What is the best practice for aircraft maintenance before aerial application?

Conducting thorough pre-flight inspections is essential for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of aerial applications. These inspections help identify any potential mechanical issues, fuel levels, and the overall readiness of the aircraft for its mission. Ensuring that all systems, such as the spray equipment and navigation tools, are functioning correctly is critical to prevent accidents and equipment failure during application. This practice not only safeguards the pilot and aircraft but also protects the environment and crops being treated, as any malfunction could lead to spills or misapplications of pesticides and fertilizers.

Flying the aircraft without checks compromises safety and operational integrity, as does focusing solely on inspecting the exterior, which does not address internal systems that are crucial for flight. While scheduling maintenance checks after each flight is important, it does not replace the necessity of conducting inspections before each flight to catch issues preemptively. Therefore, thorough pre-flight inspections represent the best practice in preparing an aircraft for aerial application.