“Keep Turning” - What does it mean?

During a recent trip to Brazil, I was asked by Diego Preuss, owner of DP Aviacion, what does “Keep Turning” mean? Let me point out that Diego speaks perfect English. I was a somewhat surprised that he would ask me this. My longtime translator, Ernesto Franzen, had already warned me that the words, “Keep Turning” could not be translated into portuguese. My espanol translator, Walter Jazun, seemed to not have any problem translating the words into espanol, at least he did not advise me to find a better catch phrase like Ernesto did! 

Being a hard headed and determined soul, I did not follow Ernesto’s advice. Instead, I decided I coin this new phrase in English for all of ag-aviation worldwide, including Latin America. To me, this was no different from a Brazilian or Argentinian saying, “Swathmaster”. I have no idea how that would translate, probably it would not. So, everyone says, “Swathmaster” and all ag-pilots know what it is. 

When Diego asked me, “What is this ‘Keep Turning?’”, I knew I might be in trouble. Hopefully, when you finish reading this editorial, you will know and understand “Keep Turning” and it will become a common comment for you as an ag-pilot. Obviously, no one else in Latin America, except an ag-pilot, will understand what you mean! 

How do I write this? Writing in English and hoping my excellent translators can convey my words into thoughts that make sense, “Keep Turning” is like “Continue”. However, as all ag-pilots know, if we are not making turns after the end of every spray run, we are not making money. If we “continue” to make those turns, then we are assured to line up on the next GPS line, turn on the “money handle” and be able to make a living flying an ag-plane. 

When you read, “Keep Turning”, at the end of my editorial it is being used as a salutation of good will. I want you to keep turning your ag-plane back to the field to make another safe and profitable pass across it. A lot can be read into these two simple words. If you “keep turning”, then you are flying in a safe manner. Flying dangerously, will surely one day stop you from making that turn back to the field. So, you need to fly safely so you can “keep turning”. Right? 

These two words can also mean for you to make a profit, or treat more acres. How can you do this if you do not turn around the aircraft at the end of the field? You have to “keep turning” to work your way across the field, pass after pass, and eventually you have finished it. Right? 

Until a person is exposed to a different language, they often don’t realize how languages intertwine. Americans see espanol and portuguese words all the time and don’t realize it, e.g. rodeo, banana, cilantro, coyote, TV, Internet cafe,  capital, general, plural, etc. and the list goes one. When I travel in Latin America, I often see the use of English words and no one thinks any different. These are called cognates. However, you aren’t reading this editorial for a linguistics lesson! 

Hopefully, the next time you read “Keep Turning” it will have meaning for you. You may only see it, now, in AgAir Update. However, as it becomes a more common term for ag-pilots, you may see it elsewhere. It is OK with me if others use it, almost like a secret code between ag-pilots. We all know the importance of “Keep Turning”. 

So, until next month, 

Keep Turning...