Characteristics of agricultural aviators and perceptions of risk among operators and pilots

SRA conducted a web-based survey of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 137 certificate holders (hereafter referred to as operators) and pilots between December 14, 2010 and March 31, 2011 for the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA). Five hundred and eight operators and 344 pilots responded to the survey. To assess risk perceptions, operators and pilots were asked to rate 12 hazards on a scale of one to ten where ten was the highest risk. Power lines, communications and meteorological towers, wind turbines, rotating props and birds were rated highest risk. Overall, operators ranked risks lower than pilots. Pilots rated power lines, communication towers, birds, adverse weather, and limited space for maneuvering significantly higher than operators. Those in the industry 25 or more years ranked chemicals, mechanical failure, limited space for maneuvering, wind turbines and meteorological towers significantly lower than those working in the industry less than 25 years.

This study explores risk perceptions of operators and pilots and the true relative frequency of accident events. Power lines were perceived to be the greatest risk yet power lines were the third most frequently occurring event. Mechanical failure was ranked a relatively low risk but is the second leading cause of incidents. Both communications towers and meteorological towers were ranked as high risk yet account for a very small portion of the incidents. As well, birds were ranked as high as wind turbines and limited space for maneuvering, yet account for a very small portion of the incidents.