Career Spotlight: Spray Plane Pilot

Spray planes, also known as crop dusters, are a vital part of agriculture, ensuring healthy crops and strong yields. For this Career Spotlight, we talked with Coby Dougherty, an ag pilot from Heppner, Oregon, and Cassandra and Stefanie Lepp from southwest Manitoba, Canada. Though their roles look a little different, Coby in the cockpit, and Cassandra and Stefanie running ground crew, they share the same passion for agriculture, aviation, and the spray plane community.

Background + Career Path

Tell us who you are and what you do.
Coby: “I’m from Heppner, Oregon, but currently based in Sacramento, California, working as an ag pilot — or crop duster.”

Cassandra & Stefanie: “We farm and also ground crew for our dad’s air spray company in southwest Manitoba.”

How did you get into aerial application?
Coby grew up on a cattle and wheat ranch and thought farming would be his path. But flying always fascinated him. With encouragement from pilots he worked alongside, he pursued aviation — chasing the feeling of waking up excited to work every day.

For Cassandra and Stefanie, aerial application is a family business. Their dad earned his commercial license and started his company while also building Springland Mfg. “We started helping out about 15 years ago,” they said. “Ground crew is a job we take seriously. We don’t want anyone else taking care of our dad out there.”

What kind of training did you need?
Coby attended Riggins Flight Service in South Dakota, where he logged 250 flight hours, earned multiple licenses and ratings, and completed specialized ag flying courses.

For the Lepps, training has been hands-on from day one — working in tractors, mixing loads, and learning the precision and responsibility required on the ground.

What was your first job?
Coby’s first job was with Farm Air Flying Service in California’s Sacramento Valley, where he started with ground work before progressing into flying.

Cassandra and Stefanie were put straight into tractors when they wanted to farm, and quickly added ground crew duties at the airstrip.

Day-to-Day + Industry Insight

What does a typical day look like during busy season?
Coby: “From April through August, it’s seven days a week, usually 4 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m. We start at first light and go until the jobs are done.”

Lepps: “We’re at the airport before dawn, mixing the first load and checking the plane. Our dad’s job is to fly — we handle orders, fuel, water, food, weather, and making pit stops as quick as possible.”

What are some misconceptions about crop dusting?
Both Coby and the Lepps agree the biggest misconception is that the work is reckless and unsafe. In reality, ag pilots and crews undergo extensive, ongoing training with safety at the center of everything they do.

What’s your favorite part of the job? The hardest?
Coby loves being part of feeding the world — and flying every day. The hardest part for him is the long hours away from family and friends during the summer.

For Cassandra and Stefanie, the best part is the intensity of the pit crew lifestyle and serving their customers and dad. The hardest part? Weather. Dry years or wet years both bring their own challenges — and unlike farming, “we don’t have crop insurance. If the plane sits, we don’t get paid.”

How do you manage weather and working with farmers?
Coby compares it to farming: “If the weather is bad, we don’t fly. Just like you wouldn’t plow muddy ground.” Communication with farmers is straightforward and constant.

For the Lepps, weather is a daily battle — checked on multiple apps, hour by hour. “Safety is our priority, and we’re hyper vigilant about possible concerns.”

What crops do you typically spray, and what aircraft do you fly?
Coby sprays mostly rice in California, but also hay, corn, wheat, tomatoes, and trees. He currently flies Air Tractor 502Bs, with plans to move up to larger models.

The Lepps’ family operation flies an 802 Air Tractor and typically sprays canola, wheat, oats, sunflowers, and peas.

Advice + The Bigger Picture

What advice would you give someone who wants to become a spray pilot?
Coby: “Go for it! Don’t focus on the money, and don’t give up when it gets tough. The payoff at the end is worth it.”

Lepps: “Get involved on the ground first. Understanding chemicals and how critical the details are is essential. Ground crew is the best way to start.”

What qualities are most important for success?
Coby believes honesty, kindness, hard work, and humility are key — along with strong connections.

How does this job connect you to the ag + western community?
For Coby, aerial application keeps him rooted in agriculture and connected with farmers across the world.

What’s something people don’t realize about aerial application?
Coby: “Crop dusting is critical to the food supply. Without it, yields would be drastically lower, and a lot of food would be lost before harvest.”

Whether in the cockpit or on the ground, spray plane pilots and crews play an essential role in agriculture. For Coby, Cassandra, and Stefanie, it’s not just a job, it’s a way of life that blends aviation, farming, and playing a hand in feeding the world.