Aerial application

This chapter discusses aerial application of pesticides. Aerial application is conducted over forests and large areas of crops that need to be treated rapidly and access is difficult for ground equipment, such as irrigated fields and areas invaded by locusts. Fixed and rotary-wing aircrafts are used for applying pesticides; remote controlled helicopters have been used commercially in Japan. The chapter talks about spray gear for aerial application such as spray tanks, spray booms, and spray nozzles. Pesticides formulated as dry materials such as dusts should not be applied from aircraft owing to the high drift loss potential, although some fertilisers are aerially applied. Other aspects of aerial applications namely, flight planning, airstrips, aircraft operations, and aircraft regulations are also discussed.