Navigation Systems for Agricultural Flying

Extract

Agricultural flying is a highly competitive business in which the rate for the job appears to be continually dropping as more and more operators enter the field. In this environment, every piece of extra equipment must earn its keep either in terms of improved efficiency or improved safety and, as a result, the adoption of such things as modern navigational systems has lagged behind that in general aviation practice.

What then can a suitable electronic navigation system offer the agricultural flyer? First and foremost, immediate knowledge of his present position and secondly a clear indication of track made good. These two characteristics translate very quickly into a reduction in non-effective flying time both en route and while spraying, together with a marked improvement in application quality and control, to say nothing of reduced pilot fatigue and improvement in safety; features with appeal to operator, pilot and farmer alike.