Crop Dusting at Night?! All About Night Operations
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We had the pleasure of visiting the crew at Morris Ag Air in Yuma, AZ in January and we loved learning all about night operations. It is still mind-blowing to us to think about operating at night. Be sure to also check out the FAQ about Night Ops and a helicopter spray rig tour coming soon. Huge thanks to Miles Morris for letting us come check out his operation and Ben Ramos, for talking with us and letting us watch him fly!
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We will pull over and watch these guys in the evening. Morris is a great company here in Yuma.
We will do the same!! So wild. Thanks for the comment.
I have been work as a crop duster around 20 years. But, at night is crazy.! it´s another level. My sincere respect.!
Right?! We thought the same!! Thanks for the comment.
Very articulate, informed, wise and humble pilot … really expresses himself well … hats off to him and the other night pilots!
Agreed! Thanks for watching!
I cannot imagine doing that in the night! I'll watch from here thanks!
Same!! Thanks for watching!
I flew for Search and Rescue out of MCAS Yuma back in the late 80's. We operated in some fairly rugged areas and I thought I was a fairly badazz aviator...until we would come back to base at night and see these guys out there spraying! Humbling indeed!
Wow, that would be wild!!! Thanks for the comment.
Ben gives a very good explanation of night operations! I flew nights too back in the 70’s and early 80’s around Nampa and Caldwell, Idaho. Not much has changed in the way it’s done since then except that it was before GPS. We used hand flaggers with flashlights. Crews were supposed to go out during the day to check new fields too, but when it was real busy that didn’t always happen. Ben reminds me of a good ag pilot with an excellent attitude. That goes a long long ways in keeping him safe!!
100% we felt lucky to have Ben be the spokesperson for Yuma and night ops. Thanks for the comment!
I can’t remember the last time I saw an ag plane and DIDNT STOP to watch. Always have to admire the skill involved!! Amazing!!
That's awesome!! Thanks!!
Very nicely done Cally! And much respect to Ben and company!!! That blows my mind them spraying at night!! Power lines are already such a big challenge and trying to see them in the dark!?!? Whew!!!! I’m sure it’s like anything else. You train, you practice, you execute. Y’all stay safe!!! As always, best wishes to you both!!! 🤠❤️
Thank you!! Agree with you 100% The power lines do reflect a bit with the lights but still, would be much easier to get complacent and miss them at night in my opinion. The spotter on the ground helps with that as well. Thanks for the comment!
This was so fascinating and enlightening. As a truck driver, I’ve hauled broccoli and lettuce out of Yuma. As Ben said, it is the winter time produce capital of the nation. Salinas, CA is during the spring and summer months. I had no idea that they did this at night. Agriculture in America is becoming more and more advanced which is a good thing. It takes MANY people to grow, harvest, and transport produce to your local grocery store than one might think.
Thank for watching!! Totally agree with you!
Wow. Absolutely incredible!!! What a great video. Thanks for sharing!!!’
Thank you so much, Neal!!
As a PCA that’s been writing the recs these pilots complete for the past 12 years, we are grateful for their hard work and efforts to get our jobs completed! Morris Ag Air are rockstars!
Which one would you be friend?
That's awesome! Sounds like you all have a great working relationship down there.
Well done interview and informative. 👍
Thanks so much!! Appreciate the comment.
Scary like flying or boating in the fog at night. I will pass thanks for not asking. this is crazy and super cool at the same time. All of you pilots are way cooler than most. Thanks for the ride along.
It is crazy to us as well! Thanks for watching and commenting.
wow, very impressive. thanks for the great video
Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Very informative episode, having been in the transportation segment of this industry, i am certain that a lot of people have no idea how food comes to their table. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes to everyone.
Thank you for watching and commenting. There are so many vital roles to feeding people! The lack of understanding can be frustrating sometimes but we're hoping to enlighten folks a bit. Appreciate you!!
yay you're back! been missing your content 🙃 also, night flying at 10 feet looks terrifying
Agreed!! Thanks for the comment. Are you on facebook or instagram? We stay a little bit more active over there during the off season. or try to :)
Awesome.. love it.
Our airstrip was approved last month 97KS
Thanks for watching!
That's awesome!
Great Video! Thanks!
Thanks for watching and commmenting!
Good questions, way to go.
Thanks for watching!
I often admired night ag pilots when dove hunting in the Niland CA area. Being a pilot myself...these ag guys have it going on. Thx
Thanks for the comment. It is pretty spectacular to observe.
I helped one of the neighbor businesses load this winter! Great fun seeing the crop dusting down there. Great experience.
That's awesome!
The Balls on these pilots🙈 Respect
haha!
It looks really fun…like strafing the cauliflower !
It has it's ups and downs.
Did it for 25yrs loved night work.
Nice!!
Cally (hopefully i got the name right) your interview style, the way you guide the viewer along the subject and your command of language is VERY Professional. Yes, impressive.
Wow, thank you so much for the compliment!! Sometimes I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing so I love to hear the positive feedback.
Last time I was at Cocopay Speedway near Yuma, there was a helicopter just north of the racetrack spraying at night. Awesome to see!
That's awesome!!
I've been waiting for a video about night operation
The wait is over!!
Drove a courier route at night through farmlands near Nampa Id. First time I saw these cropdusters I was absolutely amazed. They had a rack of lights on them that lit up the night. Still, there were trees and power lines to avoid. Scary flying!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
This gives me major anxiety! God bless and stay safe.
Thank you!!
Start pilot school this August, can't wait to fly and AG pilot seems like an awesome career!
Awesome!! Have you lined up a ground position job yet?
@@AgAviationAdventures can't say I have, this is a two year program that covers private, commercial, IFR, CFI and multi engine rating so I got a ways to go!
The main reason crops are sprayed at night is chemical can burn the plant over 32C/ 90F . sometimes we would have to wait till midnight for it to get cool enough. ( 10 night seasons, 6 flying at night) Night flying has been going 60 plus years
Another interesting point! Thanks for the comment!
I bet that's so much fun. Flying that with all the weight in front and counter it but hell will fly.
It has it's ups and downs.
good interview, much respect for the pilots - would I like to do a ride-a-long as a passenger?...no way, I will admire them from afar.
Haha! Agreed! Thanks for watching!
excellent flying any pilot would covet this experience TY Ag Aviation likes here
Thanks for watching!
see these guys at night often
Awesome!
Back in the day when I was in the cotton patches around south Texas to Southern California, in Southern California these guys were on captagons every night, and yes I've seen them take off their landing gear,and worse. Nature of the best.
It's changed a bit since then, but also still very much the same. That's the crazy thing about this industry. Thanks for the comment!!
Not only do they spay us with cancer during the day, now they can do it at night! Excellent!
Unfortunately this comment leads us to believe you know nothing about agriculture or how food is grown to get to your table. If you want to learn a bit about it stick around and we can point you in the direction of some growers sharing about the process. You don't really sound like the type who cares to ask questions and learn the truth but without these products, food prices would be astronomical and we'd have to import more food (relying on other countries!!). Farmers are growing more food on less land for a rapidly growing population and nothing comes for free. They don't want to spend money on crop protection products but it's often necessary. What is the alternative?? I'm guessing you don't know the answer to that.
@@AgAviationAdventures what did my great grandpa do on his farm? What do I do in my garden? Manual labor. He used a hoe. I use a hoe. You gave me a very lame “poor me, you can’t live without us self righteous farmers who choose to use chemicals over other means” answer. Stop being lazy. Stop lying to yourself about the chemicals you spread. Would you sprinkle it on your salad? Didn’t think so. Stop looking the other way while you pad your pockets.
What they're doing is a lot safer than that jab you got in 2020/2021
@@theadmiral5425 hahaha maybe! However, I’m no sheep. I’m not a donkey either. I didn’t fall for that hoax. We’ve all had the common flu before. No need for a jab
@@AgAviationAdventures How is the alternative. Stop spraying food with poison. Food has grown for thousands of years without spraying cancer causing agents on food. It then enters the ground and then into the waterways. If “farmers” would stop growing GMO foods over thousands of acres to feed animals, a real farmer could put animals such as cattle in the fields. Let the fields naturally grow and feed the animals. This alone would open up more land to grow food for humans consumption. Produce does not need human intervention in way of spraying a manmade chemical onto it. It is your job and what you do for a living. I understand you defending your position. However, more people must wake up to help create food that is safe to consume and not food that is safe according to the USDA or FDA.
I knew a 95 year old former ag pilot who had a big spray outfit in Fresno CA, started after he flew 2000 hours of combat time in Corsairs in the South Pacific off of flat tops. He used B-24 landing lights I think he said, and he was an early adopter of the practice. He didn't talk much of his Corsair days, other than, after I flew into his twisty driveway and commented on the lack of viz, "when we turned short final for the carrier, the entire deck dissappeared," with that big nose in front, he was a real bad ass.
Wow!! That's wild. Thanks for sharing.
I'd imagine the pilots are in direct radio communication with the ground spotters all the time as well? As someone else said, would night vision optics be an option for them?
Yes, in direct contact via radio with the spotters at all times. You would think Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) would be the simple answer, however, this is what they have to say about them! "We do not use NVGs because at the altitudes that we fly we dont get the depth perception that we need to make timing decisions when it comes to flying around obstacles. The depth perception of the naked eyes is much better suited for making split second decisions and ultimately transfers to safer operations." Thanks for the comment!
@@AgAviationAdventures oh sure, makes sense. never thought of depth perception.
LED commonly hated for being 6000 or 6500 Kelvin but can be found down to 5000K which is warmer. Another option would be to use HID. The output of HID can be as low as 4300K and the output is massive compared to the old Halogens. Power draw is better to relax the electrical side.
The system they use works really well for them!
@@AgAviationAdventures Maybe but the extra output of the HID and low colour temp options go hand-in-hand for night ops.
I seriously considered flying as a crop duster (I’m a licensed pilot) up near Blythe in the early 80’s.. (North of Yuma). I had a friend who was known as the bug man. He would go into the fields with a big butterfly net to sample what was on the plants . He would then write a prescription of what the field needed then assist with the cocktail and load the planes. I went back home and my friend (while mixing the pesticides) a week later accidentally soaked his long sleeve shirt with cocktail. He ended up in the hospital for two days. The stuff they spray is nasty. If you bend your plane you might get a good soaking even if you survive the crash. I decided it’s not for me. Much too hazardous. Even if you don’t crash and get exposure you’re going to get incremental exposure just by being around it. The hazards of flight is just a part of the overall risks.
It's not for everyone and you have to be cautious working around concentrated chemicals.
How many hours do you need as of turbo prop and Tailwheel in doing AG spray flying and at night seems very dangerous and challenging
There's not really a baseline but around 500 to start and then work into the turbine seat.
I absolutely and sincerely love that he still calls it the “chinaman’s hat’ switch/toggle! That tells you all you need to know about this down to earth, heartfelt aviation community. Many happy landings!
Thanks for the comment!!
I used to be a cropdusting marker night and day in the early 1970's. The buzzing the prop makes as it chops cotton was a bit disconcerting...
Oh wow!! It has changed a bit since then. I can't imagine being a flagger at night though...
MPatey signature on the bottom right?
I don't think so?
Wouldnt it be really hard to see things like power lines ?
Harder, yes! The power lines do reflect a bit with the lights but still, would be much easier to get complacent and miss them at night in my opinion. The spotter on the ground helps with that as well. Focus has to be on at all times.
I fly an At502 since 2019 and theres a digital Attitude indicator thats worth NOTHING to ag operations! I mean, after a couple of reverse turns, wich we do A LOT, the Attitude Indicator just leave us with Red Crosses. There´s no horizon reference for these guys, no Rw Lights, No lights on obstacles. You Guys has balls of steel!
Thanks for the comment!!
11:10 Can you spot the power pole during the night flight segment here? Hopefully, in a few years the cockpits will be equipped with GPS augmented heads-up virtual reality that identifies the known hazards. Are most nighttime AG pilots Instrument Rated?
Hmm, that's an interesting concept. the problem with the virtual reality is - what if it misses something? We'll see! The poles are what they look for scouting the fields (pilots and spotters), the lines actually light up with the lights.
I got offered a gig crop dusting at night one time. Wearing NVG’s in remote South America didn’t sound like fun to me so I passed.
That sounds wild.
@@AgAviationAdventures brand new Air Tractors with Kevlar cockpit tubs and seat pans. No Aerial Application Cert required.
If your flying at night, at what time of the day are the workers in the fields?
It can vary. Sometimes workers can be out in the fields at night, too. That's why the spotter is so important.
@@AgAviationAdventures Thanks! I fly a hot air balloon near Tonopah, AZ and rarely see them. I can't imagine being in the fields when spraying.. Appreciate what your doing.
Where can I get one of their hats?!
We’ll send you one Curt! I think we still have your address.
Night spraying makes you plan better, dot the I's and cross the t's
I can imagine!
After the chili my wife served yesterday evening I was crop dusting at night. 💨
How original!
@@AgAviationAdventures Hey, I’m just a seventy year old has Bean! 😉 I always thought those Cessna Ag Wagons were a cool aircraft… Low and Slow.
Why such high water rates?
That's a great question!! I'm guessing the crop consultants down there request it for lettuce, and it depends on the label for some of the products they are putting out.
Latest Generation of Night Vision Goggles might come in handy...?
You would think Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) would be the simple answer, however, this is what they have to say about them! "We do not use NVGs because at the altitudes that we fly we dont get the depth perception that we need to make timing decisions when it comes to flying around obstacles. The depth perception of the naked eyes is much better suited for making split second decisions and ultimately transfers to safer operations."
All they need is night vision
The depth perception that we need to see and avoid obstacles at the altitudes we fly is absent with NVG equipment.
You would think Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) would be the simple answer, however, this is what they have to say about them! "We do not use NVGs because at the altitudes that we fly we don't get the depth perception that we need to make timing decisions when it comes to flying around obstacles. The depth perception of the naked eyes is much better suited for making split second decisions and ultimately transfers to safer operations."
My question is what are the fatality or accident rates vs day flying?
I don't know if they've broken down the statistic but we will do a little looking on the NAAA website.
yo this is great but i prefer dutch ovens
howwww original 🙄
Hats? :)
Picking up an order today!! Have you subbed to our email list? We will send an email when they are live on the website. agaviationadventures.com/subscribe
I'd think bats and owls might be a challenge.
Possibly! They didn't mention this as an obstacle, I'm guessing about the same as birds during day flights.
I have always wanted to fly ag planes. One question: How much mix do you guys have to leave off to accommodate the weight of the huge balls that you have?😂🤣 Seriously though, total bad asses
Thats been discussed baaaahahaha!
Haha!!
@@AgAviationAdventures my grandfather was an A&P and CFI and I never followed through with finishing flight lessons ( young and dumb). One of the guys he did work for had a large leasing business back in the 80’s and had a two seat trainer that I got the opportunity to fly with him on a few application flights. He let me fly it a few times through and he told me that I had a lot of natural ability. At 53, I have beaten my body up pretty well as a pipe welder and fitter and have seriously considered getting back in a plane and getting my license. What’s your thoughts on some of these ag schools out there as an avenue to get in the business?
@@AgAviationAdventures I live in NC btw so the closest schools for ag planes are Georgia and Fl.
Thought it was prohibited...
Nope!
Log some goggle time brah
You would think Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) would be the simple answer, however, this is what they have to say about them! "We do not use NVGs because at the altitudes that we fly we dont get the depth perception that we need to make timing decisions when it comes to flying around obstacles. The depth perception of the naked eyes is much better suited for making split second decisions and ultimately transfers to safer operations."
What in the world grows in Yuma?
Lots of lettuce!! Wait did you watch the video?!
I guess that the bugs are all ready to die at night.
haha!!
Interesting its verbalized ag and not silver
come again?
just what we need carcongenic glyphosates on our food
Please define what “glyphosates” are
@@AgAviationAdventures nearly every weed spray and fertalizer beyer and other crop science companies make
Wrong
GOOD, modern, high CRI LED lights with a neutral white tint will be FAR better than those old lights you have fitted. You're thinking of those awful, low CRI, blue, blinding LEDs that are found in cars and (often) crappy flashlights. Source: I design and build my own flashlights.
Noted!
Cancer falling from the sky on to your food!
Falling from the sky would insist it’s not intentional. This is planned. The alternatives to not having crops treated with these products are: not having fresh produce, importing all of our fresh produce from other countries (many with less stringent regulations than the USA), or paying exorbitant prices for fresh produce. Farmers are growing more food (and fibers and fuels) on less land for a growing world population.
Lmao . Yea till the drones take over
It will be a while, we think.
@@AgAviationAdventures i thought the drones already took over . The media likes to point faults at humans . Then Force there tech in place claiming safety and security
Flying is supposed to be fun. I just can’t imagine any pilot, enjoying low-level, yanking and banking in the dark, on the backside of the clock long enough to make a career of it.
"flying is supposed to be fun" maybe if it is a hobby? We (folks in the ag aviation industry) are passionate about what we do and love it but I think we can all admit that it isn't fun all the time. Do we wake up on day 43 of our busy run and think "today is going to be fun!" Not really. But is it fulfilling? Absolutely.
flying a turboprop loaded with product, literally a few metres off the ground, in and around power lines, trees etc, at night..... jesus christ.
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China mans hat. Im so Offended
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