FRDS Generation II: Next Generation Fire Retardant Delivery System Improves A Proven Performer

The  Air Tractor AT-802F and the Fire Retardant Delivery System (FRDS) have grown up together.  Proven to be a formidable firefighting system since its introduction in 1993, the AT-802F aircraft and the Generation II FRDS are now set to move single engine air tanker firefighting into a new era of improved control, reliability and overall effectiveness.

Air Tractor's new Gen II FRDS: "pilot and maintenance friendly"

The original Air Tractor FRDS represented a leap forward in fire gate control technology for aerial firefighting applications.  With its computerized fire gate technology, air tanker pilots could simply and quickly dial-in coverage level, drop amount and ground speed.  Calculations were then handled by the system's on-board computer, making it possible for the pilot to deliver a consistent and controlled amount of fire retardant to the specified drop zone.

Since its introduction, the Air Tractor FRDS fire gate has earned a reputation in wildland firefighting circles for uniform coverage and system reliability.  But in the past 16 years computer technology has made exponential advances, so the Generation II FRDS fire gate has been updated to allow pilots and operators to take full advantage of those advances.

Says Leland Snow, President of Air Tractor, Inc., “The Air Tractor FRDS has been the most precise and accurate fire gate for single engine air tankers since its introduction with the AT-802F in 1993.  Now it’s been improved with the latest computer technology and self-diagnostics.  It’s the next logical step in the evolution of this computerized fire gate.”

Improved delivery accuracy, improved door speed and new advanced leakage compensation algorithms are among the second generation FRDS enhancements. The  fire gate doors — which open and close with timing that’s measured in milliseconds — are even more responsive.

Numerous reliability enhancements have been designed-in throughout the new Air Tractor FRDS system.  The components have been "hardened" to protect against the effects of vibration and humidity; the  system also has improved waterproofing throughout.  Microprocessor and electro-mechanical back-up systems have been added.  A three-valve redundant auto salvo system assures reliable door opening for accurate drops.

The new FRDS Gen II Pilot Interface Display

Computer processing advances make the FRDS pilot interface more user friendly. An easy-to-read display allows pilots to assess system status at a glance. 

Field service and maintenance has been simplified with a “black box” or cable swap-out program and self-diagnostic and alert message features that indicate possible malfunctions and help isolate problems in the system.

Extra heavy duty hydraulic components are tested to provide reliable performance in harsh operational conditions.

The hydraulic system of the FRDS also reflects numerous reliability improvements.  The new dual-head hydraulic pump is 93% efficient, and powered by a heavy-duty DC motor.  An inlet filter helps prevent contaminants from entering the hydraulic system and extends component life.  The entire hydraulic system has been tested in a controlled environment of over 160° (F) for more than 6,000 flight hours.

The previous FRDS system’s servo valve has been replaced with three identical directional valves, providing three levels of redundancy when opening and closing fire gate doors.  An independent pressure switch (electro-mechanical system) and pressure sensor control the hydraulic pump.

In total, all these improvements work together to make the Generation II FRDS easier for operators to use and even more reliable and simple to maintain.  The minimal initial training that is required for system maintenance further improves the operational economics of the new system.

Since its introduction, ease of use and ease of maintenance have been the hallmark of the Air Tractor FRDS-equipped AT-802A and 802AF.   In 3 to 5 seconds the pilot can dial-in the coverage level, the drop amount, the ground speed and arm the system. With a press of the trigger on the control stick, the computer opens and closes the fire gate doors according to the selected parameters.  For pilots, operators and fire management personnel on the ground, it's a “point and shoot” system that proves its worth with every fire drop.

The first AT-802F aircraft equipped with the Generation II FRDS will be shipped to Avialsa, based near Valencia, Spain to join their fleet of 22 other AT-802F and AT-802AF single engine air tankers.

Harley Curless To Be New Air Tractor Dealer for Midwest

Harley Curless

Long-time Illinois aerial applicator Harley Curless will become the Air Tractor dealer for the Midwest region of the United States in January, 2010. Curless will assume ownership and operations of Farm Air, Inc. when current owner, Bill Taylor, retires at the end of 2009.

Farm Air, located in Fairfield Illinois, is the authorized Air Tractor distributor for Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio. Air Tractor Vice President of Sales Kristin Edwards says Farm Air has been an Air Tractor distributor since 1976. “Bill Taylor has built an excellent dealership. He has been a strong and responsive Air Tractor dealer in this very important region for aerial application,” says Edwards. “We’re pleased that Harley Curless will be stepping into that role. He has a successful aerial application business of his own, he’s a familiar face to operators in the region, and he has been an example and active promoter of best practices for our industry.”

”I’ve got some huge shoes to fill,” says Harley Curless. “Bill Taylor and Leland Snow have been my heroes for a long time. Bill and I have visited about the Farm Air dealership off and on for a couple of years. Bill called me shortly after the first of the year, and said it’s time to get started, so that he can be retired by the beginning of 2010. Our goal is to do things so that customers shouldn’t notice any difference other than the location from where they receive their parts or where they come to pick up their airplane.”

Curless plans to move the Farm Air parts inventory and dealership operations to his main location in Astoria, Illinois. Farm Air’s spraying service will continue to operate from the Fairfield Municipal Airport. Curless is building a new hangar at the Astoria location for the dealership and maintenance facilities and will provide services such as inspections, wing modifications, airframe repairs and maintenance. “There’s really nothing like that in the Midwest for doing heavy air frame maintenance, so we’re really excited about offering those new capabilities,” says Curless.

Bill Taylor

Bill Taylor will continue to be involved in the dealership during 2010, helping with the relocation of operations to the Astoria facility and assisting as needed to assure a smooth transition for Farm Air customers. Harley has been a longtime owner of Air Tractors,” says Taylor “He’s bought a lot of them and has done a good job and run a successful business. Harley is well thought of in the industry. So I hope I can help him, and his son Joe, ease into the dealership business, and am happy to help them in any way.”

“I’ve really enjoyed the last 30 years here working with Leland, Kristin, Kara and all the employees at Air Tractor,” says Taylor. “All I’ve ever done is fly airplanes since 1966 when I was in the Navy. I grew up on a farm and studied agronomy in college, so the two just fell in together with aerial spraying. But there comes a time when you start thinking about what’s best for my company and Air Tractor in the long run. So I started talking with Leland a couple of years ago about a transition so that Farm Air can continue going for another 30 years. I wanted to plan a smooth transition, as well as keep the dealership located in the corn belt.” 

Farm Air sells and supports the complete line of Air Tractor agricultural and firefighting aircraft, ranging from the 400-gallon capacity Air Tractor AT-401 to the wildfire-fighting, 800-gallon AT-802F single engine air tanker.

For more information about Farm Air, contact Bill Taylor at farmair@fairfieldwireless.net or call
(618) 842-7121. Harley Curless can be reached at cfsfly@winco.net or by calling (309) 759-4826.

AT-802F "Fire Boss" SEATs Sold To Croatia

The first three AT-802AF SEATs arrived in March

Two Air Tractor AT-802AF air tankers were sold in August to the Republic of Croatia Defense Ministry by Air Tractor Europe, Valencia Spain.  The two aircraft were delivered to Zadar-Zemunik Airbase on the western coast of Croatia.  The sale follows on the heels of a delivery in March of three AT-802AF aircraft to the Republic of Croatia for the 2008 summer firefighting season.

As with the sale to Croatia in March, the latest AT-802AF aircraft purchase contract included training for pilots, mechanics and engineers provided by Air Tractor Europe.  Delivery of Air Tractor AT-802AF #296 occurred August 1.  AT-802AF “Fire Boss” #290 was delivered August 8.

The aircraft sale included truckloads of tools, spare parts and aircraft maintenance equipment.

The Air Tractor AT-802AF single engine air tanker carries an 800-gallon payload of water, foam or fire retardant and is used extensively around the world for initial attack fire suppression, as well as for heavy tanker and ground crew support.  The rugged construction of the turbo-prop AT-802AF allows it to be staged near wildfires and to take off and land from unpaved landing strips.  Its fast ferrying speed and multi-drop capability in a single load make it a versatile and effective air tanker suitable for a range of fire suppression and support missions. 

According to Croatia’s Minister of Defense Branko Vukelic, the two Air Tractor aircraft were deployed in early September and joined the fleet of three other Air Tractor “Fire Boss” single engine air tankers already being used for patrol flights, training and firefighting sorties along the Croatian Adriatic coastline.

Vicente Huerta, Jr. (right) concludes sales contract with former Croatia Minister of Defense Berislav Roncevic (left).

Hugo Arceo, of Air Tractor Europe, has worked closely with the Croatian Air Force firefighting task force since the aircraft arrived in Croatia.  He says that during the fire fighting season, the number of drops per hour with the AT-802AF has been the highest he has seen, with a rate of drops of about 2-3 minutes per drop. This translates into between 20 and 30 drops per hour of flight, with a total number of around 20,000 gallons delivered per hour of flight.  According to Arceo, this has been the most gruelling test of the amphibious 802s that he has witnessed.

Says Arceo, “Even though the AT-802AF is not new to the Croatian Air Force, the amphibious “Fire Boss” model is new for them.”  And because of the planes’ reliability, almost no AOGs have occurred.”  Arceo adds, “The reliability of the plane, together with our training for the Croatian Air Force mechanics and the presence of our own mechanic at the fire base resulted in having the planes in flight a huge percentage of the time.”

Each AT-802AF has seen more than 200 hours of flight time since their delivery, says Arceo.   “The Croatian pilots, mechanics and Ministry of Defense are really happy with these planes because of their high efficiency and easiness for maintenance.”

Vicente Huerta, Jr., President of Air Tractor Europe reports Defense Minister Vukelic also expressed interest in purchasing a dual cockpit AT-802F in time for the 2009 firefighting season.  “Our delivery and service for the first three aircraft made the sale of these two additional aircraft much easier,” noted Huerta.  “This time, we were able to deliver #296 earlier than expected and our training staff, tech support, ferry man and the entire sales support team did a perfect job.”

During the signing of the second sales contract, Minister of Defense Branko Vukelic commented that “never before was response so fast as that from Air Tractor Europe on delivery of the new aircraft.”  Vukelic said that the exceptional delivery support of the three AT-802AF delivered in July prompted him to reallocate funds earmarked for leasing Canadair CL 415 water bombers to the purchase the two new AT-802AF air tankers.  Vicente Huerta, also at the contract signing, says that Vukelic expressed interest in purchasing a dual cockpit AT-802 to be delivered in time to be operational for the 2009 wildfire season.

During an August 12th tour of the Croatian Air Force firefighting task force at Zemunik Airbase, Minister of Defense Vukelic expressed his satisfaction with the firefighting efforts during the 2008 summer wildfire season.  “Today we have two new Air Tractors joining the squadron, of which their acquisition was agreed only fifteen days ago.  This is a major accomplishment and demonstrates how much progress we have achieved since 2007.  During this year’s fire season, some 20 aircraft were used for wildfire suppression missions with exceptional effectiveness.  We are now well-equipped to respond to wildfires.  In 2009 two additional aircraft will join the fleet, bringing the total number of aircraft dedicated to aerial fire suppression to 22.”

At the same event, Operational Fire-Fighting Command Brigadier General Zvonko Peternel also reported that since the beginning of the 2008 firefighting season, Croatia’s aerial firefighting assets were deployed to 61 wildfires along the Adriatic coastline, flying 5,497 sorties.  Pilots flew a combined 833 hours and dropped more than 23,000 tons of water and fire retardant.

At the end of the fire season, both AT-802AF aircraft are returning to Spain for installation of additional avionics, special equipment and amphibious floats for #296, according to Hugo Arceo.  The aircraft will return to service in Croatia in time for the 2009 wildfire season. 

The 300th Air Tractor AT-802 Ready To Take Flight

 
AT-802 Serial No. 300

Just three years after the delivery of its 200th AT-802, the 300th Air Tractor AT-802 has rolled off the assembly line at the Air Tractor manufacturing facility beside Olney Municipal Airport.  The two-seat, amphibious, float-ready AT-802 will soon be transported across the Pacific Ocean to Ballidu, Western Australia for its new owner, Dunn Aviation.  It will be the fourth AT-802 to be added to that company’s aerial application and firefighting fleet.

“This is a another important milestone for Air Tractor, and one we are quite proud of,” says Leland Snow, president of Air Tractor, Inc. “It further demonstrates the major role that the AT-802 has come to play in aerial application and initial attack aerial firefighting operations all over the world in a very short period of time. We are very pleased that Dunn Aviation has given Air Tractor another vote of confidence by adding AT-802 Serial #300 to the Air Tractors already in their fleet”. 

Dunn Aviation Australia, established in 1986 and based in Ballidu, Australia, provides agricultural application services as well as offering emergency response services for aerial fire suppression.

Dunn Aviation Australia

Says Neville Dunn, owner and managing director, “With the Air Tractor AT-802's, AT-602's and other aircraft in our fleet, Dunn Aviation can provide a “one-stop shop” for all aerial agricultural and emergency services needs in Western Australia. Our company policy is to operate new equipment and maintain an unblemished dependability record. When it comes to dependability, the AT-802 is unmatched in our experience."

The AT-802/802A is the world's largest single engine aerial application aircraft, and its popularity reflects the industry's trend to larger, high-production turbine equipment. With a payload of 9,500 lbs, the AT-802 provides more working capacity than any other single-engine ag plane flying today.

“In 2002 Dunn Aviation put into operation its first AT-802 for aerial firefighting in Western Australia, and we are extremely pleased with its performance since then,” says Dunn.  “Our reputation has been built on our company's ability to offer a rapid response to our client's needs, whether they require ag spraying or aerial firefighting. In both areas the AT-802 has been a reliable and cost-efficient aircraft for us.” 

The 800-gallon capacity AT-802 can operate from small airports for quick ferry time and fuel economy, allowing operators like Dunn Aviation to establish multiple smaller bases to better provide fast, effective initial attack on small fires as well as for extended attack in support of ground crews.

During the Australian summer months Dunn Aviation aircraft are on standby 12 hours-a-day and can be airborne in between 5 and 15 minutes.  The company maintains four operations bases - around 80 miles apart - with two aircraft stationed at each base.

“Compared with other aircraft types”, says Dunn, “the low hourly cost of operation of the Air Tractors allows fire agencies to keep aircraft circling overhead during the latter stages of the fire, thus allowing any hop-overs or flare-ups to be quickly attacked and extinguished.”

All Dunn Aviation's Air Tractor aircraft operate on fires during summer months then switch roles to dry land wheat work during the Australian winter with several 802s being relocated to Europe each year for fire fighting duties.

“Along with the Air Tractor company, we at Dunn Aviation are honored to take delivery of the 300th AT-802,” said Dunn.  “It represents a milestone for both companies. And, hopefully, it will soon be time for us to begin talking with Air Tractor about AT-802 Serial #400.”

AT-802 Serial No. 300 assembly team

The first three AT-802AF SEATs arrived in March

Two Air Tractor AT-802AF air tankers were sold in August to the Republic of Croatia Defense Ministry by Air Tractor Europe, Valencia Spain.  The two aircraft were delivered to Zadar-Zemunik Airbase on the western coast of Croatia.  The sale follows on the heels of a delivery in March of three AT-802AF aircraft to the Republic of Croatia for the 2008 summer firefighting season.

As with the sale to Croatia in March, the latest AT-802AF aircraft purchase contract included training for pilots, mechanics and engineers provided by Air Tractor Europe.  Delivery of Air Tractor AT-802AF #296 occurred August 1.  AT-802AF “Fire Boss” #290 was delivered August 8.

The aircraft sale included truckloads of tools, spare parts and aircraft maintenance equipment.

The Air Tractor AT-802AF single engine air tanker carries an 800-gallon payload of water, foam or fire retardant and is used extensively around the world for initial attack fire suppression, as well as for heavy tanker and ground crew support.  The rugged construction of the turbo-prop AT-802AF allows it to be staged near wildfires and to take off and land from unpaved landing strips.  Its fast ferrying speed and multi-drop capability in a single load make it a versatile and effective air tanker suitable for a range of fire suppression and support missions. 

According to Croatia’s Minister of Defense Branko Vukelic, the two Air Tractor aircraft were deployed in early September and joined the fleet of three other Air Tractor “Fire Boss” single engine air tankers already being used for patrol flights, training and firefighting sorties along the Croatian Adriatic coastline.

Vicente Huerta, Jr. (right) concludes sales contract with former Croatia Minister of Defense Berislav Roncevic (left).

Hugo Arceo, of Air Tractor Europe, has worked closely with the Croatian Air Force firefighting task force since the aircraft arrived in Croatia.  He says that during the fire fighting season, the number of drops per hour with the AT-802AF has been the highest he has seen, with a rate of drops of about 2-3 minutes per drop. This translates into between 20 and 30 drops per hour of flight, with a total number of around 20,000 gallons delivered per hour of flight.  According to Arceo, this has been the most gruelling test of the amphibious 802s that he has witnessed.

Says Arceo, “Even though the AT-802AF is not new to the Croatian Air Force, the amphibious “Fire Boss” model is new for them.”  And because of the planes’ reliability, almost no AOGs have occurred.”  Arceo adds, “The reliability of the plane, together with our training for the Croatian Air Force mechanics and the presence of our own mechanic at the fire base resulted in having the planes in flight a huge percentage of the time.”

Each AT-802AF has seen more than 200 hours of flight time since their delivery, says Arceo.   “The Croatian pilots, mechanics and Ministry of Defense are really happy with these planes because of their high efficiency and easiness for maintenance.”

Vicente Huerta, Jr., President of Air Tractor Europe reports Defense Minister Vukelic also expressed interest in purchasing a dual cockpit AT-802F in time for the 2009 firefighting season.  “Our delivery and service for the first three aircraft made the sale of these two additional aircraft much easier,” noted Huerta.  “This time, we were able to deliver #296 earlier than expected and our training staff, tech support, ferry man and the entire sales support team did a perfect job.”

During the signing of the second sales contract, Minister of Defense Branko Vukelic commented that “never before was response so fast as that from Air Tractor Europe on delivery of the new aircraft.”  Vukelic said that the exceptional delivery support of the three AT-802AF delivered in July prompted him to reallocate funds earmarked for leasing Canadair CL 415 water bombers to the purchase the two new AT-802AF air tankers.  Vicente Huerta, also at the contract signing, says that Vukelic expressed interest in purchasing a dual cockpit AT-802 to be delivered in time to be operational for the 2009 wildfire season.

During an August 12th tour of the Croatian Air Force firefighting task force at Zemunik Airbase, Minister of Defense Vukelic expressed his satisfaction with the firefighting efforts during the 2008 summer wildfire season.  “Today we have two new Air Tractors joining the squadron, of which their acquisition was agreed only fifteen days ago.  This is a major accomplishment and demonstrates how much progress we have achieved since 2007.  During this year’s fire season, some 20 aircraft were used for wildfire suppression missions with exceptional effectiveness.  We are now well-equipped to respond to wildfires.  In 2009 two additional aircraft will join the fleet, bringing the total number of aircraft dedicated to aerial fire suppression to 22.”

At the same event, Operational Fire-Fighting Command Brigadier General Zvonko Peternel also reported that since the beginning of the 2008 firefighting season, Croatia’s aerial firefighting assets were deployed to 61 wildfires along the Adriatic coastline, flying 5,497 sorties.  Pilots flew a combined 833 hours and dropped more than 23,000 tons of water and fire retardant.

At the end of the fire season, both AT-802AF aircraft are returning to Spain for installation of additional avionics, special equipment and amphibious floats for #296, according to Hugo Arceo.  The aircraft will return to service in Croatia in time for the 2009 wildfire season. 

Celebration Honors 50-Year Career Of

Ag Aviation Pioneer Leland Snow

Olney, TX , April 5, 2008 – The 50-year aviation career of Leland Snow, the man many call “the father of the modern crop dusting aircraft”, or aerial application aircraft, was celebrated Saturday by Air Tractor employees, dealers, vendors, Olney residents and elected dignitaries in a day of festivities hosted at the company's Olney, Texas manufacturing facility. The occasion honored not just the man, his career and innovations, but also the many people who, through the years, helped Leland Snow make his vision, literally, take flight.

Beginning at 1:00 p.m., an aerobatic demonstration held celebration guests looking skyward as top aerobatic aircraft pilots performed thrilling aerial maneuvers.

At 2:30 p.m. an open house and tour of the Air Tractor manufacturing facilities offered guests a glimpse of the processes involved in building the world's most advanced agricultural aircraft.

A presentation ceremony followed at 4:30 p.m. providing attendees a brief look back at the history of Air Tractor and the role that Snow's many innovations and accomplishments played in the development of modern aerial application aircraft.

In addition to honoring Leland Snow, two Air Tractor manufacturing buildings were renamed and dedicated in memory of long-time Air Tractor employees Jim Schmidt and Sam Cooke. A dinner for around 700 guests, followed by a dance and spectacular fireworks display concluded the day of festivities.

A History of Innovation

Leland Snow began designing his first ag airplane, the S-1, in 1951. The 23-year old Snow completed test flights with the S-1 in 1953. Snow’s S-1 flew dusting and spraying jobs in the Texas Rio Grande Valley and in Nicaragua until 1957. He followed-up the S-1 with the models S-2A and S-2B, which were built when Snow moved to production facilities in Olney, Texas in 1958.

In 1965, Snow sold his company to Rockwell-Standard and was appointed a Vice President of the Aero Commander division. During this time, the Model S-2R was developed and named the Thrush. The first 100 Thrush aircraft were built at the Olney Division before the plant was closed and Thrush production moved to Georgia in 1970. More than 500 aircraft were produced under Snow Aeronautical Corporation and Rockwell-Standard in Olney.

Snow resigned from Rockwell and devoted the next two years designing the Air Tractor. Construction began in 1972 on the AT-300, which later became the AT-301. Air Tractor’s first turbine model, the AT-302, was introduced in 1977.

In 1997, the 2,000th Snow-designed, Olney-built aircraft rolled out the factory doors, and the company hosted a 40th Anniversary celebration in March of 1998. In 2002, the first of many highly-modified and armored AT-802s was delivered to the United States Department of State for use in narcotic crop eradication in Colombia. In 2004 the 2000th Air Tractor, an AT-502B, was delivered to a Nebraska operator.

Today, Air Tractor produces a line of aircraft that includes 400, 500, 600 and 800-gallon capacity planes powered by Pratt & Whitney piston or turbine engines. They are used for agricultural purposes, fire fighting, narcotic crop eradication, fuel-hauling, fighting locust plagues, and cleaning up oil spills in coastal waters. Air Tractor aircraft are found working not only across the United States, but around the globe, in Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, North and South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Croatia, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

Get 50th Anniversary Commemorative Souvenirs Here!

Chuck Holzwarth Flying Service

Chuck Holzwarth
Virden, Illinois

Chuck Holzwarth

AT: How did you get your start in aerial application?

Holzwarth: I was born and raised on a farm, so I grew up with a love for agriculture  But it was not until the late 1980s when I started taking flying lessons.  I learned to fly at a local rural airport that had an aerial application business in operation.  So, I got to know the pilots and once I started flying with them, I was hooked.  My first spray plane was 180 hp Pawnee.  Later, I flew a variety of airplanes, including a Cessna, Ag Truck, a Snow S2-C and an Air Tractor AT-301 and AT-401.

AT: What is your operation like today?

Holzwarth: We currently use all turbine-powered Air Tractors to do all of our work throughout the season.  In addition to myself, there are three other pilots that help me handle the workload, and more pilots come from all over the U.S. to lend a hand when times get very busy.  Chuck Holzwarth Flying Service started out as a family business.  My wife Linda has always managed the office, while my sons Dustin and Brett handle most of the ground operations.  With every year that we grow, our crew must also grow, so we have many other helpful hands that make our operation function when times are busy.

AT: What about precision application?

Holzwarth: GPS technology has provided us with the capability of applying chemical in a more precise way than ever before.  Through various data recording equipment and mapping technology, we can now print out “as applied” maps that show fields that we have sprayed.  Our customers can be confident that they are being provided with a quality, professional service because they can actually see how accurately the chemical has been applied to their fields.

AT: What kind of crops do you spray?

Holzwarth: In Central Illinois, the main crop is corn.  But, we also spray a variety of other crops like green beans, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa.  The early portion of our season starts in April with wheat and alfalfa spraying.  Then, by the end of June when pollination starts, we get very busy with orders for corn and soybeans.  Then our season usually comes to a close in late September with seeding work

AT: What are things like at the height of your season?

Holzwarth: For the last three years we’ve had anywhere from eight to ten airplanes flying out of our two locations.  We commission other operators and pilots to keep everything moving during those very intense three or four weeks at the pinnacle of our season. 

Left to right: Pilots Rick Calhoun, Brandon Flexsenhar, Roger Bock and Chuck Holzwarth

AT: What do your clients expect from an aerial applicator?

Holzwarth: Clients’ expectations are getting more sophisticated every year.  Technology has become crucial to the livelihood of our business.  Now we have invested in technology that has allowed us to provide our clients with detailed mapping of each application that we have completed.  Our clients seem to respond positively to the various programs we use for our airplanes, our spray orders, and our billing process.  We continually work to educate our clients on how the aerial application business works.

AT: Why do you fly Air Tractors?

Holzwarth: Before investing in Air Tractors, I flew a variety of other spray planes, but none of them measured up tot the quality and reliability of an Air Tractor.  If I ever do run into a problem with one of my airplanes, I know I will be able to count on the service representatives from Air Tractor for a solution.  Sometimes you cannot put a price on a peace of mind, especially when you are self-employed.  Despite all of this, however, Air Tractors are really a lot of fun to fly.  They are very efficient airplanes that can do a great amount of work in a short amount of time.

AT: Maintenance on these Air Tractors?  How is it?

Holzwarth: In comparison to some of the other spray planes I have owned, the Air Tractors are very easy to care for.  We perform routine maintenance throughout the year.  In the winter months we do our annual inspections and any other maintenance issues that are required.

AT: How have things changed since you started in this business?

Holzwarth: Our first spray plane was a 180-HP Pawnee costing $16,000.  Today, spray planes cost up to $1 million.  Then, people or auto flaggers were used to mark the spray pattern.  Now, we use high-tech GPS guidance systems with flow controllers on board the airplane.  The office work has gone from all hand-written work orders and making copies of plats for the spray job to all of our work done on computers.  Each year we deal with the urban sprawl -- non-agricultural people moving into the country in the middle of production agriculture.  In the early 90s, this was a six months a year business.  Today we are busy year-round preparing for our next spray season.  We work on pricing dealing with chemicals, customer meetings, aircraft maintenance and working on our office system for a smoother season.  We learn from the previous season.  We make changes and move on to the next season. 

“The ‘Fire Boss’ has been used extensively for firefighting in Canada and Europe, but this was its first operational mission in the United States,” said Sheldon Mack, DNR Aviation Supervisor. “We have the ability to use the Fire Boss both on its own and in conjunction with our CL215 water scoopers. It will give us another tool in our aviation toolbox,” says Mack.

The Fire Boss is an initial attack fire suppression aircraft that is capable of scooping up to 800 gallons of water from lakes and rivers near the fire. Wipaire, Inc. of St. Paul, Minnesota designed and manufactures the floats that transform the Air Tractor AT-802F single engine air tanker into an amphibious fire-fighting scooper aircraft. According to Mark Mathisen of Fire Boss LLC, “This aircraft delivers cycle times and gallons per hour quantities far exceeding other aircraft at a fraction of the cost, both in acquisition and operating expense.” Operating from fire bases or from nearby lakes and rivers, the Fire Boss represents a new approach to the initial attack phase of spotting and stopping fires at their early stages. Its fast response capability, 150 mph ferry speed and low altitude maneuverability make it well suited for fighting wildland/urban interface fires, as well.

“The Fire Boss lends itself very well to hit the fire early and get it out before it gets big,” said Bob Wiplinger, President of Wipaire, Inc. He notes that following the destructive 2006 fire season in northern Minnesota, the DNR was ready to try the Fire Boss for the 2007 season. He reports that the Fire Boss is performing well. “Right now, the Fire Boss is getting to the fires before the CL-215s. It’s carrying a load of water right to the fire on its first load from the airport. The Fire Boss operates for about 1/30^th of the cost of a CL-215 and carries more than half of the water of those aircraft. Obviously, we think the Fire Boss is a smart addition to the DNR aerial firefighting fleet.”

On its first fire mission near Aitkin, Minnesota, the Fire Boss was called on scene after the fire had grown to 335 acres and had jumped initial fire lines. According to the Aitkin fire incident commander Brian Pisarek, the aircraft used a payload between 500 and 600 gallons and dropped with good accuracy. The nearest water source was approximately eight miles from the fire, and the Fire Boss loaded and returned to the drop zone within 10-15 minutes. In total, the Fire Boss dropped seven loads of water before being released from the fire.

“We’re happy to see the AT-802F Fire Boss working in the United States this year,” said Kristin Edwards, Air Tractor’s Vice-President, Sales. “They are being used extensively in Spain and Canada. The amphibious floats add another level of versatility to an already great fire fighting tool.”

Curless Flying Service

Harley Curless
Astoria, Illinois

AT:  Tell how you got into the business.

Curless:  I was born and raised in a coal mining family and got interested in back in the Cessna days, when Cessna had a $10 demo flight. I scraped up ten dollars and took a flight. That would have been in 1975. I started Curless Flying Service officially in 1978. I started with a Pawnee, and was basically self-taught.

AT:  Describe your operation.

Curless:  Like I said, when we started in 1978 we had a Pawnee. From there we went to an Ag Truck and an Ag Cat. We flew those aircraft until 1983. That year we had a pretty good season and we bought a new AT-301. That was our first exposure to the Air Tractor. Our Air Tractor dealer, Bill Taylor, had invited me down to Fairfield in the spring of 1982 to take a demo flight in the AT-301. I was overwhelmed and impressed with the AT301 and how it flew and performed.

I use the term "we," as my wife Kay is a very important part of our business, doing booking and billing, along with raising three children.  And my son Joe works full time on the management side of the business, handling the day-to-day logistics, mapping, work orders and planning the day.

So in 1983 we bought a new AT-301. Since then, we’ve operated several different models of Air Tractors. We currently operate three AT-802s. They are identically equipped with Satloc GPS, night working lights and AC. We’ve got radio packages in ours. We do work in and out of some controlled airport areas, so we have com radios and transponders in them.

A couple of years ago, our lead pilot and Authorized Inspector, Don Haley, installed a cellular set in the airplanes. To be quite honest, I was reluctant at the time, thinking the cell set was going to be a distraction, and would perhaps cause more problems that it was worth. I was completely wrong, though. It’s made us more efficient. Many times it has saved us from spraying the wrong field. We could actually call into our office or call the grower to confirm the field. The cell set has more than paid for itself, and isn’t a distraction in the airplane.

AT: Tell us about your busy season...

Curless:  Our season begins around Easter weekend. We’re usually ready by the 10^th of April.
 
We’re part of a contract that’s held by Rick Reed here in Illinois. We go to Michigan and do mosquito work up there. Our season goes from early April until the end of October. The peak of the season comes from mid-May through mid-to-late August. During that time, we will treat a number of crops, including potatoes, seed corn, sweet corn and green beans. We are fortunate enough to live in a geography that has a lot of irrigated ground with a lot of specialty crops. This area is actually called the Imperial Valley of the Midwest. A lot of crops are grown just a few miles from us that we service every day. There are four operators that service this area, and we are one of the four.

AT: What aircraft do you operate?

Curless:  We currently operate three AT-802s and a 1964 model Pawnee. I’m the third owner of it. It came new into our local countryside here and the operator that originally bought it retired. Then another gentleman bought it and had it completely restored and flew it a few years himself and then sold it to us. So it’s been right here in central Illinois. It’s our seeding airplane. We call it our jet. It’s a lot of fun to fly. It really takes you back to basics. It’s amazing what the Pawnee can teach us and remind us how flying used to be.

Over the years we’ve operated everything from Ag Trucks – we’ve had a couple of them. We’ve had two or three models of Ag Cats. We operated three models of Thrushes over the years. And we continue to come right back to the Air Tractor. We operated the Air Tractor along side of the Thrushes back in the mid-90s and we’re just absolutely committed to the Air Tractor. We just think they are the best thing going.

The Air Tractor is an absolute joy fly all day long. It seems like everything has been thought of, especially safety. Leland and his staff have always been open minded to hear comments – both pro and con. Of course, none of us like negative comments, but Leland Snow has always accepted those, and it’s been really interesting to watch the airplane change and grow over the years to where we’re at now. The Snow family has given the world and firefighting industry the tools to allow us to do our jobs safely and efficiently.

I’ve toured the Air Tractor manufacturing facility in Olney, Texas. It is quite a place. We’ve always been welcomed with wide-open arms. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking to the person putting the seat cover on the seat, or the guy wiring the radios up, or the guy building the wings, they’re always anxious and willing to stop and talk to you about the product. You can tell there’s a sense of pride in everyone there at Air Tractor, and they want a good quality product. And that attitude had to come from one source: Leland Snow. I’m proud to be an operator in the United States that’s able to stay in business in today’s world and get to operate the Air Tractor.

AT: What kind of GPS system is in use?

Curless:  We chose Satloc back in the early 1990s, when they first came out. There were several companies in the market at the time. We wanted our operation to be diversified and have options. We looked at all of the GPS options back then and chose the Satloc. We were, to my understanding, the first operator in the state of Illinois to buy a Satloc. At that time, about 1991 or ‘92, we sent our pilot to a 3-day Satloc school. Reception in those days wasn’t very good and there were some growing pains.

Someone asked me just recently, if something were to malfunction on the airplane, and we were unable to finish the day, what would be the one item that would prevent us from finishing? I told him that if the Satloc quits, we’re done. We’re going home to get it fixed. We wouldn’t continue on without it. It is that important to our workday.

We have the Satloc touchscreens in all the 802s. Which means we have the screen positioned on the instrument panel right in our line of sight. That way, we’re not moving our eyes from outside to inside. So we can actually see the field being painted on the screen itself. So we know we’ve done a quality job when we’ve left that field. And, we have the capability of logging everything that we’ve accomplished while we are ferrying and while we’re spraying the field. Quite often, Satloc has allowed us the opportunity to answer questions from growers about our spraying. We can go back and pull up that log and verify our work.

AT:  What made you move from your previous aircraft to the large, 800-gallon AT-802? How have you seen an effect on your operation with the 802s?

Curless:  The move was purely economics. Our customers were continually asking for higher volumes of application. At one time we had three AT-502s and two AT-402s, and we leased another plane – which made 6 aircraft for one season. I was managing 5 different operations, with a crew for each aircraft. We were making multiple, multiple trips with our 400- and 500-gallon airplanes to do our high volume 5-gallon/acre work. Obviously, with an AT-502, we could do 100 acres per load. With the AT-802, we’re almost doubling that load capacity with one aircraft. So now I have fewer people to manage, fewer aircraft to maintain, fewer everything. The bottom line to it is: it is more profitable for me to have only three airplanes vs. the five or six that I had before.

AT:  How is the AT-802 to fly? What’s it like?

Curless:  The 402, 502 and the 602 – I’ve flown them all – they are extremely light on the controls.The 802 is a completely different airplane to fly than the 502. That's not to say the 802 is not light on the controls, but it takes just a little more physical effort to fly the 802 than it does the 402. However, the 802 performs very comparable to the AT-402. It’s an airplane that when you roll out at the end of the runway… and in our case we have 380 gallons of fuel in the wings, we have 800 gallons in the hopper, we have a full rinse tank and a dinner bucket that’s underneath the seat… so we’re loaded as loaded as we can get. And when you add power to go down the runway, you can actually feel the acceleration. It doesn’t slam you into the seat, but it pushes you back in the seat. We have the performance that we need in our industry.

And that’s not even talking about the reliability of the AT-802. That’s another reason we chose Air Tractor. We can count on it every single day. We do our basic maintenance throughout the season and we do an annual in the winter. And we can plan on working every day. We have no maintenance problems, by in large, through the growing season. That reliability translates into better service for our customers. They can count on us. The 802’s capacity was another big thing for us, because our customers wanted the 5-gallon work, so we’ve been able to provide it to them.

AT: What role does your Air Tractor dealer play?

Curless:  As I mentioned, I bought my first AT-301 from Bill Taylor, Farm Air, in Fairfield, Illinois, in 1983. He has been a major consideration when we get ready to buy an airplane. Bill is the type of individual who covers every single question – whether you bought the airplane from him or not. He’s always got a good supply of new and used airplanes – or knows where to get a used airplane. He knows the lead time required for ordering a new plane. Bill covers all the service items that you would expect. We can call him at home, in the middle of the night, on the weekends – he’s always there to provide the answers to us or take care of our service needs.

If we travel away from here on a contract, we can use other Air Tractor dealers to pick up parts. And we have bought other aircraft from other dealers. If Bill couldn’t get a plane for us, he would encourage us to go get it from another AT dealer. That’s the kind of person that Bill is. The last 802 we bought was purchased from Chuck Kemper through Queen Bee Air Service in Idaho. And Bill encouraged us to get the plane from Chuck, because he couldn’t provide us the plane when we needed it. Since then, we've purchased our third AT-802 from Bill Taylor.

AT: What do clients expect from you?

Curless:  Our farmer contact is very minimal. The bulk of our work is contract work. We primarily work through a fertilizer plant. The farmer will come to the fertilizer rep and place their order with him. The fertilizer plant then places the order with us. Our service to them has grown over the years. They know they can place an order with us and rely on us to deliver the order when we say we’re going to do it.

We operate within an irrigated area, which is serviced by canners, seed corn, popcorn and vegetable-type work. We are one of the four operators that serve this area, and the work is contracted ahead of time.

It’ll take us on the order of an 1-1/2 to 2 hours to perform all the tasks to get a load ready, from the time the phone rings, until the airplane is on the field. When we hit the ground, Don Haley, Randy Taylor and I (the pilots) virtually do nothing. That’s our four minutes of rest before we take off with the next load and are gone for another 1 to 2 hours. The ground crew does everything from checking the booms, to putting the product in the airplane, putting the correct amount of fuel in, wiping the windshield, and any little thing that we need done. They completely wait on us while we’re on the ground. It’s an orchestrated activity, with each person here playing a vital part to make it work. Each of us complements the next.

AT:  What does it take to be a successful operator?

Curless:  The challenge is giving up the summer. Giving up an evening with friends to have a barbeque.  Working the holidays.  Our crew is so committed to this business that we know, going in, that we don't plan a July 4th picnic.  We don't get to go away for the Labor Day weekend.  It's that kind of committment that's needed to be successful in today's business.  And it takes the right equipment. In my mind, Air Tractor is the right equipment.  The parts are always there.  You have good support behind the Air Tractor.

AT:  What have you done to stay on the leading edge?

Curless:  We were the first operation in Illinois to have the Satloc. We did that in the early 90s, as well as our containment facility. We have and operate serial number 1, the first containment facility approved by the Illinois EPA and Illinois Department of Agriculture for aircraft. It was a lot of red tape. It was about a year’s time to get everything processed and going. That containment facility is still operating today, exactly like it was back in 1991, which was in service ahead of the government’s required compliance date.

AT: Talk about ground rigs vs. aerial application

Curless:  One of the questions we get is: How can a ground operator apply product at 20 gallons per acre and an aerial applicator get the same results with only 5 gallons per acre? Well, it’s because of the amount of droplets per square inch. If you could drive your Spray Coupe at 160 mph, you wouldn’t need to put it on at 20 gallons per acre. Because the Air Tractor has a good deposition, it has good penetration across the field. So we’re able to put it on at 5 gallons per acre and get extremely good coverage, and happy customers. We do a good jobs good on coverage, leaving no tracks and no soil compaction.

AT: What is the maintenance like for Air Tractors?

Curless:  So many things that you buy are set up so that you can't work on it -- like with cars these days.  You have to take your car someplace and pay a mechanic to fix it for a tremendous fee.  Air Tractor has allowed us to have the capability to maintain our aircraft ourselves.  You can see that idea of self-maintenance was designed into the aircraft from the very beginning.  That's a key thing for us, because it keeps our costs down, which helps keep us in business.

Kristin Edwards, Air Tractor’s Vice-President, Sales said, “We recognize that Brazil is a very large country with a growing agricultural economy. With such a large market, we believe that it is beneficial to have more than one dealer assigned to the territory. Frost and Lane have excellent track records of sales and customer service in the United States, and we’re excited to add AGSUR AVIONES to the Air Tractor team, as they are conveniently located in Argentina.” She continued, “We think the Brazilian aerial applicators will have excellent service from any of these three dealers.”

AGSUR AVIONES’ headquarters for sales and service is in the city of Pergamino, located about 200 km northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina. From this location, the company will offer the full line of Air Tractor agricultural aircraft, as well as the AT-802F single engine air tanker for aerial firefighting. The Pergamino FBO has a full-time administrative staff and also has a shop dedicated to Air Tractor maintenance and repair with factory-trained technicians. AGSUR AVIONES is certified to provide a wide range of airframe and engine maintenance and repair, including PT6 hot section inspection. The Pergamino headquarters and the organization’s satellite facilities have an inventory of Air Tractor parts to support operators in Argentina and Brazil. In Brazil, AGSUR AVIONES will provide Air Tractor sales and support through a network of allied representatives and service providers.

Alejandro Moreno, General Manager of AGSUR said, “We are happy to be Air Tractor’s newest dealer. We are dedicated to offering aerial applicators in our area the best equipment, service and latest technology to help Brazil’s ag operators maintain peak performance, safety and efficiency."

John Mishler of Crosslands International will be assisting AGSUR AVIONES with Air Tractor sales, marketing and support to customers in Brazil. Mishler has more than 13 years of experience in the South American market, and is well known by customers in the region. Mishler is based in Arlington, Texas and travels frequently to South America.

Frost Flying is a full-line, full-service Air Tractor dealer serving customers in the U.S. and in Central and South America from the company’s headquarters in Marianna, Arkansas. As one of Air Tractor’s leading dealerships, Frost Flying has an extensive Air Tractor parts department, along with a complete Air Tractor maintenance facility with the ability to provide a range of Air Tractor factory-authorized maintenance and repair services, including annual inspections, hot section inspections, wing spar cap replacement, as well as Del Norte and Wingman installations.

Owner Jack Frost said, “Since our beginnings as an aerial application operator in 1972, Frost Flying has always been a service-oriented company, where customer satisfaction is the number one priority. We’re excited about this opportunity to serve aerial applicators in Brazil.”

Grant Lane, owner and president of Lane Aviation has developed many long-standing customers in the southern hemisphere and continues supporting them with new aircraft and Air Tractor parts and service. Lane Aviation has made a significant commitment to become a one-call Air Tractor parts source, with a responsive shipping staff and a computerized parts inventory. Responding to the demanding schedules of today’s ag operators, Lane Aviation’s parts staff quickly fills orders and provides the right parts when they are needed. Lane Aviation also sells, installs and supports a range of aerial application accessories, including GPS positioning technology, flow monitors, pumps, valves and spreaders.

Full-time Air Tractor service technicians and an aircraft inspector at Lane Aviation handle every kind of aircraft maintenance and repair service for Lane Aviation customers, from routine inspections and periodic airframe maintenance to major engine repairs and exchanges.

Said Lane, “We’re pleased to be the Air Tractor dealer for many of the leading aerial applicators in North, Central and South America. Our customers tell us that they like working with us because we respond to their needs quickly and help them find better ways to be more profitable and productive.”

More information about Lane Aviation is available at its website: www.laneaviation.com. Contact Grant Lane at +1 281 342 5451 or send e-mail to: glane@laneav.com.

To contact Frost Flying, telephone Jack Frost at +1 870 295 6213, or send an e-mail to jrfrost47@hotmail.com. On the Internet, go to www.frostflying.com.

To learn more about AGSUR AVIONES, S.A., contact Alejandro Moreno at
+54 2477 432090, or send e-mail to amoreno@waycomnet.com.ar. In the United States, contact John Mishler at +1 817 492 0336, or send e-mail to john@crosslandsinternational.com. The company’s website address is: www.agsuraviones.com.ar

In business since 1974, Air Tractor, Inc. manufactures more aircraft for the agricultural aviation industry than any other company in the world at its production facilities in Olney, Texas. For more information about Air Tractor aircraft, contact Air Tractor, Inc. at +1 940 564 5616. Additional information can also be found at the Air Tractor website: www.airtractor.com.