“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...

To stall-spin or not

In May, Brazil lost another ag-pilot. This time all evidence points to it being a stall-spin accident in an AT-502. This is an all-too familiar accident for the U.S. ag-aviation industry. Of course, there are more ag-planes in the U.S. than any other country.

The AT-502 is an excellent flying ag-plane. Any “502” pilot will tell you this. The stall-spin accident is not the fault of the aircraft. Simply stated, it is always the fault of the pilot; unless there has been a structural failure. That having been said, the question is why?

Ag-pilots by definition are highly capable of flying an aircraft on the edge of a stall in various weight configurations. They are acutely aware of the consequences when flying at gross weight. However, my speculation is they let down their guard as the aircraft becomes lighter during the application.

I don’t have the data and doubt it is even collected anywhere, but I feel confident believing most stall-spin accidents occur in lightly loaded aircraft; precisely when they shouldn’t ever happen.

The performance of an ag-plane once it reduces its load to near nil can be astounding. After battling this ship for an extended time, flying near the stall, it becomes somewhat of a relief to feel the performance of the plane with its light load. Factor in that a lightly loaded aircraft is more productive; the pilot now may try to make up for perceived lost time during the loaded phase of the application.

Over 25 years ago when I sold my flying service to my competition, one of the things I noticed was his ability to fly the aircraft; every turn was like the first one. I did not see him “jacking” the aircraft around when it became light. It was an interesting observation because he was just as productive, if not more so.

An ag-pilot should realize simply being in the cockpit of an ag-plane makes him “the pilot other pilots want to be”, as the bumper sticker says. He should not feel the pressure to prove otherwise with exotic turns that put his life and the aircraft in jeopardy. That’s right, his life. Pilots don’t survive stall-spin accidents.

There are two types of audiences the hot dog ag-pilot is performing for; those who don’t know what it takes to fly an ag-plane and those who do. The ones who don’t know, like the general public pulled off the side of the road to watch you fly, are more impressed with your low flying than your turning. Those who do know are not impressed with your lack of judgement.

The next time you have the urge, when it is cool or late in the day and the aircraft is performing beautifully, think if it is necessary to live on the edge of a stall-spin accident. Trust me, better pilots than you have been killed by not being able to resist.

Until next month, Keep Turning...