Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
In this paper the emphasis is on safety problems connected with the use of light fixed-wing aircraft for agricultural purposes. Most of the aircraft concerned are between 2000 and 6000 lb all-up weight and are single piston-engined types. About 97 per cent of all hours flown in agricultural aviation all over the world are by such small fixed-wing aircraft, the remainder by larger aircraft such as the DC-3 and helicopters.
The mass of statistics available on this type of flying is therefore confined to the small fixed-wing aircraft and since this type is obviously the most important with respect to this activity, then it is appropriate to concentrate on this type.