Editor, Commonwealth:
Ag aviation pilots, sometimes referred to in a derogatory manner as “crop dusters,” are not the dregs of the aviation community, as insinuated recently by the cowardly, anonymous comments in The Greenwood Commonwealth’s “My Two Cents” column (March 22, April 12 and April 22).
These asinine and totally unfounded critical remarks were respectfully responded to by Mr. Bill Lavender (“Don’t slam all ag pilots for one bad apple,” April 15; “Critic of crop dusters is misinformed,” April 3), the owner and publisher of Ag Air Update, an international professional monthly publication, and by Mr. Steve Brown (“Ag pilots would risk payment without GPS,” April 8), president of the Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Association.
I’m not so eloquent or respectful as either of them. But to “cut to the chase,” without ag aviation a loaf of bread would cost $30 and a pair of Levi’s would probably be $200.
We are educated, dedicated, skillful and environmentally very responsible. But for what it’s worth, I am a retired ag pilot, having flown almost 50 years as a Navy carrier pilot, corporate pilot, ag pilot and teacher of ag aviation for 20 years, with five of the years on the college level with the University of Louisiana Monroe. I do know what I am talking about!
Robert Andrew McCurdy
Cruger
