Aerial Spraying
There
are some specific uses of commercial, private, and military
aviation where chemicals are introduced in the atmosphere.
The most common association of aerial chemical release is
spraying for insects, either as crop dusting or mosquito prevention
measures. These activities are typically performed at low
altitude levels and produce a mist spray that drops to the
earth’s surface.
The only
unit in the Air Force capable of aerial spray operations to
control disease-carrying pests and insects is the AFRC's 910th
Airlift Wing, Youngstown-Warren Air
Reserve Station, Ohio. The aerial spray mission uses four
specially configured C-130 Hercules shown below. Aerial spraying
enables large parcels of land or water to be treated safely,
quickly, accurately, and cheaply. This is the only fixed wing
aerial-spray capability in the Department of Defense.
The mission
started back in World War II, when legions of American GIs
fell victim to malaria and dengue fever, diseases spread by
mosquitoes. The mission was taken over from the active force
in 1973. Although most of the unit's missions are initiated
by the Department of Defense, its services are also requested
by local, state and other federal agencies and coordinated
the Center for Disease Control. The most common missions flown
are for mosquito, sand flea and weed control. Several states
have also requested support to combat grasshoppers and locusts.
Aerial spray missions have been flown in Puerto Rico, Panama,
Guam and the Azores.
The chemical
compounds used for mosquito control are EPA controlled and
the Air Force uses two primary brands; Dibrom and Anvil 10+10.
Dibrom is manufactured by AMVAC Chemical Corporation and is
classified as a Naled compound. Naled is an organophosphate
insecticide that has been in use since 1959. It is used primarily
for controlling adult mosquitoes but is also used on food
and food crops, greenhouses and pet flea collars. Naled is
applied using Ultra-Low Volume sprayers which dispense very
fine aerosol droplets which kills the adult mosquito on contact.
Naled is applies at a maximum aerial spray rate of 0.8 ounces
of active ingredient per acre. Anvil 10+10 is manufactured
by Clarke Mosquito Control Products, Inc and is a Sumithren,
also known as a Synergized Synthetic Pyrethoid. Anvil 10+10
is applied using Ultra-Low Volume sprayers at a maximum aerial
spray rate of 0.62 ounces of active ingredient per acre.
The chemical
compounds used for herbicide weed control are EPA controlled
and the Air Force uses Dupont Krovar I DF and Dow Agro Sciences
Tordon K. Krovar I DF comes in granular form, is mixed with
water and applied as an aerosol to control annual weeds at
a rate of 4-6 pounds mixed with 40-100 gallons of water per
acre. Tordon K is used as a herbicide to control broadleaf
weeds, woody plants, and vines on non-crop areas such as forest
planting sites, industrial manufacturing sites, rights-of-way
such as electrical power lines, communications lines, pipelines,
roadsides, railroads, and wildlife openings. Tordon K is applied
at a maximum of 2 quarts per acre.
The 910th
Airlift Wing has formed an Oil Dispersant Working Group, and
is working with industry and government agencies to test aerial
spray methods of controlling major offshore oil spills in
coastal waters of the United States. The unit has six Modular
Aerial Spray Systems (MASS) and four aircraft modified to
accept the MAAS. Each MASS has a 2,000 gallon
capacity and flow rate are set at 232 gallons per
minute. The aircraft flies at 200 Knots Ground
Speed at about 100 feet which covers a swath width of 100
feet for an average application rate of flow rate of 5 gallons
per acre (variable 3-15 gallons per acre). Total spray-on
time for 2,000 gallons lasts about 8 minutes and 30 seconds.
Photographs
which show military aircraft with sprays coming from unusual
locations on the aircraft are usually re-touched photos (a
process that is easy to create using common computer programs).
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