastures, and fly things the short way with the most passes, but your application bill is going to be sky high.Trust me 95% of us are trying our best to avoid doing anything that gets us any extra scrutiny than what we already get. But things are very dynamic in an application process and sometimes the pilot isn’t going to make the perfect decision every single time while trying not to die flying 140mph towards a big set of wires or trees or buildings
Edited by Wes Friesen 8/6/2026 19:42
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Crop duster takes fire
