Trends in Airborne Equipment for Agriculture and Other Areas. Proceedings of a Seminar Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Warsaw, 18–22 September 1978

337 Pages·1980·20.97 MB·English

by  United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (Auth.)

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
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Trends in Airborne
Equipment for Agriculture
and Other Areas
Aero-Agro 1978
Proceedings of a Seminar organized by the
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Warsaw, 18-22 September 1978
Published for the
UNITED NATIONS
by
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First edition 1980
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Trends in airborne equipment
for agriculture and other areas.
1. Aeronautics in agriculture - Congresses
I. Economic Commission for Europe
631.3 S494.5.A3 79-42935
ISBN 0-08-022425 3
In order to make this volume available as economically
and as rapidly as possible the authors' typescripts have
been reproduced in their original forms. This method has
its typographical limitations but it is hoped that they in
no way distract the reader.
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
William Clowes (Beccles) Limited, Beccles and London
Introduction
Fighting forest fires, dispersing fertilizers, protecting wild life, surveying heat
waste and suppressing locust plagues are only a few of the purposes to which air-
borne equipment has been applied. In agriculture, especially, airborne equipment
has been playing an increasingly important role. Considerable technical and orga-
nizational improvements are underway in this relatively young branch of engineering
which may have far-reaching economic and social implications in the effort to pro-
vide more food and fuel to meet world needs.
To examine the role of airborne equipment from the perspectives of economic, tech-
nical and environmental concerns, an interdisciplinary approach was envisaged as a
framework in which to bring together those interested in current technical advances
and trends and those concerned with areas of the national economy which either use
or produce airborne engineering equipment. Accordingly, the Economic Commission
for Europe decided during its thirty-second session to hold an international semi-
nar on the subject which would further an exchange of views, experience and infor-
mation and encourage international co-operation in this field, particularly between
countries at different levels of development.
The seminar on Techno-economic Trends in Airborne Equipment for Agriculture and
other Selected Areas of the National Economy (Aero-agro '78) met at the invitation
of the Government of Poland in Warsaw from 18 to 22 September 1978. The theme of
the seminar was selected by the Fifth ad hoc Meeting of Experts on Engineering
Industries of the Economic Commission for Europe. Representatives from twenty-two
ECE member countries* participated as well as delegates from four non-member coun-
tries** who took part in accordance with paragraph 11 of the terms of reference of
ECE. United Nations international organizations were represented as well as non-
governmental organizations. Elected as chairman and vice-chairmen, respectively,
were Mr. J. Grzegorzewski (Poland), Mr. K.H. Beer (German Democratic Republic) and
Mr. R.J.V. Joyce (United Kingdom).
The subject of concern to the seminar was viewed from three primary aspects:
I Economic
II Technical design and operation
III Environmental
I
The economic aspect covered a broad spectrum of applications of airborne equipment,
examining techniques and evaluating results in terms of their effectiveness and
economic advantages. The multidisciplinary function was emphasized. Attention
♦Bulgaria; Byelorussian SSR; Canada; Czechoslovakia; Denmark; Finland; France;
German Democratic Republic; Hungary; Italy; the Netherlands; Norway; Poland;
Romania; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Ukrainian SSR; Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; United States
of America; and, Yugoslavia.
**Brazil; Cuba; Egypt; and, Tanzania.
vii
VI11 Introduction
was drawn to the value of soil surveys and land evaluation maps and of bio-geogra-
phical analyses of pest outbreaks in planning aerial application operations. Bio-
aeronautics, defined as the use of aircraft in the management of biological resour-
ces, was reviewed particularly in terms of the use of aircraft in crop production
and protection. It was observed that aircraft have already been used extensively
to improve yields especially in certain areas but that this use could be greatly
extended. While commercial and national interests have generally required that
each country have its own aerial services, in many countries economic difficulties
reduce such utilization; seasonal requirements and the unpredictability of pest
outbreaks necessitate greater mobility of equipment.
The importance of facilitating movement across national boundaries to achieve the
full benefit of crop protection coverage was mentioned. In this connexion, harmoni-
zation of standards and regulations was considered important. The efficiency of
airborne equipment in different sectors of the national economy and various approa-
ches to the choice of criteria of effectiveness were analysed. The usefulness of
simulation models to find solutions when complex, competing demands must be met was
also discussed. In addition to the various methods of evaluating aero-agro equip-
ment, the suitability of such equipment to distribute highly-concentrated liquid
chemicals over wide areas under cultivation was examined. To facilitate appropriate
coverage, electronic optical analysers have been used to determine droplet size.
Infra-real imagery has been used in agriculture as well. Such equipment when moun-
ted on light aircraft has already been used to detect latent forest fires.
Among the many techniques to improve economic efficiency, speed and timing were
raised as significant in several of the papers. The need for accurate timing of
pesticide application as a requirement which often can be met only by aircraft was
mentioned. Long-term research has revealed that two or three repetitive small-dose
spreadings of nitrogen fertilizers at critical stages during the growth of grain
has resulted in both a higher yield and a better quality flour. In a similar vein,
experiments have shown that work of the same effectiveness could be performed by
helicopters moving at speeds of ninety kilometres per hour as at sixty.
Problems such as reducing droplet drift beyond the target areas were examined. It
was pointed out that aerosols and suspended particulate matter such as minute in-
sects lead to an increase in the size of droplets and hence lessen the tendency of
drift. As small droplets would drift further, this factor should be taken into
account when establishing zones of safety. It was also noted that, when using iso-
topes to monitor the spreading of chemicals, the effects of residual radiation on
human health especially should be considered.
II
The technical design and operation of equipment for aircraft were examined in this
section. Improvement in instrumentation was seen as important in a variety of ways.
The development of instruments to monitor the amount of chemical substances carried
in aircraft tanks was seen as an improvement in safety, as was a device which would
warn the pilot when the aircraft is approaching power transmission lines. Improved
engine and airframe monitoring were seen as leading to higher aircraft reliability.
Spray emission control and monitoring devices have been developed which would pro-
vide better quality control of distribution.
A new concept in dry and liquid dispersal equipment was introduced to the seminar
members. Pressurized air from the turbine engine of an aircraft has been used to
produce a better distribution of high volume applications of fertilizers and spray.
Introduction ix
Control of droplet density and size was discussed. Considerable interest was ex-
pressed in a new type of atomizer suitable for high speed applications and which
produces a finer, adjustable droplet spectrum. Another device, an aircraft-mounted
net for trapping and retrieving intact airborne insects was considered to be a
valuable asset in the study of insect population dynamics in various parts of the
world. With regard to all types of equipment, attention was drawn to the need for
accepted international standards and unified efforts in equipment development. It was
suggested that users of specialized equipment might be encouraged to express their
needs as they perhaps know best what their needs are. Whether or not manufacturers
always exploit the latest technology to the best advantage, it was considered that
any question of responsiveness should take into account the many parameters affec-
ting agricultural aircraft and the many different requirements that have to be met.
A classification of aircraft used in agriculture by engine type and size is contai-
ned in one report.
Helicopters used as airborne cranes for many applications were examined. Such uses
have included: building construction, including assembly or repair work; the
laying of power lines and railways; geological surveys, especially of areas other-
wise inaccessible; and, in cases of natural disasters such as floods, the building
and reinforcement of dykes. It was emphasized that the helicopter is not in compe-
tition with the aeroplane but serves a complementary function for purposes which
may be highly economical. In comparing helicopter performance with that of certain
types of fixed-wing aircraft, under specific technical, organizational and opera-
tional conditions it was reported that the helicopter might be preferred.
The helicopter and dispersal equipment designed especially for it which would maxi-
mize productivity were outlined. A positioning aid was described which provides
guidance to the pilot by verifying both the position and the swath. This has
increased the accuracy of spraying and, as a result, has reduced the amount of
chemicals used. It was stressed that positioning aids designed particularly for
agro-aviation, and available at suitable costs, will be in demand because they will
allow a rise in the quality of aerial operations and a lowering of costs.
The use of remote controlled miniature aircraft for crop treatment was considered.
Low capital investment for equipment, low maintenance and operation costs, manoeu-
vrability in small areas and the relative safety of such devices were among the ad-
vantages cited.
Results of experiments on the corrosive effects of pesticides - both in water and
oil suspensions - were presented. It was found that these solutions caused corro-
sion in aluminium alloys and damaged paints and plastics. It was suggested that
aviation equipment should be cleaned after each use of pesticides or other chemical
compounds that have a high concentration of active components. The need for the
development of products with inert physical and chemical properties was stressed.
The usefulness of a method for comparing experiments on the corrosive effects of
chemicals produced for agro-aviation was also mentioned.
Trials on the influence of aircraft wake and flying height on the downwind dispersal
of spray were reported. It was shown that the aircraft vortex flow pattern has an
important effect on the spray dispersal in that it reduces the airborne drift from
an aircraft flying at 5 m but increases the drift at 1.5 m. However, little differ-
ence between the two flying heights was observed for droplets less than lOO urn. The
surface of the target area was significant, too; a mature wheat crop was found to
be more efficient than a newly-cultivated surface in removing spray droplets.
X Introduction
III
Environmental considerations dealt with many of the hazards which affect health and
productivity. Combatting pollution, fighting forest fires, controlling diseases
which affect forests or crops and finding ways to obviate the need to use dangerous
chemicals were some of the subjects confronted in this section.
Information was presented on experiments carried out with airborne equipment for
monitoring environmental pollution. Cost/benefits as well as the limitations and
prospects for such equipment were evaluated. Its use was compared with other me-
thods of measurement and data collection. An increasing use of airborne monitoring
techniques is foreseen as an important means of environmental protection. Contain-
ment of the spread of sulphur dioxide and the depletion of the ozone layer were seen
as vital concerns.
Control of diseases which affect forest vegetation was considered to be a field
where it was extremely important to replace traditional techniques with new, more
efficient and economic methods. Instead of chemicals, DIPEL bacteria has been used
against fir Tortricid in a virgin fir forest of the Swietokrzyski National Park,
with quite beneficial results and under difficult ground conditions. A helicopter
equipped with a spraying device was reported to have given satisfactory results both
from a technical and economic point of view. An experiment was reported on which
an ultra-low volume (ULV) spraying method used to fight spruce budworms in conifer
forests was compared with aerial spraying by studying the distribution of drops, in
a downwind direction, on the trees, the ground vegetation and in the air. Air to
air spraying for fighting this disease was considered more economic than attempting
to spray all the trees and a water-free spray mix was also preferred.
Fire is the worst calamity affecting forest vegetation, it was felt. Prevention,
detection and extinction of fires which destroy a valuable part of the environment
were of great concern. Mediterranean countries, Central America and the Savanna
regions of Central Africa have the biggest problem with outbreaks of forest fires.
In mountaneous areas some difficulties in the use of fixed-wing aircraft mean that
helicopters are often used for the work of fire fighting. When not combatting fires
they may be employed in avalanche control and rescue operations. Light helicopters
fitted with equipment for pressurized spraying of fire retardant mixtures have been
effectively used although the efficiency of this method depends on good organization
of rapid and precise attacks on the fire. It was also reported that some sophisti-
cated mathematical studies in this field have been undertaken. The forest economy,
statistics on fires and the various activities and prospects for aviation were
summarized. The technique of fire bombing from large transport aircraft has been
experimented with recently. The use of light aircraft, carrying either water or
retardants, have been used in French experiments in the initial-stage outbreaks of
fire and for collecting and transmitting precise information.
A new, non-polluting insecticide particularly suited for ultra-low volume opera-
tions was reported on. It seems to be the most powerful insecticide known at
present; it is active in extremely small doses. Insoluble in water, it is not
toxic and does not attack equipment. Studies have been undertaken to extend its
use from cotton protection to various other agricultural and non-agricultural appli-
cations. Reports of the results of recent studies on the determination of residual
malathion have been reassuring it was reported; the values measured during and after
spraying have been lower than the values permitted by regulations in working areas.
Following the seminar a technical visit to an aircraft factory, the PZL (United
Introduction xi
Aircraft Industries) in Mielec, Poland, was arranged by the host authorities. The
special programme included a conducted tour of the installations, a general intro-
duction to the activities and structure of the PZL Union followed by an aircraft
show which included on-ground and in-flight demonstrations. A special catalogue
and books and journals featuring airborne equipment were on display.
The opportunity to view practical applications of equipment and techniques was seen
as contributing greatly to the success of the seminar and to promoting the transfer
of technological experiences on an international scale.
Conclusions and Recommendations
At the close of the session several conclusions and recommendations were put for-
ward for consideration.
I. It was concluded that aircraft used in the management of biological resources
served objectives related to the nutrition or regulation of numerous plant and
animal species as well as the preservation or non-contamination of non-target orga-
nisms. In many operations it was considered that an objective needed to be defined
with the greatest possible precision. When the plan chosen was target specific,
that is, aimed at reaching a clearly-defined objective, an operation was likely to
be more economical in the widest sense. The achievement of a specific objective
normally has included the following activities: surveys to determine the target
dimensions? delivery of material to specifically-defined biological targets; moni-
toring of the execution of the operations; and surveys of biological effectiveness.
Research should be directed towards the development of systems which would permit
aircraft to be most economically employed in the management of biological resour-
ces. Such application of aircraft would involve benefits and hazards, it was noted;
the development of safe and economical systems therefore would require interdisci-
plinary co-ordination.
It was also recommended that ECE be requested to investigate the practicality of
facilitating the movement of aircraft and pilots across transnational boundaries
within the ECE region and between the ECE region and others. In addition, it was
recommended that ECE be requested to compile detailed statistics of aircraft utili-
zation in bio-aeronautical operations in the ECE region.
Further research was believed to be essential in controlling the quality of work
done by aero-spreading equipment. A search for better apparatus and instruments
which could raise the quality should consequently be undertaken.
II. It was recommended that efforts should be made to bring to the attention of
governments the need to increase research into aerial application technology. More
resources, including financial, should be allocated to this field. A multidisci-
plinary approach was considered favourable for the development of efficient and
biologically-effective ways of applying pesticide from the air. Such were consi-
dered to be of particular interest to developing countries and would most-suitably
be undertaken in co-operation with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
It was recommended that consideration should be given to the further development
of crane-helicopters, as their potential range of application was very wide. Ana-
lyses and selection of construction tasks where their use would be financially
viable should be considered and a clear definition of maximum loads of helicopters
would ensure their most efficient exploitation.
The exchange of experience through international conferences or seminars was re-
commended together with the collection and dissemination of relevant statistics.
Although little is known about the accuracy of flying and of the spray distribution
from miniature, remote-controlled aircraft, the technique has advantages which
should be investigated and assessed, especially in regard to the range, size,
payload and legal aspects of these devices.
xiii
XIV Conclusions and Recommendations
As an example of what is possible with helicopters, the Mi-2 is a useful and econo-
mic tool for fertlizing and other spraying. Improvements in ground filling equip-
ment and flying techniques have been beneficial and,in view of the widespread in-
terest shown, it was recommended that ECE should organize a workshop on helicopter
application techniques, including their economic evaluation.
Because an aircraft's wake affects the dispersal of ULV sprays as low flying heights
can cause an increase of ULV sprays in the air, it was concluded that mathematical
models should include such wake effects. A recommendation was made that data con-
cerning the economic benefits of agricultural aircraft in the German Democratic
Republic should be disseminated as widely as possible.
III. It was further concluded that, as aerial equipment is a powerful instrument
for both control and treatment in terms of all aspects of the environment, the
method of diagnosis and treatment should be extended to give as complete an analy-
sis of the situation as possible.. Continuous progress in biology, chemistry and
aeronautics has led to the need to adopt new methods which are more effective and
economical with fewer adverse environmental effects. It was concluded that study
and research therefore will lead to the most cost-effective combinations of instru-
ments for measurement and control. An interdisciplinary approach, in turn, could
be expected to lead to more effective study and research, especially where problems
of developing countries are concerned. It was found that forest fire intervention
can be particularly effective; consequently such equipment should be further dev-
eloped and more widely used; co-ordination and co-operation between ground and air
personnel should also be intensified.
It was further recommended that ECE should periodically organize seminars on the
use of aviation in agriculture and other sectors of the economy. The aim of such
seminars should be to increase understanding of the various topics and to exchange
new experience. An ad hoc meeting of experts on engineering industries should de-
fine the topics for such seminars, taking into account the needs of agriculture,
forestry, geology, search and rescue operations, fire control, environmental pro-
tection, construction, photogrametry, etc.. A recommendation was also made that
when ECE bodies, such as the ECE/FAO Working Party on Mechanization of Agriculture,
the Senior Advisors to ECE Governments on Environmental Problems, the Timber Commi-
ttee, etc., have interests in these fields, they should jointly undertake activities.
In order to ensure the compatibility of aircraft with specialized equipment, inter-
national standardization should be encouraged by the appropriate specialized inter-
national organizations. Statistics and information should be systematically collec-
ted for the different activities of specialized aviation - agricultural and multi-
purpose - such as technical results, efficiency of different methods, etc. This
could be done by ECE in co-operation with FAO and other relevant international or-
ganizations, as well as national and other organizations. International exchange
of information in the field of agriculture and other specialized aviation activities
should be promoted by ECE, FAO, ILO and other international organizations, parti-
cularly the International Agricultural Aviation Centre (IAAC); as a first step in
such an exchange of information it was recommended that the reports and procee-
dings of the present seminar should be published.