Cropdusting Question

[AZBigDog]

I was driving home this evening (after dark)and saw what appreared to be navigation lights pop up from the horizon. I know the area well and know there is no airport even close to this location. After some thought and observation I figured out that this was a cropduster spraying one of the numerous fields nearby.

Is it safe and/or legal to cropdust at night? The low light conditions of this rural area surely add to the risk factors, but there are also hundreds of homes that are within a couple hundred yards of this area.

I did a search for this info but came up empty handed. Any help on this issued is appreciated.

AZ

P.S. I'm not looking to report anyone, just wondering if this is safe, legal and common practice. THX

[MikeD]

Originally Posted by AZBigDog

I was driving home this evening (after dark)and saw what appreared to be navigation lights pop up from the horizon. I know the area well and know there is no airport even close to this location. After some thought and observation I figured out that this was a cropduster spraying one of the numerous fields nearby.

Is it safe and/or legal to cropdust at night? The low light conditions of this rural area surely add to the risk factors, but there are also hundreds of homes that are within a couple hundred yards of this area.

I did a search for this info but came up empty handed. Any help on this issued is appreciated.

AZ

P.S. I'm not looking to report anyone, just wondering if this is safe, legal and common practice. THX

Safe and legal,and quite common. Some crops only bloom at night, and that's the only time when they're able to be fertilized.

Was down at one of the indian casinos located in Ak Chin last year, and prior to entering, I watched an Air Tractor dusting a field right next to Maricopa Road. Was cool to watch the night dusting operation with this guy flying down the fields at @50 AGL, pulling up just prior to the power lines, shutting off the landing lights, executing a 30/210 course reversal at @200 AGL and coming back down to @50 AGL just past the powerlines and dusting an adjacent swath. All at night, not too many ground references, spatial-D hell with the maneuvers combined with lights on/off ,no NVGs, and powerlines and vehicle traffic on the road to avoid.

Now THATs flying!

These guys know the fields they're working.....powerlines/obstructions, etc. They use a combination of GPS and flagmen to work the field, and though risky, is safe. Remember, cropdusters aren't guys with low hours or "timebuilders", these guys are very experienced pilots for what they do. Might not have tons of IFR time, but they do have tons of low level manuvering time...just what is needed for what they do.

[ComplexHiAv8r]

Very common in MS is at dusk or dawn. Sometimes they continue into the dark. They are either good or crazy pilots! I have seen some go under the power lines to get the field dusted. I also have seen them miss and drop on the highway. Not sure what it would of done if they got a car.

[towhook]

Few years ago I was stopping in Eloy, AZ and saw the same thing. I thought it was odd the duster taking off right after sunset, but figured he was just finishing up before it got really dark.

Well after sunset I departed to find him still working in the pitch black several miles north of the airport. Bad@ss.

[CapnJim]

I cropdust everywhere I can. My favorite places are the IAH crewroom and the CAL weather rooms.

[averyrm]

We always called that version carpet bombing. "Dusting" just doesn't cover the damage that ensues.

[flyover]

Originally Posted by MikeD

Safe and legal,and quite common. Some crops only bloom at night, and that's the only time when they're able to be fertilized.

Your explanation and description were almost perfect Mike. Except for the part about blooming and fertilizing. As an old farm boy I've never heard of anything like that. The real reason for night operations is that calm winds are required for both safety (to avoid drift of spray) and effectiveness (to avoid drift of spray).

In many areas that means night spraying. In the midwest while I was growing up it ususally meant spraying for just a couple of hours after sun-up, shutting down for the rest of the day and maybe getting in an hour or two before dark.

[AZBigDog]

Thanks for all the insight guys!