Facts About the Aerial Application Industry

SIZE

  • There are approximately 1,350 aerial application businesses in the United States. Of those 1,350 businesses, 94% of the owners are also pilots.
  • There are approximately 2,700 agricultural pilots in the United States. Based on survey research, NAAA estimates there are 1,270 operator-pilots and 1,430 non-operator pilots working in the industry.
  • NAAA represents more than 1,700 members.
  • According to NAAA records, aerial application operations are located in 46 states—all but Alaska, Rhode Island, Vermont and Hawaii.

 SCOPE

  • Aerial application accounts for almost 25% of commercially applied crop protection products and nearly 100% of forest protection applications.
  • In addition to agricultural aviation, the industry provides fire-fighting and public health application services to combat mosquitoes.
  • Of the United States’ 408 million acres of cropland, about 70% (286 million acres) is commercially treated with crop protection products. Out of that, the agricultural aviation industry treats 71 million acres of cropland aerially each year.
  • Aerial applicators treat more acres of corn than any crop, according to an NAAA survey conducted in 2011. Small grains, cotton, soybeans and rice came in second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in terms of the number of aerial application acres.

 EQUIPMENT

  • On average, each aerial application business has 2.1 aircraft.
  • 87% of the aircraft used are fixed-wing aircraft.
  • 13% are rotorcraft, or helicopters.
  • Aerial application aircraft range in price from $100,000 to $1,400,000.
  • They are ruggedly built to handle 30 to 100 takeoffs and landings every day from rough landing strips, and they offer protection and good visibility for the pilot.
  • Today’s aircraft utilize sophisticated precision application equipment such as GPS (Global Positioning Systems), GIS (geographical information systems), flow controls, real time meteorological systems and precisely calibrated spray equipment.

 TRAINING

  • The average aerial application operator has 27.4 years of experience in the agricultural aviation industry and 25.5 years of ag flying experience. The average non-operator ag pilot has 21.3 years of experience in the industry and 19.7 years of experience as an ag pilot.
  • If you are interested in becoming an ag pilot, NAAA offers a program called Compaass Rose, a series of education sessions in which veteran ag pilots introduce potential recruits to the world of aerial application. Compaass Rose is held at NAAA′s national convention and some state association conventions.

RISKS

  • The three leading risks and/or occupational hazards perceived by aerial applicators are power lines, communication towers and meteorological towers.
  • According to the 2012 NAAA Aerial Application Industry Survey, 59% of operator/pilots and 56% of non-operator ag pilots feel that wind turbines and meteorological towers pose a safety risk to aerial applicators.

 SAFETY

  • According to the most recent FAA General Aviation Activity Survey, in 2007, the accident rate for agricultural aviation was 5.51 accidents per 100,000 hours and the fatality rate was 0.49 fatal accidents per 100,000 hours.
  • NAAA developed the Professional Aerial Applicators′ Support System (PAASS) to educate pilots about safety, security and drift mitigation. PAASS is committed to reaching every aerial applicator in the U.S. with the latest information regarding these issues. Approximately 1,800 ag pilots participate in the PAASS Program each year.
  • Through stewardship programs like the Professional Aerial Applicators′ Support System (PAASS), which was instituted in 1996, the industry has seen drift claims decrease by 26%. In addition, agricultural aviation accidents have decreased by more 20% since the PAASS began.
  • NAAA works with the federal government to invest in researching, developing and testing aerial application technologies to strengthen the safe application of crop protection products by air.