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Aerial Application of Pesticides

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Aerial Application of Pesticides Acknowledgments I would like to express appreciation to Thomas W. Dean, Ph.D. and O. Norman Nesheim, Pesticide Information Office, University of Florida, for allowing the use of Aerial Application — A Training Manual for Pilot Seeking Licensing as Certified Pesticide Applicators as a guide for this publication. Also I wish to thank Calvin D. Perry, Agricultural Engineer, University of Georgia, for revising the chapter on Navigation. Additional appreciation is express to the following for contributions to the original manual: Peter H. Dana, Ph.D., University of Colorado Donnie Dipple, Ph.D., Texas Dept. of Agriculture Dennis R. Gardisser, Ph.D., University of Arkansas Andrew Hewitt, Ph.D., Stewart Ag. Research Services, Inc. Jeff Jenkins, Ph.D., Oregon State University William A. Kirby, Inspector; FAA (ret.) Dennis L. Kuhlman, Ph.D., Kansas State University Dean A. Morss, Ph.D., Creighton University O Norman Nesheim, Ph.D., University of Florida Ronald L. Noyes, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University John Impson, Ph.D., USDA (ret.) David L. Valcore, Ph. D., Dow Agrosciences Joel T. Walker, Ph.D., University of Arkansas Paul E. Sumner, Extension Engineer Senior Public Service Associate University of Georgia July 2, 2004 Table of Contents Introduction ...........................................................7 Chapter 1. Regulations ..................................................9 14 CFR: Aeronautics and Space .........................................9 Subpart A – General ................................................9 Subpart B – Certification Rule .......................................10 Subpart C – Operating Rules ........................................12 Subpart D – Records and Reports ....................................17 Other Federal Rules .................................................18 State Laws and Rules ................................................18 The Label as Law ...................................................19 Chapter 2. Application Equipment .......................................20 Dispersal Systems ...................................................20 Liquid Dispersal ..................................................20 Tanks ........................................................20 Pumps ........................................................21 Agitation .....................................................22 Filters and Screens ..............................................22 Piping and Fittings ..............................................22 Pressure Gauge .................................................22 Spray Booms ..................................................23 Nozzles .......................................................23 Cone-Pattern Nozzles .........................................24 Fan-Pattern Nozzles ...........................................25 CP Nozzles .................................................26 Rotary Atomizers .............................................26 Spray System Operating Pressure ..................................27 Nozzle Anti-Drip Devices ........................................27 Dry Dispersal ....................................................28 Ram-Air Spreader ..............................................28 Feed Rate ...................................................29 Spreader Vanes ..............................................30 Spreader Mounting ...........................................31 Rate and Swath ..............................................31 Centrifugal Spreader ............................................32 Chapter 3. Drift Management ...........................................33 Definition of “Pesticide Drift” .........................................33 Why Be Concerned about Drift? ........................................33 Droplet Size .......................................................34 Equipment Factors Affecting Droplet Size . 35 Nozzle Type .....................................................35 Orifice Diameter ..................................................36 Spray Pattern Angle ...............................................36 Nozzle Mounting Angle ............................................36 Travel Speed .....................................................36 Spray Pressure ...................................................36 Operational Parameters ............................................37 The Effect of Formulation .............................................37 Spray Adjuvants ....................................................38 Tank Mix Composition ...............................................39 Weather Factors ....................................................39 Wind Velocity ...................................................39 Atmospheric Stability ..............................................40 Stability Ratio (SR) Calculation Example . 40 Temperature .....................................................41 Relative Humidity ................................................42 Microweather ....................................................42 Spray Drift Management Record ........................................43 Chapter 4. Navigation ..................................................44 Navigation Methods .................................................44 GPS (Global Positioning System) .......................................45 GPS: Background and Purpose ......................................45 GPS: Overall System Structure and Function . 45 Space Segment .................................................45 Control Segment ...............................................46 User Segment ..................................................46 How GPS Works ....................................................46 Differential GPS ....................................................47 Maritime DGPS ..................................................48 WAAS .........................................................48 Commercial DGPS Services ...........................................49 OmniSTAR® ......................................................49 DGPS Consumer Issues ..............................................51 Using DGPS during Aerial Application ..................................51 Using the GPS Lightbar ............................................51 Other GPS Equipment Features for Ag Aircraft . 52 A Cautionary Word ...............................................52 Chapter 5. Calibration Procedures .......................................53 Initial Factors ......................................................53 Independent Factor #1: Boom Discharge Rate . 53 Independent Factor #2: Treatment Progress Rate . 54 Altering Nozzle Configuration .........................................54 Selecting Nozzle Tip Size ..........................................55 Determining Total Nozzles Needed ...................................56 Swath Width .......................................................56 Pattern Testing a Spray Boom .......................................56 Pattern Testing a Ram-Air Spreader ...................................59 Determining Swath Width ........................................59 Calibration with Existing Nozzles ......................................60 Determining Boom Output Rate (gpm) ................................61 Determining Treatment Progress Rate (apm) . 61 Determining Spray Volume Rate (gpa) . 61 Field Confirmation of System Performance . 62 Chapter 6. Operations .................................................64 Pilot ..............................................................64 Precautionary Actions ................................................65 Application Methods .................................................65 The Turnaround ..................................................66 Ferrying ........................................................66 Speed ..........................................................67 Application Height ................................................67 Obstructions .....................................................67 Power and Telephone Lines .......................................68 Obstructions Along-Side the Field ..................................68 Obstructions at End of Field ......................................68 Obstructions Within a Field .......................................68 Deposit Pattern and Swath Spacing ...................................69 Ground Crews ......................................................69 On-Site Field Crew ................................................70 Flag Crew .....................................................70 Mixing/Loading Crew .............................................71 Equipment Servicing Crew ..........................................72 Steam Cleaning ................................................73 Aircraft Crash Response ............................................74 Aerial Application of Pesticides Paul E. Sumner Extension Engineer Introduction he first well-documented aerial application of a pesticide occurred near Troy, Ohio on TAugust 3, 1921. The event became a matter of public record in the March 1922 issue of National Geographic Magazine when C. R. Neillie and J. L. Houser described a Curtis JN-6 (piloted by US Army Air Corps Lt. J. A. Macready) being used to apply lead arsenate (formu- lated as a dust) to a 6-acre stand of catalpa trees being grown for poles. The actual pesticide application was a two-man operation. The lead arsenate dust was released from Macready’s aircraft by an externally-mounted, manually-cranked hopper, designed
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