Description
Pilot and navigate fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters to perform low-altitude aerial application of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and seed on agricultural lands. Requires a Commercial Pilot certificate and applicable aerial applicator licenses. Duties include precision GPS-guided spraying, coordination with growers and ground crews, and strict compliance with FAA, EPA, and state regulations. Excludes airline operations.
- • Inspect aircraft, spray booms, pumps, and nozzles before flights to ensure proper operation.
- • Review weather, winds, temperature inversions, and field conditions to assess drift risk and go/no-go.
- • Plan application swaths, altitudes, and headings using GPS and ag-navigation systems and aeronautical charts.
- • Verify product labels, buffer zones, and sensitive areas; define no-spray boundaries.
- • Calculate weight and balance, takeoff distance, and performance with chemical loads and density altitude.
- • Start engines, taxi, and depart from airstrips or fields per procedures and local airspace rules.
- • Fly precise low-level passes to apply products at specified rates and coverage.
- • Monitor engine performance, fuel, hopper or tank levels, spray pressure, and flow during flights.
- • Adjust booms, nozzles, flow rates, gates, speed, or routes to maintain target rates and minimize drift.
- • Coordinate with ground crews for loading, fueling, and turnarounds; confirm mix quantities and PPE use.
- • Use radios to communicate with ATC when required and with crews for field entry and obstacle updates.
- • Inspect loads and verify mixing, agitation, and containment before takeoff.
- • Maintain flight, maintenance, and application records, including products, rates, acres, times, and weather.
- • File required notices or flight plans when operating near controlled airspace or restricted areas.
- • Conduct spray system calibrations and pattern tests; document results and adjustments.
- • Perform minor aircraft and spray system maintenance; arrange for major repairs and equipment cleaning.
- • Identify and avoid obstacles such as towers, wires, trees, and livestock; update obstacle maps.
- • Implement spill response and emergency procedures for engine issues or chemical incidents.
- • Train and supervise loaders and support staff in safe handling, mixing, and company procedures.
- • Liaise with growers to confirm field maps, treatment goals, and post-application feedback.
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
