Jerry Van den Bos

Job Opportunities

As a Sam Riggs crop dusting school graduate, your flying and mechanical skills will be second to none! Our crop dusting job placement rating for the last thirty years has shown that over 85% of our graduates are employed immediately after completing their ag pilot training. In your first season of crop dusting you can, as a low time pilot, expect to earn between $11,000 and $28,000! That's flying for just six months or less. In years past graduates have reported making $22,500.00 in just two months of spraying blueberries and English peas in Michigan .

Typically, after completing ag-pilot training, a student will be sent on interviews with several ag operators throughout the central United States who have hired our students in the past. The time of year and what crops are currently in season determine the length of your spraying season. Some graduates begin spraying in South Texas and follow the seasons all the way to North Dakota spraying ten months out of the year. These graduates often make in excess of $40,000.00 their first year out and will fly for three or maybe four Ag-Operators. The majority of our students are hired immediately after graduation. Our worldwide contacts with several foreign governments and the World Bank enable our foreign students to seek employment in Europe and Africa as well as the U.S. and Central and South America . Most of our European students will get to fly in the U.S. for three or four months and then transition to Africa where we also have contacts.

Guys and Gals who have a desire to enter the fire bombing field have a leg up on most beginners. Usually their hired to fly a Cherokee Six, type aircraft, hauling parts and the mechanics to the large fire bombers. I know most of the fire bombing companies and can sit up an interview. Fire Bombers are in big demand. After a year, or maybe two of flying the Cherokee's, Cessna 210's, Cessna 182's or Piper Lances to the fire bombers students usually move into the fire bombers right seat. Often called co-pilot, but usually called “swampers”. You'll load and preflight the aircraft and double check weight and balance and learn.