Pest Control Aircraft Pilot Practice Test

What happens to the application rate of pesticide active ingredient when airspeed is increased without changing spray output?

1. More pesticide active ingredient applied per acre

2. Less pesticide active ingredient applied per acre

3. No change in pesticide application rate

4. Pesticide effectiveness is increased

The correct answer is: Less pesticide active ingredient applied per acre

When the airspeed of the aircraft is increased while keeping the spray output constant, the application rate of the pesticide active ingredient per acre actually decreases. This occurs because the increased airspeed causes the aircraft to cover more ground in a given amount of time; thus, the same volume of pesticide is distributed over a larger area. If the spray output—meaning the amount of pesticide being expelled from the aircraft—is unchanged, but the area covered is larger due to the higher speed, it follows that less pesticide is applied to each acre. This dilution effect is critical for pilots to understand, as it directly impacts the efficacy of the pesticide treatment. Therefore, maintaining the appropriate speed is essential for achieving the desired application density and ensuring effective pest control.