Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Crop-duster Groundings
MYSELF

Posted on 09/17/2001 2:45:26 PM PDT by Malichi

Has anyone else heard that all the cropdusters have been grounded? Rumors going around down here in Mississippi are that the FBI has grounded all crop-dusters. Is this happening anywhere else or is this just another rumor?


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

1 posted on 09/17/2001 2:45:26 PM PDT by Malichi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Malichi
A friend sent this from a general aviation newsletter he quoted: "And yesterday afternoon, crop-dusters, which had been allowed back in the air last week, were suddenly prohibited again from flying, with no explanation so far."

VFR flights are still apparently banned, last I heard, except for Alaska. They're such a lifeline in Alaska that I assume the gummint made an exception.

}:-)4

2 posted on 09/17/2001 2:48:25 PM PDT by Moose4
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
It is true. Aerial applicators were allowed to fly, and then grounded. A good place for the latest info on this and other general aviation topics is the Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association, www.aopa.org. Scroll down the page and read the FDC NOTAMs (Flight Data Center Notices to Airmen).
3 posted on 09/17/2001 2:49:57 PM PDT by CFIIIMEIATP737
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
If you are really brave and not easy to get nightmares, read the book "Vector", a fast-paced medical thriller by Robin Cook, and you'll know why they grounded the crop dusters.
4 posted on 09/17/2001 2:52:48 PM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CFIIIMEIATP737
Thanks. I'm working relief at a drug store in a small argricultural town north of Jackson and alot of farmers have been in here upset and worried that they're not going to get the yeild on their crops that they thought. Another thing I heard and I realize it's all hearsay is that the FBI requested from one of the pilots all of their employee records for the past 5 years.
5 posted on 09/17/2001 2:55:24 PM PDT by Malichi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: LurkedLongEnough
Let me guess: anthrax?
6 posted on 09/17/2001 2:57:53 PM PDT by Kevin Curry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
The farmers may not get the yields, but this is a prudent step. Once all the pilots and companies are vetted and cleared - crop-dusting could be resumed.
7 posted on 09/17/2001 2:58:23 PM PDT by muffaletaman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
Makes sense .... biological/chemical warfare can kill too.

But when will they permit re-spraying....the crops can't wait.

Politicians can wait forever ... but the weather and the seasons don't wait until the politicians "feel" safe.

8 posted on 09/17/2001 3:07:31 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
That's funny, that plane's dustin' crops where there ain't no crops!
9 posted on 09/17/2001 3:12:00 PM PDT by Paladin2b
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
Has anyone else heard that all the cropdusters have been grounded? Rumors going around down here in Mississippi are that the FBI has grounded all crop-dusters. Is this happening anywhere else or is this just another rumor?

Not sure if it's true but if so they just locked down the best biological dispersal system.

Hope they keep the smoke / stunt planes down for a bit as well.

10 posted on 09/17/2001 3:12:59 PM PDT by Centurion2000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Call me crazy, but with it being the beginning of Fall and most crops are either harvested or done growing, what needs dusting this time of the year? Even the marijuana has been harvested.
11 posted on 09/17/2001 3:14:33 PM PDT by freeplancer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
We had one buzzing around over the weekend, and I must say it made me very nervous.
12 posted on 09/17/2001 3:18:46 PM PDT by mombonn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
We have a small airport next to where I work and very few small airplanes have been flying ever since last tuesday.
13 posted on 09/17/2001 3:20:38 PM PDT by McGruff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
Saw several planes and helicopters cropdusting yesterday in coastal California. These aircraft are certainly built to disperse, but they normally only operate 10's of feet above a field, with the objective of creating fallout, not long-distance transport of chemicals. If I saw a cropduster at 10,000 feet I might get a little worried.

Incidentally the number of flags on vehicles seems to increase exponentially as one moves away from SF.

14 posted on 09/17/2001 3:23:54 PM PDT by Monti Cello
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
The Copters used for rounding up cattle are grounded in our area. The Crop Dusters are also grounded.
15 posted on 09/17/2001 3:34:30 PM PDT by Faith-Hope
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freeplancer
The crops in Texas still need to be dusted. Cotton needs to be defoliated, cabbage fields are in need of spray. Soon they will be planting fall spinach which will need to be sprayed.
16 posted on 09/17/2001 3:40:18 PM PDT by Faith-Hope
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Malichi
Can you imagine the panic it would cause if one of these planes were to fly over NYC or another large city just spraying water?
17 posted on 09/17/2001 4:00:18 PM PDT by SolitaryMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kevin Curry
Let me guess: anthrax?

Only one of the possibilities. One of the nastier ones to be sure. Something radioactive, is another. Sarin, as used by the Japanese terrorists in the subways in Japan, is also a possibility. All sorts of nasty stuff, having various degrees of difficulty to procure or manufacture.

18 posted on 09/17/2001 4:13:39 PM PDT by El Gato
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Faith-Hope
Maybe groud based spray equipment can be trucked into those areas, such as Texas, California, and Florida, with crops still needing spraying?. Most part of the country won't need the equipment until spring. Give the truckers some work. Farmers in those locations should still be a bit, (UNDERSTATMENT) for a while yet, so someone else would have to handle the shipping.
19 posted on 09/17/2001 4:17:52 PM PDT by El Gato
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Squantos,harpseal
...the FBI requested from one of the pilots all of their employee records for the past 5 years.

Here we go.

20 posted on 09/17/2001 4:19:10 PM PDT by Travis McGee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson