It's nothing like that at all. Yes, the aircraft are armored, and yes, in some cases they work in concert with support helicopters and other aircraft. No, they don't get shot to pieces every flight. It's a crop dusting job.
It is NOT a combat job.
Ground troops don't make a major play for aircraft assigned to Plan Colombia because bringing down these airplanes will result in a lot more heat. Token shots are fired. The last few weeks, things have escalated, somewhat.
Dyncorp does not run the OV-10's. EAST runs the OV-10's and the T-56's/AT-802's. EAST is contracted to Dyncorp. The only OV-10's that Dyncorp runs directly are those used in the CDF fire program in California.
The reason they're looking for ag pilots is because they want people with ag experience. It has nothing to do with people who are willing to do things other's aren't, or people who have a screw loose. Ag pilots are professionals. Ag pilots don't do stupid things, as a rule. However, ag pilots are familiar with pesticide application, low level flying, coverage and drift, etc. Ag pilots are familiar with SATLOC and other such systems that are in use to document the application of the Roundup (Glyphosphate) being used.
This is not some secret form of warfare. It's run through the State Department. It is a foriegn policy designed to reduce the amount of drugs being produced in the largest cocaine producing country in the world. It's done in conjunction with the government of that country, and is mostly operated by foriegn nationals from those countrie(s).
A great deal of documentation goes into covering the spray ops. They are carefully done. Everything is documented by observers, GPS records, and infrared photography.
The program isn't to eliminate cocaine or heroin. It's about convincing farmers to grow alternate crops instead. When they can't sell a crop that's been killed by spray, they have the alternative of growing a different crop, for which the government will pay them. It's not nearly as valueable as the drugs, but that's the whole purpose of using the spray aircraft as leverage.
The flip side of the coin is that the farmers are pawns for FARC and other organizations down there. These organizations use the drugs to fund their programs, which includes terrorist activities and subversive activities. Therefore, a great value is gained by this country and other nations by this and other similiar programs going on around the world.
It's not just spraying drugs. It's eliminating or reducing pipelines for weapons transfers, human rights abuses, and a host of other problems. Most of the results will never make the news, because they won't ever become newsworthy. Instead, individuals are taking certain risks to produce benifits that you'll enjoy, but never know.
Without the experience and background, you are unable to do the job. However, rather than cutting it down as a wildeyed cowboy action that nobody but a crazy person would become involved with, show some grattitude for those who are serving their country in this manner. If not grattitude, how about just a little silent respect?
