Inside agricultural aviation’s safety rebuild.
From fatal skies to safer operations
Between 2001 and 2011, New Zealand’s agricultural aviation sector saw one fatality roughly every 225 days, mostly in fixed-wing aircraft. Helicopter operations accounted for fewer fatalities, but the overall numbers highlighted the risks inherent in the industry.
Yet the years 2014-2024 show a markedly different picture: three fatalities occurred in fixed-wing operations, and another four in helicopters. Fixed-wing accident rates dropped sharply, while helicopters maintained a relatively low rate.
Tony Michelle, the Executive Officer of the New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA), says it’s clear the reduction is not simply a result of fewer aircraft. He says while the number of fixed-wing aircraft has decreased, fertiliser application has remained steady, meaning pilots have the same workload. He says the real improvements stem from multiple factors.
The forces shaping safer skies
Tony says the improvement in accident statistics are partly down to clearer regulations in Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operations, and education campaigns by the NZAAA.
He explains that work undertaken in 2011 to review and refine Part 137 helped raise awareness of operational risks, and focused on “tightening up what good operators were doing anyway”, particularly around day-to-day flying practices and managing aircraft safely.
That review process aligned closely with the work the NZAAA was doing at the time. “The programmes and guidance helped people understand how to apply the rules in the real world,” Tony says.
Together, the rules and the association’s programmes supported the sector’s shift in mindset.
“It’s become part of the culture now – people think about managing safety every day.”
Tony believes programmes led by the NZAAA were central to the sector’s cultural shift toward safety. By providing clear messaging, practical guidance on everyday procedures, and tools to manage operational risks, the association helped pilots and operators place safety ahead of productivity.
Agricultural aviation in New Zealand is a high-risk industry but recent decades have seen a marked improvement in safety.
This wasn’t simply about following rules – these programmes fostered a change in mindset, with crews actively discussing risks, supporting each other in safe practices, and embedding safety into daily routines.
Over time, Tony says, these behaviours have become a core part of operations, showing that the association’s initiatives directly influenced a culture that prioritised safety over productivity in agricultural aviation.
Tony adds that a generational change – with younger pilots entering the industry with more risk-awareness – and the introduction of new technologies also helped reduce operational hazards.
Pete Gordon, former CAA Aviation Safety Advisor – and now Director of Aero Audit NZ – agrees that the ag industry is now better educated. Risk-aware entrants, whether owners or employees, are “looking at what they do with a better lens for what is going to cost time, money, and injury to staff”.
He says the CAA’s requirement for a safety management system (SMS) for most aviation organisations, introduced in 2016, has “forced operators and pilots to think more critically about what they’re doing”.
Ongoing safety challenges
Despite improvements, challenges remain. Temporary clusters of accidents, such as a spate of 10 incidents over 10 weeks in 2024, demonstrate that risk is never fully eliminated.
“That spike was likely linked to a period of low activity, when pilots were possibly less current, and operators were under financial pressure,” Tony says.
While safety management systems are now widely adopted, Tony says, not all companies use them effectively. Some treat them as a compliance ‘checkbox’ rather than a tool to actively manage risk.
He adds that sharing safety information across the industry is still limited, although peer network groups are helping improve communication.
Managing itinerant and contract pilots
Contract and itinerant pilots form a significant part of the ag flying workforce, especially when operators experience seasonal spikes in demand. Tony says these pilots may bring habits or behaviours from other employers that don’t align with a company’s safety culture.
He says it’s crucial to have robust induction and monitoring.
“If new pilots challenge existing standards and operators do nothing, other staff may become uncertain about expectations, undermining the overall safety culture.
“Identifying both positive and negative contributions from incoming pilots helps companies manage this dynamic effectively.”
Balancing safety and business pressures
Tony acknowledges that operators constantly balance safety with business realities.
“Accidents are costly – not just financially, but also in morale and operational disruption. Even with insurance, recovery can take years.
“The industry also naturally rationalises itself. Unprofitable operators exit the market, while new entrants compete for existing clients.
“Those who provide better service survive, while those who merely undercut prices often fail. Short-term downturns, while challenging, help stabilise the sector by removing excess capacity.”
The role of clients and product quality
Clients have become more safety-aware, Tony says, respecting pilot decisions and reducing pressure to operate unsafely. Pilots have become more confident in refusing to work when conditions are unsafe.
Improvements in fertiliser and other products have also reduced risks, including by being better formulated to resist going lumpy, which made the product less ‘flowable’ in the past.
Looking ahead
The industry has made remarkable strides, Tony says, but progress “cannot be taken for granted”.
Continuous vigilance, effective SMS implementation, proper induction of itinerant pilots, and open safety communication remain essential.
Pete Gordon says aviation safety is not unique. Safety lessons are forgotten in a surprisingly short space of time across other industries too.
“Having an industry ‘minder’ to continue to remind participants of the issues out there helps keep a focus on the problems that can hurt people both physically and financially.
“And while the skies are safer than they once were, agricultural aviation remains a high-stakes environment where human factors – especially awareness, culture, and judgement – remain critical.”
Main photo courtesy of Pip Foster.