Aerial ULV applications are reserved for mosquito populations which cannot be effectively controlled by ground ULV treatments. These treatments are performed using a twin-engine Piper Aztec. Applications typically begin after sunset and continue for 1-2 hours.
The spray altitude for aerial applications is 300 feet above ground level at a speed of 140-150 mph, and all spray missions are done in strict adherence to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) regulations. The crew consists of an FAA licensed pilot and co-pilot, with the co-pilot being equipped with night vision goggles as an additional precaution.
The plane is equipped with a GPS guidance system that the pilots use to follow a predetermined flight path and spray grid. An onboard computer system interacts with a weather probe to adjust the flight lines through the use of state of the art modeling software to ensure that the application is on target.
The operational swath width is 1000 feet. Spray blocks for a single flight can be up to 15,000 acres. Spray missions are recorded using a flight recorder and can be overlaid on a map.