Dear friends,
We're writing today to agricultural pilots—the skilled aviators who feed the world from cockpits flying mere feet above crop fields. You face risks that combine the challenges of low-altitude aviation with the unique hazards of agricultural work. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, agricultural pilots face a fatality rate of 55.5 per 100,000 workers, with approximately 26 deaths annually. These numbers reflect the reality of low-altitude flights and power line strikes, pesticide and chemical exposure during spraying, and other critical aviation risks that make your profession one of the most dangerous forms of flying.
Your profession demands precision flying at altitudes where mistakes are measured in seconds, not minutes. Every morning briefing, every equipment check, every weather assessment carries the understanding that you're operating in an environment where power lines, obstacles, and changing wind conditions create constant challenges. Your family knows the sound of your aircraft engine, understands the seasonal rhythms of spraying work, and lives with the reality that agricultural aviation is among the most demanding forms of flying. They understand that every takeoff from a rural airstrip, every low-altitude pass over fields, and every landing on unprepared surfaces carries inherent risks that commercial pilots never face.
The nature of agricultural aviation creates unique exposure to hazards that compound with each flight. Power lines crossing fields become invisible threats in certain light conditions. Bird strikes at low altitude leave no margin for recovery. Engine failures during spray runs occur over terrain where emergency landings mean choosing between obstacles. Weather conditions change rapidly—what begins as a perfect morning for spraying can deteriorate into dangerous crosswinds or reduced visibility. Your family knows that each spray season brings not just income, but accumulated risk from hundreds of low-altitude flights where a momentary lapse in concentration or an unexpected mechanical issue can prove fatal. This reality makes comprehensive digital legacy planning not just important—it's essential.
The unique nature of agricultural aviation creates specific planning considerations that differ dramatically from commercial aviation. Many ag pilots work as independent contractors or small operation owners, meaning your family may need guidance about business assets, aircraft ownership, client relationships, and seasonal contracts. Unlike commercial aviation with standardized company benefits and clear succession plans, your planning might need to address equipment leases, chemical applicator certifications, spray rig maintenance agreements, and the complex web of agricultural service contracts that sustain your operation. Your aircraft itself may represent your family's largest asset—they'll need to know about hull insurance, liability coverage, maintenance schedules, and whether the aircraft should be sold or if the business can continue with another pilot.
Consider creating final messages that include details about your business structure and client relationships your family should maintain or conclude. Document which farmers depend on your services for critical application windows. Explain the seasonal cash flow patterns—how spray season generates most annual income, while winter months require living on reserves or finding supplemental work. Share information about chemical suppliers, maintenance facilities that understand ag aircraft, and other pilots who might be willing to complete contracts if you can't. These practical details help your family navigate not just grief, but the complex business decisions they'll face immediately after your death.
Your final messages to family should address both the practical and emotional aspects of your work. Explain where you've documented your flight hours, maintenance records, and FAA certification information. Provide guidance about insurance policies—both aircraft hull insurance and the specialized liability coverage required for aerial application. Share the details of seasonal planning cycles, peak spraying periods, and the financial rhythms of agricultural aviation work. Your family needs to understand not just that you loved flying, but how to navigate the business and regulatory aspects of your profession. Include information about your hangar lease, fuel accounts, and relationships with the fixed-base operators who support your work.
Beyond business matters, share what drew you to agricultural aviation—the freedom of low-level flight, the satisfaction of contributing to food production, the unique community of ag pilots who understand this specialized work. Explain the morning ritual of pre-flight checks, watching the weather develop, and calculating the optimal conditions for application. Describe the satisfaction of a perfectly executed spray pattern, the relationship with your aircraft that becomes an extension of your will, and the respect you've earned from farmers who trust you with their livelihoods. Share stories about close calls that taught you important lessons, mentors who shaped your approach to safety, and the quiet pride in knowing your work helps feed communities.
These details help your family understand not just what you did, but why it mattered to you. They preserve the context that makes your career more than just a job—it becomes a story about mastering one of aviation's most demanding specialties, contributing to agriculture, and building a business through skill and determination. Your posthumous messages can preserve these stories and values for future generations who deserve to understand the full scope of your professional life and the courage required to fly the way you do.
Consider the specific digital assets unique to agricultural aviation. Your flight logs document not just hours, but your expertise and insurability. Pesticide application records demonstrate compliance with environmental regulations and protect against future liability claims. Chemical handling certifications, restricted-use pesticide licenses, and FAA certificates represent years of training and qualification. Document the location of your commercial pilot certificate, agricultural aircraft operator certification, and any state-specific applicator licenses. Include information about professional associations like the National Agricultural Aviation Association, insurance contacts who understand ag aviation risks, and the aviation mechanics who maintain your aircraft to the exacting standards required for safe operation.
Create a comprehensive digital will that captures both the practical documents and the relationships that sustain your aviation business. Include passwords for flight planning software, access to maintenance tracking systems, and digital records that demonstrate your aircraft's airworthiness. Document your relationship with your insurance agent, your accountant who understands seasonal business patterns, and your attorney who has helped structure your operation. These relationships represent years of building trust and understanding—your family benefits from maintaining these connections.
Address the isolation that comes with agricultural aviation. Many ag pilots work alone in remote areas, far from airports or emergency services. Your emergency contacts should include not just family, but fellow pilots, mechanics, and ground crew who understand your operation and could provide immediate assistance or information if something goes wrong. Consider establishing a regular check-in system during spraying season—a simple message that lets your family know you've completed each day's flying safely. This regular communication becomes both a safety measure and a legacy of connection that demonstrates your commitment to coming home. In the event you don't check in, your family knows immediately to activate emergency procedures rather than waiting hours wondering if you're simply busy.
Consider the financial aspects your family needs to understand. Agricultural aviation income is highly seasonal and variable—a wet spring delays planting and reduces early-season work, while drought conditions might increase the need for applications but reduce farmers' ability to pay. Your family should understand typical annual income patterns, when contracts are usually paid, and how to manage cash flow during lean periods. Document outstanding receivables, pending contracts, and relationships with farmers who might be willing to pay deposits owed to your estate even if services weren't completed. Include information about any equipment loans, hangar leases, or financial obligations that don't automatically appear in estate proceedings.
Your work feeds communities and protects crops that sustain food systems. You've mastered one of aviation's most demanding specialties, combining piloting skill with agricultural knowledge and chemical application expertise. Every successful season represents hundreds of flights executed safely despite operating in an environment where obstacles, weather, and mechanical issues create constant challenges. Take the time now to ensure your legacy—both professional and personal—is protected and shared. Your family deserves access to the resources you've built and the wisdom you've gained. Your stories deserve preservation. And most importantly, your final words to the people you love should reach them exactly as you intend, whenever that becomes necessary.
This planning doesn't reflect pessimism about your safety—it reflects realistic understanding of the risks inherent in low-altitude aviation. The same careful assessment that makes you a safe pilot extends to protecting your family. Just as you plan for engine failures you hope never occur, you plan for life contingencies you hope never activate. Your family deserves this same level of professional preparation that you bring to every flight. That's what comprehensive legacy planning provides—the assurance that your voice, your values, and your love will continue to guide your family even after you're gone, and that the business and relationships you've built through years of dedication will transition smoothly rather than creating additional stress during their grief.