I'm thinking of getting into ag flying and I'm wondering what the job outlook REALLY is. I have a bunch of tailwheel time 500 hrs, my com lic and about 3500 total time. I visited a ag school and they said that I would have no problem finding a job,.....so I started calling around to some ag operators to find out if that was the case, if there would be jobs available. Everyone of them said they didn't need anyone and they didn't know anybody who did. This wasn't a few people this was a bunch. I just spend the last few hours cold calling people with no leads.

Can anybody tell where where I might look to find a company who will take on a rookie to fly? I don't want to spend a lot of money on ag school and come out with out a job. All the schools say that they will help me find a job but I'd like to know that worse comes to worse I could find one on my own.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Observation # 1:

There are absolutely no guarantees in the ag business. In fact there are no guarantees in any business, you will only get back what you are willing to put in.

Observation # 2:

There is absolutely no shortage in the need for food, feed, lumber, etc... and the vast majority of it will get sprayed.

Observation # 3:

Nobody in this game is getting younger, and there are plenty of people cashing out, someone must replace them.

Observation #4:

Needless to say, I get the opportunity to talk to a boatload of folks who want to get into the ag industry. I see all types, and all walks. The ones that have drive and relentlessly pursue, while at the same time maintain the patience to realise they have to work their way up, succeed. The ones that are looking for guarantees, and 'easy ins' either don't ever get a seat, or hop from seat to seat, because they just want it all handed to them.

This is not a reflection on you or your post, but we see this question or forms of it at least once a month on this forum, so I figured this would be a good time to put this out there again.

So I guess the ball is now in your court, where do you fit in all that?

How bout a simpler question, are there pilot seats for those just out of ag school?

That's a fair and honest question, so I will answer it as fair and honest as I can. But, I am just one person / opinion.

Last year I knew of several people looking to break someone new into the business. This year I have been busy with too many personal projects to stay informed on that end. I will point out that right now while away from home, I am sharing a rental home with a couple other pilots. One of which is flying a 402. He graduated Flying Tigers last spring, The sister company to our outfit, has a new pilot flying an AgCat, he graduated Flying Tigers this spring (although he worked his way up at the same outfit by loading and running a ground rig) and another one of our posters here, is in his second season flying a Cat in CO right now. He graduated Flying Tigers last spring as well...
I also know of a couple pilots who flew their first seasons last year that did not go to an ag school. So that route is possible as well. Although I am of the opinion that without already having a background or some leads into the industry, that route will be a bit tougher.

Take care, Rob

Rob,

Thanks for the reply.

My concern is that I don't have any connections with aerial applications. I'm a yankee living in FL. Going to a school would be my only contact with the companies. What I found out was that most aerial applicators are small family run businesses with only two or three planes. I can see where one would have to know the family/ company to get a seat. I was hoping that I could go out on my own and through cold calling I could get leads. I don't want to rely on the school in order too get me a job. Yes it would help but I'd like to be more independent and only have to fall back on the school. I must have called over 50 companies yesterday with out any leads on a seat either now or in the future. It seems AG flying is doing no better than the airlines right now.

Thanks for the help,

Tristan

there are NO "pilot seats for those just out of ag school" However, with a lot of hard work and dedication, those just out of ag school can sometimes convince an operator to give them the opportunity to get started.

don't get discouraged after only 50 or 100 cold-calls. it took me over 530 cold-calls and several in-person visits to get my first ag flying job.

something to remember is Operators get a lot of calls from people that think they might like to be a pilot, young pilots with a fresh commercial that think crop dusting is a time building job, and even furloughed airline pilots looking for work (but who want to fly only, and not get dirty). the VAST majority of these phone calls are from people that will not have interest in the industry for long. the way to get their attention is to show some commitment to the industry by already having worked as a loader or some similar position, by already having completed an ag school, by already having a state pesticide applicator license, by already being known by them, or by being very persistent and involved.

Also these folks are right in the middle of their hectic, busy season right now. the corn run is underway, the beans are blooming, the weeds are coming up in every crop, and the grasshoppers are eating the west away. many of the operators are too busy to take the calls and even think about training someone right now. the time to talk to these folks is in the winter, when they are just starting to get ready for the next season.

The industry is not hurting at all. in my opinion, the biggest problem right now is a lack of airplanes and a lack of available credit to buy airplanes. especially, a lack of cheap piston airplanes to put newbies in.

you are right to not rely on the school for job placement. of the 12 people that were in the ag school with me, 6 got jobs the first year but only 2 of us were still flying at the end of the season. the school helped with zero of those. the second year i think 6 of us were working, but not exactly the same 6. three or four of those guys started their own business or bought their own airplanes.

Yamahar629,

Putting my two cents in...

I went to school, (Ag-Flight) late into this season (June) and I must have made 150+ resumes, letters, and phone calls. A handful actually took the time to inform me that they didn't have a seat, but to keep trying. One responded and offered me a job as a loader, with a possible chance to fly, starting about 3 weeks later. Sounded like a solid operation.

During that time, a different company called Ag-Flight and asked if they knew of anyone looking for a seat. They referred me and I landed my first seat, right out of school. So, don't let anyone tell you it can't be done!

Just remember, it's hard to get lucky if one doesn't put themselves in the position to get lucky.

I wish you the best and follow your dreams!

I'm working right now with a guy who is in his second season with this company as a loader. He went to an ag school in Florida, but has only 40 hrs. of tailwheel time. It is his seat, but I am flying his airplane right now, and he agreed to it as a condition of my employment. He gets to fly when the weather is right and we are shut down. This is one of the hardest working young men I have seen in a long time. It is like me having my own plane captain. I don't have to do anything except fly, but I help out as much as he will let me, it is his seat. This guy works his but off all day, keeping all of us going, and is an excellent employee. He is going out with no water and just working with the bar right now, water is next and MAYBE some application before he goes home, just depends on what the operator wants. But I can guarantee this guy will be spraying next year, and I will be looking for a corn seat. I hope I get to load his plane with water or material and clean the window for him before I go, he has been a so good to me , the operator and this company. I predict he will be one hell of an applicator some day, and I will be proud to be an aquaintance of his. This fellow is so committed, and does not care about what he needs to do, he will get there. He has what it takes, and if anyone is reading this, there is no easy way in, connected or not. Everyone I knew who grew ip in the business where not allowed to spray until they were 23 years old, they worked for the family on the ground for YEARS. If anyone really wants to do this, you will find a way. It is a self-policing industry, and it weeds out the wannebe's by design. Only the serious and committed will survive, if they have the hands for this kind of flying, not everyone does.

Hi Wade,

Seeing aphids yet? We are ahead of last years work -acres vs date wise- but still have a way to go, to reach the same total.

Ty is a hard worker, and that operator will lose a good loader when he starts flying. I suspect the flip side is he will end up with a good pilot though...

Good news - I think by this time last year there were 6-7 wrecks reported in IA vs. this years 3

Bad news - I think there have been more incidents of people inadvertently being sprayed, one being an ambulance that got sprayed while treating a person that had been sprayed Not Good PR.... and specially not goof for the future of us out of staters...


Flyfor5,

How's WY treating you? Still flying? How's your airplane back home coming along, did you ever get the spar issue taken care of? Look me up when you get the season wrapped up.

Take care, Rob

Hi Rob,

What they saying over your way about aphids? Don't think we gonna have any over here, if so they think its gonna be a week or two. My corn acres are up, but if no bugs total acres gonna be down around half. It's all good though, came up and made a little money. Think we got around 3,000 acres left of fungicide on beans, and they don't want to do that until Tuesday then I think that is gonna be it on the fungicide.