Aerial Ag

As a single engine air attack (SEAT) the AT 1002 is another good tool that fire agencies need for aggressive initial attack of small fires before they get out of control and for asset protection if they do.

Of course, the AT1002 is just the latest in the Air Tractor range, with Australia having a significant number of AT802s in service, including the impressive AT802 ‘Fireboss’ – an AT802 on floats to permit on-the-go refilling/scooping for firebombing. That is in addition to the backbone of the Australian spraying fleet the AT502.

In addition, Australia has seen the first AT504 – a two seat side-by-side dual control training variant of the 502. The 504 provides the capacity to both earn dollars while spraying and still safely conduct training and checking of application pilots.

But Air Tractor is not alone, with Thrush Aircraft also continuing the innovation that is synonymous with aerial application.

Thrush is taking advantage of General Electric’s takeover of Walter Engines and has paired the well-known Thrush airframe with GE’s H80 turboprop – basically a redesigned Walter M601-11E – to produce a 2250 litre aircraft using the S2R-T65 airframe. While still at prototype stage, test flying is underway and US FAA certification is hoped for later in 2010.

The DAAM system (Data Acquisition Alarm Monitoring) – colloquially known as a ‘Larry Box’ – was developed by racing identity Larry Perkins for aviation engine, airframe and performance monitoring and is making an appearance in many application aircraft where it is doing a lot more than traditional trend monitoring. The system allows pilots and operators to track everything from ‘g’ to engine handling and is leading a revolution in improving how we look at engines, airframes and exceedances. Critically, any exceedance alarm will trigger capture of all parameters which can then lead to more sophisticated analysis of what has gone wrong. Of particular interest is the affordability of this system that has been designed to make this type of system accessible to all operators. This is now a positive export earner for Australia, especially into the US, NZ and Canada.

And it’s not just airframes and powerplants that continue to be pushed into the future – computerised fire bombing systems, sub-meter GPS swath guidance and even spray nozzles are seeing innovations that make aerial application an exciting industry to work in.

CP nozzles, for example, have a flat fan carousel nozzle that allows pilots to tailor the spray quality (ie size of droplets produced) to what they need for efficacy and drift control. And then there is the Australian conceived, designed and built JARBA boom that allows pilots to change spray quality during flight – matching droplet size to drift risk.

The high speed wind tunnel facility at the University of Queensland – Gatton is also involved with extending a nozzle calculator for AAAA that helps members comply with chemical label directions. The AAAA calculator allows operators to assess expected nozzle performance against a range of variables including airspeed, spray pressure and angle of orientation using real pesticides. Further testing of new nozzles and additional chemicals is expected over the next few months.

Regulators are even getting on board with the APVMA (Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority) recently releasing an ‘Operational Notice’ that recognises the AAAA nozzle calculator and simplifies compliance with their spray quality requirements.

With significant rainfall across much of Australia’s cropping country and innovation driving efficiency and improved performance, aerial application is looking forward to some very positive and rewarding times ahead.

Convention 2010

AAAA’s annual Convention will be held at the Holiday Inn, Surfers Paradise on the 8th and 9th of June.

The Convention program has moved to a more interactive ‘workshop’ format, featuring speakers such as Phil Unicomb of Action Aerobatics on stalling and government reps discussing their latest policy changes – including CASA on airspace changes and reg reform and APVMA on their latest ‘Operational Notice’.

If you are a professional – either business owner or pilot – and want to be up to date then the AAAA Convention is a must. Pilots will also benefit from expanded Professional Pilot Program points available for every workshop that will contribute to their ongoing ‘Spraysafe’ accreditation.

Registration forms and booking accommodation forms are available from the AAAA website on www.aerialag.com.au