South American Spraying?

[EMB170Pilot]

Been trying to get into that place for two years. That was after I had a verbal job offer from one of the higher ups. Tough place to get into.

Just offer them money to work ther like at GIA and you will do just fine

 

[Nolife]

climbto350

I remember seeing an ad on climbto350.com for an ag pilot down south. Do a search, it might still be there.

 

[avbug]

The pilots are civilians but the FARC doesn't consider them any different than the U.S. military and considers them prisoners of war.

What war would that be? Prisoners of war, garbage. Hostages. Political hostages, hostages for ransom. Colombia has the highest kidnap and hostage rate of any country in the world...the chances of being kidnapped there are much higher than ever being "shot down." That effort is applied to civillian, military, clergy, whomever. Anybody that might have a shot at some political leverage or payola.

Of those that were taken, the rest were executed on site. War? Criminals. Drug runners, producers, growers. The job is a crop dusting job, treating weeds. Weeds are any undesirable plant, or any plant out of place...we flex our political muscles, tell growers what they will grow, and then deem the products they're growing to be weeds. We, the people, eliminate the weeds. It's that simple. Don't worry about wrapping your head around what's down there or the politics or risks, because you won't be going down there, and there are no openings to go down to.

Ya... the three plan ONAV we did last week, under 500' and running road reccie was completely terrifying (rolling eyes) I'm especially scared when I get to roll in on a target and kill it... go back to dragging rags or something, since it's such a fulfilling experience for you.

Patmack, you had the sense to drop the previous thread...but you were indeed the one who described your fear of low level operations. But don't take my word for it, brave warrior, killer or rags and cardboard targets...take your word for it:

Dragging rags helps you define your personal margin of saftey... and you'll say "holy sh!t" to yourself more than once. I lost several friends to accidents, and witnessed more than a few. I don't care what avbug says... it's not worth it



I get nervous being single engine below 1000' with an ejection seat under my ass, let along having to do it with no way out. Let me refer you to my dead friends to drive that point home.



When I'm down low, with very few options outside of pulling the handle should the sh!t hit the fan... yes I get nervous..



When I'm down low, with very few options outside of pulling the handle should the sh!t hit the fan... yes I get nervous.. but I also get the job done and try not to think about it. If flying around without and escape plan dosen't raise even a twinge of hair on the back of your neck, I hope for your family's sake your will and insurance are up to date, the day things go to hell on you, cuz it's happened to me when the motor conked out at 200' off the departure end, over a river/swamp. That feeling of no way out is not something I ever want to experience again, and wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. By the grace of god I was able to get it turning again, just long enough to get turned around and land on a closed/abandoned runway.



And for the record yes I do get nervous when my options are few... in a 30 million dollar, impecably maintained jet, running around on a low level, do I get the job done?



I'm a big pu55y because my acceptable level of risk dosen't involve flying a sh1tcan around at 300' dragging a coppertone rag, in something that can barely manage a 200 fpm climb.



Bottom line, I love running around down low as much as the next guy.. ya it's a crap load of fun...

That's really dramatic. And here you are, the one sucking on the horses mouth, who was all set to go down to Colombia with your friendly connections and take that job. I can't imagine that even you might believe you have any credibility as shelter, with some of your other posts...you tend to speak about things you do not know...clearly. I can only imagine how you would be in the field delivering chemicals when you're scared of towing a banner. Or is that nervous? Or was it Puffy? I can't recall. But I'll tell you this: I'm so impressed by your three plan ONAV under 500' and running road reccie, rolling in on targets and "killing" them has me so excited I'll probably need tranquilizers to sleep tonight. I dont know about anybody else, but I'm surely impressed. Takes my breath away.

Why not drop that ONAV exercise and go jump into one of those A-10's that the horses mouth told you about, the one who managed the F-117 program out of obscurity and who now manages Plan Colombia? You'll make more money, and you'll have a "crap load of fun, ya."

Of course, perhaps it's because if you really do know anything about the program as you seem to so loudly proclaim, then you'd know that in truth you would still be flying around in "a sh1tcan around at 300' in something that can barely manage a 200 fpm climb," the very thing that kills your friends and puts fear in the heart of mankind. Perhaps that's not why you're there, but instead killing evil imaginary targets in flight training as you prepare to start your career in the fleet. More than a few posters here have opined in the past that if your superiors had an inkling about some of the things you say here, you probably wouldn't be doing what you're doing right now. Crikey.

For the record, while not the pinnacle of excitement, I find towing a banner quite enjoyable.

 

[TurboS7]

I qualify, something nice to keep in my back pocket. Wife doesn't get too crazy about it though.

 

[TurboS7]

500 feet-that is nosebleed altitude, when you see the monkeys running from the top of the trees to the bottom, your about at the right height.

 

[Pistlpetet]

First of all...I work for EAST.

This is to shut up all you subject matter experts, and sh*thouse lawyers.

Patmack- All your information is wrong. No A-10s.

Physix- Don't worry about the mins, you don't meet them. Unless you get reccomended, or have the right background, you will not be hired, or make it down the road.

AvBug- You must be definately a crop duster guy. Don't be all so proud of your big belt buckle wearing brethern. We have lots of prior military pilots also. Like myself.

 

[psysicx]

Do the mil guys have crop dusting exp?And do most people stay till retirement?

 

[Pistlpetet]

No...and No. Retirement is when you think you have enough money, or want to do something else.

 

[Blue]

Why oh why does every thread lately seem to turn into a pissing contest?

 

[avbug]

And oh ya "the imaginary friends that were killed" comment... I'd love to see their imaginary family run this up your flag pole, since you think it's such a safe profession... I witnessed this one.. they were friends of mine.

Where exactly did I say your friends were "imagined?" You should learn to read a little more carefully.

 

[S2R]

I bet my Dad could beat up your Dad.

 

[psysicx]

Can you tell us about pay and schedules?

 

[TurboS7]

You have got to be kidding/////?????I hope.

 

[avbug]

I bet my Dad could beat up your Dad.

Yeah, but with one arm tied behind his back?

 

[Headwind]

I had a cousin who worked there. I don't know much, but will tell you what I do know:
He had CFII, ASMEL and appr. 20 years experience crop spraying.
About 10 years ago he gave up his crop dusting business with a grass strip and hangar at his home and a retail business to take this job.
He moved his family to the Melbourne, FL area and they were not allowed in South America.
He worked in South America two weeks on and two weeks off in Florida with his family.
He flew a PT6 powered Ag plane with armor plate.
He was killed about 2 years back and the Secretary of State was at his funeral and said his death was a casualty of war with the war on drugs.
He was not looking for a job when he took this position and he was never a military pilot.

HEADWIND

 

[cougar6903]

Avbug.. keep on with the "towing banners is quality time" argument... and keep letting what I say go right through your ears... it's a matter of respecting what can go wrong when you don't have the altitude to recover... plane and simple. You must be one of those guys that's had 2 dozen jobs, but never a real career. Keep it up....

And oh ya "the imaginary friends that were killed" comment... I'd love to see their imaginary family run this up your flag pole, since you think it's such a safe profession... I witnessed this one.. they were friends of mine. I'll bet their families would argue your points of "what a safe and reputible business it is." While you may find droning around at 45 kts. burning the same circle for hours on end, in a sweat box that's got more time than Bob Hoover "enjoyable".... ya I just won't even say what I'm thinking on that one. I can't seem to find the report on another accident, even though I type the tail # into the block. Anyway, the pile of whats left is probably still in the corner of the airport.

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20041123X01861&key=1

Oh and I happened to be on the airport for this one too... though it's not banner related.

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X21058&key=1

As far as the retired Col... PM me, I'd be happy to put you in touch with him. He lives about 50' from my parents door step down in FL. You can tell him everything he know's and is done is wrong.

Pete... I never said all my info was right or wrong... but it came from a reliable source within BTG, not EAST. Like I said though... it was a conversation that was had 2? years ago.

Did your friend do the PFT with that scumbag Tim Pacini??

 

[TurboS7]

Headwind, I have a friend who did the same, only he is still alive and well. Out of that business and flying with us now.

 

[cougar6903]

Ya... if you wanna know the truth... we think the aileron cable didn't just break. We're pretty sure the airplane was vandelized by one of the MANY people he ripped off. I know it happened before to his planes. I'm amazed someone hasn't taken a lead pipe to that guy yet.

If its true, it sucks that someone had to pay with there life cause of that dirtbag's scam of a business.

 

[RightPedal]

I bet my Dad could beat up your Dad.

ROFLMAO...I love it
This brings back memories of the good old days at AAU huh?
All it takes is a conversation about crop dusting, or get more than one agpilot in the room and there's going to be a fight...LMAO...I love it

 

[YGBSM]

.. I never said all my info was right or wrong... but it came from a reliable source within BTG, not EAST. Like I said though... it was a conversation that was had 2? years ago.

Your source ain't that reliable, 'cause you can't get a whole lot more inaccurate than you've been so far. For the record, I'm the second guy who is/was with that program to tell you you're batting .000 on your info, so you can quit defending it now if you want to. Or not.
Keep up the good work!

 

[avbug]

Seems that's what we tried telling you several pages ago...including the fact that it's just an ag job, using ag aircraft. The Thrush T-65, and the Air Tractor AT-802, to be exact. Not thinking about going to them...that's been the backbone of the program all along. Just as you were told from the outset.

 

[avbug]

Possibility of?

The entire point of the program from the outset was to use "locals" for the program. The reason that US pilots are involved to the degree they are is that the "locals" wiped out most of the fleet and nobody wanted to fly the equipment after they got done with it.