Yikes - didn't know you guys flew under power lines! How do you keep from mid airs with 2 flying so close?

quote:

Originally posted by just say moe:
Yikes - didn't know you guys flew under power lines! How do you keep from mid airs with 2 flying so close?

I'm not an Ag pilot but keep close ties with the business. Most AG Pilots will choose to fly under power lines if they have a choice because it is safer than climbing over them. The aircraft has wire cutters on the Landing gear leading edges and a cable deflector that runs from the top of the cockpit canopy to the top of the Vertical stabilizer.

In my opinion AG pilots have stick and rudder skills that are on the top tier of the pilot world. They must have and maintain them for survival.
I can watch an Ag pilot work a field and never get tired of seeing them at work. It is impressive to take a heavily loaded aircraft and fly it close to the ground while doing steep turns, climbs, dives, and dodging all types of obstacles. This is all happening at 140 -150 MPH during the spray passes with turbine powered aircraft.

Here is a video of an Ag pilot spraying a field with a LOT of power lines. He is flying a Grumman Ag Cat radial engine powered aircraft which generally has working speeds of about 100 MPH.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5lT0qV4hbA