80ktsClamp

JohnnyG

+1. This is the most respected operation around. He really helps people in every possible way, from their housing to making and taking calls from people looking for insurable pilots.

He works WITH insurance companies to produce pilots in a good position.

JohnBurke

Most ag operators don't have a lot of respect for ag schools. The folks in Bainbridge have been around the longest, but without ag time, it's very hard to get an ag job.

Don't fall for promises to find work, or believe schools that tell you you'll find a spray job. You may, but the odds are against you.

In the end, the only way to really find work is to go out and shake hands with every operator. It's most common to end up doing menial work, turning wrenches, mixing chemical, even driving a tractor for a time, up to several years in some cases, while working into a flying job.

JohnnyG

Did I mention Billy Howell produces pilots WITH ag time and trains in ag aircraft?

He has also offered to sign a contract guaranteeing he'd find me a 50K job.

The best way is to make best friends with an old ag operator or even offer to marry his ugly daughter. The second best way is to call Billy Howell.

JohnBurke

Well there you go. Expert experienced advice. Good luck.

fresnosmooth

*Helicopters*
(an idea of what my GROUND life has been like)
I'd wake up at 2:15am be at the airport by 3:15am for briefing, drive nurse rig (big truck, but didn't need a B license because it's an "AG" rig) out the gate before 4:00am, first warehouse chem pickup 4:15-:30 ish (take a flashlight) and then in some random field out in the middle of no-where watering down what you think is an LZ sometime between 4:30 and 5:00 (can't see a thing and it's freezing cold). Call the pilot and give a quick weather update (Half the time they sound like you just woke them up) Turn on the flashing beacon (so the pilot can find you), check your work order, and start setting your chemicals up on the mix table (gloves on of course). Put on your apron, and your ventilated helmet, and either fall asleep or just clean and police up your area on the mixing table (between the cab of the truck and the 3K gal water tank there's a basket up there you work from). When the Heli shows up, hand the pilot the materials listing (give him the finger (or thumb) to be sure he's paying attention), hook up the hose and get back on the mix table to put all the chemicals in the mix tank. Fill the mix tank with water to the appropriate number of loads. Put one load worth of chemical in the helicopter, fill remainder with water - pilot will wave flashlight when at load limit (finger optional). UNHOOK the hose (so we don't crash a helicopter doing that again). And watch them fly under wires to their hearts content. Land, hookup hose, fill/fill repeat 5-10 times. Roll up the hoses, fuel the heli, and drive to the next location. Repeat, ... next location... (finally some F-ing sunshine so I can see where to go)... Repeat...Repeat... (No way it's 2pm) ... Repeat. Go home, it's 5pm open beer fall asleep on couch before finishing beer 6-7pm, wake 9, bed 10, wake at 2:15am.... repeat, repeat, repeat.

(that's the busy season)
IT'S AWESOME!!!!

Off season, sometimes you barely work (if at all that day) till the sun comes up and you are re-fueling everything and putting everything away early and planning what to do with the rest of your day.

JohnBurke

So...did JohnnyG eventually go to work as an ag aviator?

flynlion

Hi folks
Been a while since I posted here, It's good to be back

I may have a job flying a Weatherly 601 Ag plane next season and I'm looking for any info I can get. I tried several ag pilot forums but none of them have anything like the number of members that this place has. Can someone here recommend a good site for Weatherly aircraft, or pilot technique for radial engines, or ag flying in general?

Thanks!

JohnBurke

You're not going to find such a web site. There are only a couple of ag sites and they get very little participation. Ag pilots in general aren't the chatty cathy airline type. You'll find a lot more pilots here, but very few with ag, radial, or even conventional gear experience. What do you want to know?

flynlion

Hi John, thanks for the response.

I was with a commuter for about 10 years before I got fed up and quit, and for the last couple years have been kicking around the idea of doing some ag work. I figure ag flying has got to be about as far away from the corporate BS of airline work as I can get and still fly Anyhoo, one of my mechanic buddies introduced me to a (very) small time ag outfit not too far from here that operates a C-188 and a Weatherly, and the owner is looking to hire me on for next season! I've got about 13000 hrs total with about 1500 tail wheel, zero ag time and almost zero radial engine. As you pointed out these guys are not very chatty so I'm trying to learn as much as I can on my own. So far I've been able to find some info on the Cessna but almost nothing on the Weatherly LoL, any help you could provide would be most welcome