Brianne Osowski, Lynn Johnson, owner, Johnson Airspray – Grafton

In the heartland of America, aerial applicators like my brother, Tylor Lee Johnson, dance a delicate balance between the earth and sky. Their mission ensures our tables remain abundant, yet the profession is fraught with unseen dangers — dangers that took Tylor from us last week. Tragically, another aerial hero faced a similar fate just a week later, marking the 10th fatality in 2023.

These brave pilots play a pivotal role in our state’s economy and our daily lives. Every year, aerial application pilots treat approximately 127 million acres of cropland in the U.S., making up 28% of all commercial cropland in the country. Despite this vast responsibility, their safety remains compromised, and the heartbreaks in the small, tight-knit crop-dusting community aren’t isolated incidents; they’re alarmingly recurring. To put things in perspective, if nearly 1% of broader commercial airline pilots faced the same fate aerial applicators do, we’d be witnessing 350 tragedies annually.

The question looms: Why isn’t the risk faced by our aerial applicators met with the same urgency?

A significant hazard? Guy wires. Often camouflaged amidst crops, they lurk unseen and pose a grave threat. A fellow pilot noted, “Many guy wires are marked near their base, hidden by taller crops. How hard would it be to mark them more visibly?”

North Dakota, a drone technology hub, could provide part of the solution. Using geospatial data from our pioneering drone institutions, we can enhance flight maps for aerial applicators, marking potential dangers.

Our community, regulators, and institutions must unite for safer skies. As we remember Tylor and countless others like him, let their stories not just be tales of the past but catalysts for meaningful change. Our aerial applicators deserve to continue their vital work with fewer risks.

In memory of Tylor and all who’ve kissed the clouds, let’s champion a brighter, safer tomorrow for those who soar above.