By The National Agricultural Aviation Association
Many aerial application service customers do not realize the significant impact they can have on the safety of ag pilots who treat their fields. Before a farmer or landowner considers leasing land for the construction of wind turbines, meteorological evaluation towers or broadband towers, they should understand how these decisions can affect aerial applicators’ ability to treat fields safely.
Without careful planning and placement of these structures, farmers risk losing the option for aerial spraying, which is the often quickest method for applying pesticides, fertilizers and seeds that is unobtrusive to the crop.
Towers, such as those used for meteorological monitoring, pose a significant danger to agricultural pilots and other low-altitude aerial operations. Unmarked towers, especially those shorter than 200 feet, can be nearly invisible if backlit, hidden by an overcast sky or camouflaged by a crop or soil. As such, these towers and the wires that accompany them can pose a grave risk to pilots and lead to accidents and fatalities. Ag pilots do their due diligence in scouting fields by using GPS with integrated maps that may show towers and checking tower databases, but at times, these towers appear in fields overnight, or they are not geospatially referenced in GPS databases.
According to the National Agricultural Aviation Association tower accident data from 2014 to 2023, 12 tower accidents occurred during this period, and five aerial applicator pilots perished in tower collisions. The most common cause of accidents in 2023 was wire strikes, which accounted for 28% of the total accidents and 67% of the fatal accidents.
Landowners must consider the potential upsides and downsides before signing agreements to lease their land for such structures. Engaging in conversations with hired ag pilots can provide valuable insights into whether these towers should be erected and how the specific placement or marking and lighting of these structures has the ability to facilitate safer aerial applications. If a farmer or landowner intends to have towers or turbines erected, then it is important to share that information and estimated timeframe with the hired ag pilot. Remember, the presence of wind turbines or towers in or near cropland targeted for an aerial treatment may result in an ag pilot declining to treat fields in close proximity to the structure, delaying treatment of the field until all safer fields have been treated or charging a higher rate for the work.
Some ag pilots are beginning to incorporate uncrewed application aircraft or drones into aerial application operations to enhance safety when treating areas near towers, wires or other obstacles. But this isn’t a fail-safe solution. Drones can complement crewed aerial application. However, the large hopper capacity and quick speed at which the field can be treated means a crewed airplane or helicopter is the fastest way to eradicate yield-shrinking diseases, weeds and pests. Landowners need to be aware of this and recognize the potential revenue that will be lost by sacrificing land to construct towers.
Landowners can ensure the safety of aerial applicators by thoughtfully planning the placement of structures on their land. Through a commitment to safety and collaboration, a safer aerial application environment is created to protect farm fields and sustain agricultural growth.
