What should pilots do before each aerial application flight?

Conducting a pre-flight inspection of the aircraft and application equipment is critical for ensuring safety and operational effectiveness before any aerial application flight. This comprehensive inspection involves checking key components of the aircraft, including its mechanical systems, flight controls, and any specialized equipment used for pesticide application. By performing this thorough evaluation, pilots can identify potential issues that could affect the safety of the flight or the effectiveness of the application.

While checking weather conditions, reviewing pesticide history, and ensuring sufficient fuel are all important factors in flight preparation, they do not provide the same level of immediate safety assurance as a pre-flight inspection. Weather can change rapidly and fuel levels are part of operational planning, but without a proper inspection, even a well-planned flight can encounter risks that were previously overlooked. Hence, a pre-flight inspection stands out as a fundamental and essential practice for any pilot engaged in aerial application, ensuring both the safety of the operation and compliance with regulations.