ILLINOIS AERIAL APPLICATION EXAMS TEST PAPER
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FIRM A+
✔✔Who should mix and load pesticide for aerial application - ✔✔Ground Crew with
knowledge of aircraft and pesticide safety
✔✔Who should NOT mix and load pesticide for AA - ✔✔Pilot
✔✔PPE requirements by WPS - ✔✔Pilot exceptions- can wear chem resistant gloves
when entering or leaving aircraft (store in enclosed container
✔✔Features of properly designed airstrip - ✔✔fuel and pesticides are kept well apart
and are protected from sun and environmental extremes. locate mixing tanks where
prop blast doesn't blow debris towards them. allow for large circular turnaround around.
Space for plane to face runway while being loaded/minimize sharp turns while fully
loaded. Proper mixing/loading pad that is up to regulations
✔✔Responsibilities of flaggers/ safety considerations - ✔✔Know what chemical is being
applied, always flag furthest downwind and work upwind, avoid flagging near power
lines or fences, watch aircraft at all times, move over when aircraft is lined up for next
pass, advise pilot of potential problems
✔✔What to look for when scouting before an application (air and/or ground) -
✔✔location, size, shape, type of crop/vegetation, proximity to fieldworkers present,
general local weather conditions, proximity to people, proximity to sensitive areas,
proximity to animal operations, safety hazards, limitations (pay extra attention to power
lines)
✔✔label restrictions to follow before application - ✔✔tank mix compatibility and allowed,
that it can be applied by air, buffer area needed, dilution, air temp requirements, time of
day spraying, most restrictive PPE required, first aid/decontamination instructions,
precautions, responsibilities, REI, environmental precautions
✔✔How to determine best flight pattern for a given field - ✔✔account for field slope,
turnaround ability, obstructions (Racetrack vs. back & forth)
✔✔proper airspeed and altitide importance - ✔✔airspeed should be the same as
calibration runs to maintain proper flow. Height typically 8-12 feet. Too low
streaking/uneven app or ground effect causes spray to push back up
✔✔what to do if obstructions are an unreasonable risk - ✔✔have customer treat with
ground rig before aerial application
, ✔✔proper turnaround at the end of each swath - ✔✔turnaround after completely pulling
up and before lining up your next pass, give enough space to safely turn, avoid turning
over sensitive areas or residences
✔✔procedures for applying granules - ✔✔airspeed of 100-120 mph to maintain good
airflow through spreader for even distribution and max swath width, hold flight
parameters consistent, hold wheel height around 40-60' to allow particles to disburse
properly
✔✔precautions for ferrying - ✔✔fly at least 500' while ferrying, deviate 1/8-1/4 mile each
time over same area, avoid flying over animal operations or residences
✔✔overspray - ✔✔direct application beyond boundary of target area
✔✔drift - ✔✔air moves particles outside target area
✔✔WI Drift law - ✔✔drift is negligent, readily visible or moves outside of area and could
cause harm. investigates all complaints
✔✔Wind - ✔✔most important atmospheric factor, account for wind speeds as you apply
upwind, apply when windspeed is low
✔✔Temperature inversion - ✔✔atmospheric condition in which warm air traps cooler air
near the earth's surface, typically cool nights follow high day temp. spray droplets get
trapped in cool air and can move/settle outside of target area. Measure temp near
ground and at a higher altitude or watch dust/smoke in air
✔✔Droplet size - ✔✔most important application factor affecting drift, smaller than 100
microns more risk to drift
✔✔How to account for airflow around aircraft to reduce drift - ✔✔angle nozzles straight
back to prevent airflow from moving droplets/decreasing droplet size
✔✔what affects droplet size - ✔✔operating pressure, nozzle size, formulation, wind
shear
✔✔ Color of extremely fine nozzles (XF) - ✔✔Purple
✔✔Color of very fine nozzles (VF) - ✔✔Red
✔✔Color of fine nozzles (F) - ✔✔Orange
✔✔Color of medium nozzles (M) - ✔✔Yellow
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FIRM A+
✔✔Who should mix and load pesticide for aerial application - ✔✔Ground Crew with
knowledge of aircraft and pesticide safety
✔✔Who should NOT mix and load pesticide for AA - ✔✔Pilot
✔✔PPE requirements by WPS - ✔✔Pilot exceptions- can wear chem resistant gloves
when entering or leaving aircraft (store in enclosed container
✔✔Features of properly designed airstrip - ✔✔fuel and pesticides are kept well apart
and are protected from sun and environmental extremes. locate mixing tanks where
prop blast doesn't blow debris towards them. allow for large circular turnaround around.
Space for plane to face runway while being loaded/minimize sharp turns while fully
loaded. Proper mixing/loading pad that is up to regulations
✔✔Responsibilities of flaggers/ safety considerations - ✔✔Know what chemical is being
applied, always flag furthest downwind and work upwind, avoid flagging near power
lines or fences, watch aircraft at all times, move over when aircraft is lined up for next
pass, advise pilot of potential problems
✔✔What to look for when scouting before an application (air and/or ground) -
✔✔location, size, shape, type of crop/vegetation, proximity to fieldworkers present,
general local weather conditions, proximity to people, proximity to sensitive areas,
proximity to animal operations, safety hazards, limitations (pay extra attention to power
lines)
✔✔label restrictions to follow before application - ✔✔tank mix compatibility and allowed,
that it can be applied by air, buffer area needed, dilution, air temp requirements, time of
day spraying, most restrictive PPE required, first aid/decontamination instructions,
precautions, responsibilities, REI, environmental precautions
✔✔How to determine best flight pattern for a given field - ✔✔account for field slope,
turnaround ability, obstructions (Racetrack vs. back & forth)
✔✔proper airspeed and altitide importance - ✔✔airspeed should be the same as
calibration runs to maintain proper flow. Height typically 8-12 feet. Too low
streaking/uneven app or ground effect causes spray to push back up
✔✔what to do if obstructions are an unreasonable risk - ✔✔have customer treat with
ground rig before aerial application
, ✔✔proper turnaround at the end of each swath - ✔✔turnaround after completely pulling
up and before lining up your next pass, give enough space to safely turn, avoid turning
over sensitive areas or residences
✔✔procedures for applying granules - ✔✔airspeed of 100-120 mph to maintain good
airflow through spreader for even distribution and max swath width, hold flight
parameters consistent, hold wheel height around 40-60' to allow particles to disburse
properly
✔✔precautions for ferrying - ✔✔fly at least 500' while ferrying, deviate 1/8-1/4 mile each
time over same area, avoid flying over animal operations or residences
✔✔overspray - ✔✔direct application beyond boundary of target area
✔✔drift - ✔✔air moves particles outside target area
✔✔WI Drift law - ✔✔drift is negligent, readily visible or moves outside of area and could
cause harm. investigates all complaints
✔✔Wind - ✔✔most important atmospheric factor, account for wind speeds as you apply
upwind, apply when windspeed is low
✔✔Temperature inversion - ✔✔atmospheric condition in which warm air traps cooler air
near the earth's surface, typically cool nights follow high day temp. spray droplets get
trapped in cool air and can move/settle outside of target area. Measure temp near
ground and at a higher altitude or watch dust/smoke in air
✔✔Droplet size - ✔✔most important application factor affecting drift, smaller than 100
microns more risk to drift
✔✔How to account for airflow around aircraft to reduce drift - ✔✔angle nozzles straight
back to prevent airflow from moving droplets/decreasing droplet size
✔✔what affects droplet size - ✔✔operating pressure, nozzle size, formulation, wind
shear
✔✔ Color of extremely fine nozzles (XF) - ✔✔Purple
✔✔Color of very fine nozzles (VF) - ✔✔Red
✔✔Color of fine nozzles (F) - ✔✔Orange
✔✔Color of medium nozzles (M) - ✔✔Yellow
