South American Spraying?

[avbug]

You've been reading too much fiction.

One a month? Not hardly. No longer using them? Not hardly? Using the A-10? Your friend is a "big wig?"

Apparently so.

The primary platform is the Air Tractor AT-802, modified.

You asked your friend if he would get you a job? Are you not the person who is terrified of low level flight, and who publically recently posted, repeatedly, over and over, that towing banners is dangerous? You, the person who fears towing banners, wanted a job in Colombia flying for INL?

Since you're so in tune with the program, for credibilities sake, where is the training being done?

While you're thinking about that one, why don't you post a link to one of those advertisements for A-10 pilots with crop dusting experience?

 

[troy]

So the program selects you, kinda like "Men in Black"!----Sweet!

 

[avbug]

Not exactly. It's a crop dusting job with few openings, and is not currently hiring. If that's "sweet" to you, so be it.

 

[moving2vegas]

I suppose the cartoons remark was aimed at me. Whatever. I've never seem an ad for any company hiring for this operation. My info came directly from the mouth of a dyncorp OV-10 pilot. As far as paramilitary...those pilots work directly with the US and colombian military including close helicopter gunship support. As you said, it's run by the DOS and (as you said) it's been running for over 20yrs. The CIA ran it back then. Doesn't get more paramilitary than that.

 

[414Flyer]

I have seen occasional ads in trade-a-plane for those positions. Yep, gunship support so they can immediately get your butt outta there if something bad happens.

A-10s? Never heard that either. I think its still OV-10s, they train at Patrick AFB I believe, I have seen the Ayres/AT training in ABQ before.

 

[avbug]

All this friend-of-a-friend stuff. I love it.

You were an Agency contractor or employee, then?

Paramilitary? It's crop dusting. The program hires crop dusters. It's that simple.

As far as immediately getting your "butt out," tell that to the folks in the caravans. Also part of the same program. Sounds good on paper, but...

 

[cougar6903]

I have seen occasional ads in trade-a-plane for those positions. Yep, gunship support so they can immediately get your butt outta there if something bad happens.

A-10s? Never heard that either. I think its still OV-10s, they train at Patrick AFB I believe, I have seen the Ayres/AT training in ABQ before.

Did you apply?

 

[414Flyer]

Yeah it was too bad about that Caravan crew. At least downed crews have a better chance of getting out with the gunship escort, but its always gonna be iffy.

I dont think paramilitary is an inaccurate description. While it is cropdusting of course and no one disputes that. It does involve military coordination, and the aircraft are armored due to the operational nature of the mission.

Heck the left calls the Boy Scouts a paramilitary unit

 

[414Flyer]

Did you apply?

nope, do not have the qualifications, and not sure I would even if I did.

Flying OV-10s in the future is a goal of mine, but not in that capacity.

 

[psysicx]

Can anybody list what companies fly OV-10's?

 

[avbug]

Last time I saw a posting for it, was probably 2000-2001ish.

No A-10's were in use for the purposes you describe during the time period you describe. Plenty of advertisements abounded, but didn't didn't state aircraft type or purpose. The primary aircraft at the time you describe was the T-65.

 

[troy]

if given the opprotunity, I might consider it. Of course, would be better if the A/C had a way to fire back.

Wouldn't the A-10 be too fast for spraying? Maybe not, I don't know anything about Ag ops.

 

[avbug]

Friend of a friend of a freind who kissed a horses what?

Fire back at what?

This has been covered here before. The state departent encourages farmers to plant crops other than coca or popey. Farmers find that they need the higher-income cash crops to get by. Don't want to plant US-sanctioned and encouraged crops. State department kills off a crop here and there with glyphosphate, tells farmers to accept the deal of face the consequences.

Occasionally the friendly FARC folks and others make their displeasure known.

Then again, locals in Kansas used to take shots at us now and again, too. Who cares?

What's the obcession with flying broncos?

The A10 program was a pipe dream, an effort to appropriate aircraft for foriegn export for other purposes, the same as the A-10 program was originally slated for firefighting when the C-130's and P-3's were coming into the program. The C-130's got used for their intended purpose, making hauls between undisclosed locations and Marana and Mena, and the A10 riders were merely a way of gaining congressional approval for similiar purposes. That much was transparent, is public knowledge, and obvious. And old news. Next?

As far as being too fast for spray work? No, of course not. They'd be a great platform, and a proven one. And a very survivable one. However, a great effort is underway, and always has been, to shake the stigma of "military" and keep it a state department show. It's a public program, reported to Congress in great detail.

Incidentally, Plan Colombia didn't start 20 years ago...

 

[troy]

Ok, now I know. (very interersting to say the least)

 

[SkyWestCRJPilot]

There have been instances of pilots being held hostage and killed by the FARC (Fuerza Armada Revolucionaria Colombiana or Armed Columbian Revolutionary Force) terrorist orgranization which uses the drug trade to finance itself. The pilots are civilians but the FARC doesn't consider them any different than the U.S. military and considers them prisoners of war. It may seem like just an Ag flying job but before you go realize all of the risks involved.