Crop Dusting & Aerial Application Insurance
Specialist Insurance for Agricultural Aviation Operators
Crop dusting and aerial application work is fast-moving, highly specialised, and full of responsibility. Whether you operate fixed-wing ag aircraft, helicopters, or commercial drones, the right crop dusting insurance can help protect your aircraft, pilots, equipment, and business from the risks that come with agricultural aviation.
At AGL Aviation, we help arrange practical aerial application insurance for operators involved in crop spraying, fertiliser spreading, aerial seeding, pest control, forestry work, precision agriculture, and more. From aircraft hull cover to aviation aerial application liability insurance, we can help you find cover that suits the way you actually operate.
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Crop Dusting Insurance Built Around Real Agricultural Aviation Work
Crop dusting and aerial application work is a very hands-on part of agriculture. It helps farmers, landholders, contractors, and rural businesses cover large areas quickly.
Crop dusting insurance is specialist cover for aircraft and operators involved in this kind of agricultural flying. CASA recognises aerial application as a defined aviation operation, including flights by aeroplane to apply application material and related activities such as preparation, inspection, travel, and training.
That is why aerial application insurance needs to be more specific than a standard aircraft policy. Agricultural aircraft often work low, close to crops, fences, trees, powerlines, rural infrastructure, vehicles, people, and neighbouring properties. CASA reported 445 agricultural flying occurrences in Australia between 2014 and 2023, including 71 accidents and 7 fatal accidents, which shows why this sector needs careful risk management and specialist aviation knowledge.
There is also the chemical side of the work. Off-target pesticide spray drift is a concern for both the community and the agricultural industry, with potential impacts on human health, the environment, agriculture, and trade. This is one reason operators may need aviation aerial application liability insurance, chemical drift liability, public liability, and broader agricultural aviation liability insurance.
AGL Aviation helps arrange agricultural aviation insurance for a wide range of operators. This may include cover for aircraft hull, pilots, liability, ground equipment, hangars, chemical drift exposure, and specialist aircraft needs.
In short, this is not just insurance for an aircraft. It is protection for the aircraft, the operator, the people on the ground, the work being done, and the business behind every flight.
Who We Insure
Agricultural aviation is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The aircraft and equipment, pilot, liability, and operational risks for each spray run, helicopter operation, and precision application via drone to broadacre crops differ.
This is why it is important to understand how the crop duster works before purchasing insurance for it.
AGL Aviation is dedicated to providing practical cover to aviation companies, contractors, and agricultural operators whose livelihoods depend on operating aircraft, crews, and equipment near crops, rural infrastructure, chemicals and evolving weather conditions.
▶ Fixed-Wing Agricultural Aircraft Operators
Fixed-wing crop spraying, fertiliser spreading, aerial seeding, pest and weed control and aerial application services are offered to operators supported by AGL Aviation. We can help with more specific insurance requirements, such as thrush insurance, ag aircraft insurance, and custom insurance for agricultural aviation using fixed-wing aircraft.
▶ Agricultural Helicopter Operators
In situations where access, terrain, or the type of work dictates it, helicopters are often more suitable than fixed-wing aircraft. AGL Aviation specialises in working with agricultural helicopter operators that require cover to match how they fly, where they work, and what they apply. This can involve aircraft hull cover, public liability, pilot cover and optional extensions such as agricultural aviation liability insurance, depending on the extent of the operation.
▶ Agricultural Drone Operators
Drones are now a serious part of agricultural aviation. AGL Aviation can help commercial operators with agricultural drone insurance for spraying, monitoring, surveying, and precision agriculture. Cover may include drone equipment, third-party liability, risk of loss of the payload, and protection of business equipment.
▶ Agricultural Aviation Businesses
Some agricultural aviation companies have several aircraft, pilots, ground crew, chemicals, and equipment, and fly throughout several areas for application. These businesses are not necessarily the type that would benefit from a simple aircraft policy. AGL Aviation can help agricultural aviation businesses arrange insurance that packages aircraft cover, liability cover, hangar or property cover, ground equipment cover, chemical drift liability cover, and other optional cover.
▶ Owner-Operators and Aerial Application Contractors
AGL Aviation provides owner-operators and aerial application contractors with crop-dusting insurance solutions that are transparent, usable, and appropriate for the actual operating environment. We know how to arrange aerial application insurance, whether the operation is small or large, whether the firm uses one aircraft seasonally or multiple aircraft throughout the year.
Types of Aerial Application Operations Covered
Aerial application jobs can vary significantly from job to job. It might be broadacre crop spraying one day, then fertiliser spreading, pest control, forestry or even drone monitoring of crops the next.
That variety is what makes crop dusting insurance and aerial application insurance need to be shaped around the real work being done, and not necessarily the aircraft on the policy. AGL Aviation can assist operators in arranging cover for all agricultural aviation activities, including fixed-wing, helicopter, and drone operations.
- Crop Spraying: Spraying crops is one of the most well-known uses of aerial application, but it is by no means trivial. For operators carrying out crop spraying, AGL Aviation can assist with aviation aerial application liability insurance, aircraft hull cover, chemical drift liability, and broader agricultural aviation insurance designed around the aircraft, pilot, application work, and business exposure.
- Fertiliser Spreading: For broadacre farming, hilly land, wet paddocks, and areas with difficult access, aerial fertiliser spreading can be a viable approach. AGL Aviation can facilitate insurance arrangements for the use of aircraft in agricultural activities for fertiliser, soil treatment products, or other agricultural inputs.
- Aerial Seeding: Aerial seeding can be useful where speed, scale, or access matters. For operators involved in aerial seeding, AGL Aviation can help review the aircraft type, payload system, operating area, and contractor arrangements so the aerial application insurance reflects the job properly.
- Pest and Weed Control: Pest and weed control is a major part of agricultural aviation, especially where fast coverage or difficult access is required. AGL Aviation can assist operators undertaking pest and weed control with crop-dusting insurance, chemical drift liability, public liability, and aviation-specific cover.
- Forestry Operations: AGL Aviation can help forestry aviation operators consider cover for aircraft, pilots, ground equipment, third-party liability, and chemical application risks. This is where agricultural aviation insurance needs to account for the entire operation, not just the aircraft registration.
- Mosquito and Vector Control: For operators involved in mosquito, larvicide, or vector control work, AGL Aviation can help arrange aviation aerial application liability insurance and other relevant cover based on the aircraft, application method, operating area, and public exposure.
- Precision Agriculture: Precision agriculture is making aerial work more targeted and data-driven. AGL Aviation can assist operators who use aircraft or drones for precision application, targeted spraying, mapping, or data-led agricultural work. For drone operators, agricultural drone insurance can be arranged to help cover equipment, liability, payload-related risks, and commercial operations.
- Crop Monitoring and Aerial Surveying: Not every aerial agriculture job involves applying material. Some aircraft and drone operators focus on crop monitoring, aerial surveying, mapping, and land inspection. AGL Aviation can help operators arrange agricultural aviation insurance for crop monitoring and aerial surveying work, depending on whether the operation uses fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, or drones.
Insurance Solutions
The risk of agricultural aviation is very practical. Aircraft are flying low and close to crops, trees, powerlines, chemicals, vehicles, people and rural property. Cover in this specialist industry is critical, as CASA’s agricultural flying sector data revealed 445 incidents occurred in Australia between 2014 and 2023, including 7 fatal accidents and 71 accidents.
That is where crop-dusting insurance goes beyond being just an aircraft policy. AGL Aviation can assist operators in arranging aerial application insurance tailored to the aircraft, pilots, equipment, chemical exposure, liability risks, and the work being performed on the farm.
Aeroplane hull insurance is intended to cover the aircraft itself. This can include fixed-wing ag aircraft, helicopters, and commercial drones for spraying, spreading, and seeding, as well as for monitoring and other agricultural operations. AGL Aviation offers a wide range of hull cover insurance for all types of agricultural aircraft, fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and drone equipment.
Air Tractor aircraft or other ag aircraft operated by operators can also benefit from more specific coverages, including thrush insurance, as part of a broader agricultural aviation insurance program.
Aviation liability insurance protects the operator against third-party claims arising from aviation activities. These risks may be associated with flight operations, aircraft movement, aerial application work, or damage to third-party property in agricultural aviation.
Whether the operation involves spraying crops, fertiliser spreading, aerial seeding, forestry or pest control, AGL Aviation can help arrange aviation aerial application liability insurance to cover how and where it is used.
If the business’s operations result in injury or damage to third parties on land outside of the aircraft, then public liability insurance can help protect the business.
For AGL Aviation clients, public liability can be considered alongside agricultural aviation liability insurance, as the business would not rely on just one type of cover when multiple risks may be present.
Chemical drift liability is a key component of crop dusting insurance. AGL Aviation can help operators review whether chemical drift liability should be included in their aerial application insurance, especially where the business carries out spraying, pest control, weed control, forestry work, or mosquito and vector control.
For operators wishing to have cover attached to named pilots, approved pilots, injury-related exposures, or any other condition attached to a specific pilot, pilot cover would be considered. This will be helpful for companies that have more than one pilot, seasonal pilots, contract pilots, or specialist pilots in farming.
Businesses with multiple pilots may also want to consider group air pilot award insurance or pilot and aviation life insurance for added protection.
When insuring agricultural aviation, AGL Aviation can assist in reviewing pilot experience, aircraft type, operating history and type of work.
Agricultural aviation is not limited to aircraft. Some operators use pumps, loaders, mixing systems, spray equipment, vehicles, trailers, support equipment, drone controllers, batteries, charging systems and other ground equipment.
Ground equipment insurance can help safeguard the equipment and machinery that keep the operation running.
This can also be a component of an agricultural drone insurance package for drone operators, covering the drone, drone controllers, ground support equipment, and commercial equipment.
There are many types of agricultural aviation equipment and businesses, such as hangars, sheds, workshops, offices, chemical storage areas, aircraft parts, and support equipment.
AGL Aviation can help operators consider hangar and property insurance as part of a wider agricultural aviation insurance program, especially when aircraft, spare parts, tools, equipment, and business assets are stored.
Optional covers can provide complete coverage for each aerial application business and will vary by company. This can cover more than one aircraft, spare parts, business interruption, transit, non-owned aircraft liability, additional pilots, drones, specialist spray equipment, or increased liability limits.
AGL Aviation can assist all fixed-wing, helicopter and drone operators in creating an aerial application insurance package tailored to the actual application.
Aircraft We Cover
Aircraft have a variety of roles in aerial agriculture. Because the aircraft, payload, operating area, and application method can all change the risk profile, crop dusting insurance should be based on the aircraft being used, as the risk profile may vary depending on the aircraft, payload, operating area and application method. Cover for aerial applications for fixed-wing aircraft, agricultural helicopters, and commercial agricultural drones can be arranged by AGL Aviation, designed around the operator’s work rather than the aircraft type.
▶ Fixed-Wing Agricultural Aircraft
Many aerial application operations rely on fixed-wing agricultural aircraft as the workhorses. AGL Aviation can help fixed-wing operators with agricultural aviation insurance, which can include aircraft hull cover, aviation aerial application liability, chemical drift liability, pilot cover, and public liability. This can apply to virtually any ag aircraft, including those for traditional crop dusting, spraying, spreading, and seeding operations.
▶ Agricultural Helicopters
Agricultural helicopters are frequently employed when manoeuvrability, precision, or access to certain areas is required, or when fixed-wing aircraft or ground equipment are unavailable. AGL Aviation can help helicopter operators arrange their agricultural aviation liability insurance, hull cover, public liability, chemical drift liability, pilot cover, and other cover options, depending on the aircraft, operating area, and type of work being performed.
▶ Commercial Agricultural Drones
Today, commercial agricultural drones are a new and important component of modern agricultural aviation. If operators need an agricultural drone insurance policy for commercial drone operations, AGL Aviation can help. Cover may be provided for the operation, the payload system, ground equipment, third-party liability, and other risks associated with the agricultural applications of a drone.
Aircraft & Manufacturers We Insure
Aerial agriculture in Australia encompasses all types of aircraft, ranging from reliable, robust fixed-wing agricultural aircraft to helicopters and commercial drones. It’s helpful to distinguish three items before deciding on the proper crop dusting insurance: the manufacturer, the model and the type of aircraft.
AGL Aviation is well equipped to arrange agricultural aviation insurance across these different aircraft types, including hull, liability, pilot, chemical drift, ground equipment, and other risks.
| Aircraft / Manufacturer | Type | Key Cover Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Air Tractor | Fixed-wing ag aircraft | Hull cover, liability, chemical drift, pilot cover, and aerial application risks. |
| Thrush Aircraft | Fixed-wing ag aircraft | Aircraft value, spray equipment, pilot experience, chemical exposure, & third-party risks. |
| PAC Cresco | Turboprop ag aircraft | Hull, liability, payload, chemical drift, pilot cover, and commercial use. |
| Cessna Ag Wagon | Legacy ag aircraft | Aircraft age, maintenance, parts availability, pilot experience, and application exposure. |
| Robinson Helicopters | Agriculture helicopter | Hull, liability, chemical drift, public liability, and low-level work risks. |
| Bell Helicopters | Utility helicopter | Rural work, spraying, pest control, forestry support, and agricultural operations. |
| MD Helicopters | Utility helicopter | Hull, liability, pilot cover, and agricultural or rural use. |
| Commercial Agricultural Drones | Drone | Drone equipment, third-party liability, payload risks, mapping, spraying, and crop monitoring. |
▶ Air Tractor Insurance
In agricultural aviation, models of Air Tractor aircraft are common and are designed for aerial application, firefighting, and utility applications. Depending on the aircraft’s use, cover may consist of aircraft hull insurance, aviation aerial application liability insurance, chemical drift liability, aircraft pilot cover, and more.
▶ Thrush Aircraft Insurance
Thrush Aircraft is yet another significant company in agricultural aviation. When applying cover, consider both the value of the aircraft and the type of spray equipment, the pilot’s experience and chemical exposure, third-party risks and the environment in which the sprayer operates because Thrush aircraft are frequently used for aerial application work.
▶ PAC Cresco Insurance
The PAC Cresco is a turboprop agricultural aircraft type that is related to heavy agricultural/utility aircraft. AGL Aviation can assist the operator in arranging agricultural aviation insurance that aligns with the aircraft’s use, location, payload, and commercial use if the operator has a PAC Cresco in aerial agriculture. This can cover aircraft hull cover, liability, chemical drift cover, pilot cover and other bespoke coverages.
▶ Cessna Ag Wagon Insurance
For operators with a Cessna Ag Wagon or similar legacy ag aircraft, AGL Aviation can assist with Cessna Insurance that considers the aircraft’s age, use, maintenance profile, parts availability, pilot experience, and aerial application exposure.
▶ Robinson Helicopter Insurance
Robinson helicopter insurance may be suitable for operators using Robinson helicopters across commercial, utility, agricultural, or rural applications. AGL Aviation can assist agricultural helicopter operators with arranging coverage, including hull, agricultural aviation liability, chemical drift liability, pilot cover, and/or public liability. This is particularly critical for low-level or precision work when terrain, obstructions and conditions change rapidly.
▶ Bell Helicopter Insurance
Bell’s commercial helicopter line includes the Bell 505, Bell 407, Bell 429, Bell 412 and the Bell 525. Depending on configuration and operator needs, these aircraft can fly in a wide variety of commercial, utility and regional applications. AGL Aviation can assist Bell operators seeking insurance for agricultural aviation, particularly if the aircraft is utilised for rural work, spraying, pest control, forestry support, or other agricultural-related aerial operations.
▶ MD Helicopters Insurance
For operators of MD aircraft in agricultural and rural applications, AGL Aviation can assist with setting up agricultural aviation liability insurance, hull cover, and pilot cover, as well as other options depending on the aircraft’s application.
▶ Commercial Agricultural Drone Insurance
Aerial agriculture is now an important commercial drone activity. AGL Aviation can help operators with agricultural drone insurance for flights to monitor crops, survey, spray, map, and perform precision agriculture. Cover may comprise drone equipment, third-party liability, payload risks, ground equipment and commercial aviation liability, depending on the operation.
▶ Tailored Cover for Agricultural Aircraft
The right crop dusting insurance should match the right aircraft and the job. AGL Aviation can assist agricultural operators in arranging application insurance that can be customised to meet the specific needs of the aircraft, application method, pilot experience, chemical exposure, liability limits, ground equipment, and business structure.
Why Choose AGL Aviation
When you work in aerial agriculture, insurance is not just another paperwork task. It is behind every spray run, each ferry flight, every pilot decision, every chemical load and every aircraft in the hangar waiting for the next job.
This is why crop-dusting insurance products are given more careful consideration than an ordinary business policy. Flying over agricultural fields is not without its operational risks.
AGL Aviation provides operators with effective, structured aerial application insurance cover for fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, drones, pilots, equipment, and liability across agricultural practices throughout Australia.
- Aviation Insurance Specialists: Agricultural aviation is a specialised area, which is why working with an experienced aviation insurance team can make a real difference. AGL Aviation knows that insurance for agricultural aviation should be more than just the aircraft. This is why a cover is vital for operators seeking aviation aerial application liability insurance.
- Extensive Industry Knowledge: Aerial application is not a simple operation. There is also a risk associated with applying chemicals. By taking the time to discuss these risks appropriately with AGL Aviation, an operator’s agricultural aviation insurance will accurately cover the real aircraft being used for agricultural purposes, rather than a generic description on a form.
- Access to Leading Aviation Insurers: Whether or not the agricultural operation requires crop dusting insurance, aerial application insurance, agricultural drone insurance, aircraft hull cover, liability cover or a multi-aircraft operation, AGL Aviation can provide the information necessary to agriculture insurance providers. For many operators, this will save time and minimise the risk of the wrong cover for the aircraft, the job, and the exposure.
- Tailored Insurance Solutions: Every aerial application company is unique! AGL Aviation can customise agricultural aviation insurance coverage based on aircraft type, geographic location, pilot experience, equipment, limits of liability, amount of application work, and business structure. This can range from aviation aerial application liability, chemical drift liability, hull cover, ground equipment cover, hangar and property insurance, and/or agricultural drone insurance.
- Claims Support and Assistance: If there are problems, operators need clear guidance, not confusion. AGL Aviation can support clients through insurance claims by providing information on what they may need, how the claim is being managed, and the next steps. This kind of advice can make a difference, particularly if they are claiming for damage to aircraft, third-party liability, chemical drift, ground equipment, or business interruption.
- Australia-Wide Service: AGL Aviation can help operators across Australia with crop-dusting insurance and tailored insurance for agricultural aviation. Whatever aircraft you fly, AGL Aviation will be able to provide cover that meets the aircraft, the operation and the risks associated with the work.
- Practical Cover for Real Agricultural Aviation Work: If it is not an insurance that works in the real world, it is not an insurance that aerial application operators need. AGL Aviation assists operators in arranging aerial application insurance that is practical, sensible and job-specific. It’s all about protecting what’s important to you.
How to Get Started
Request a Quote From AGL
Need cover for your agricultural aircraft, helicopter, drone, or aerial application business? AGL Aviation can help you arrange practical insurance built around the way you operate.
Our team can guide you through your options and help you find a solution that fits your aircraft, work, and risk exposure.
To get started:
Step 1: Contact us via phone, online form, or email.
Step 2: Provide basic details about your aircraft and how it’s used.
Step 3: Get a tailored quote quickly.
Contact our team for assistance with agricultural aviation insurance.
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Frequently asked questions
FAQs – Crop Dusting & Aerial Application Insurance
Operating agricultural aircraft comes with unique risks, and it’s natural to have questions about the right insurance cover. Our Crop Dusting & Aerial Application Insurance FAQs are designed to explain your options, answer the most common questions, and help you understand the cover available for aerial spraying, seeding, fertilising, and other agricultural aviation operations. Explore the answers below to find the information you need with confidence.
Crop dusting insurance is specialist insurance for aircraft and operators involved in agricultural operations, including crop spraying, fertiliser spreading, aerial seeding, pest control, and other material applications.
AGL Aviation’s type of cover isn’t all just about the plane. It can also take into account the pilot, the effects of chemical exposure, ground equipment, third-party liability, and, of course, the risks associated with agricultural flying.
Aerial application insurance can be arranged to help cover aircraft hull, aviation liability, public liability, chemical drift liability, pilot liability, ground equipment, hangar or property risks and optional additional cover as appropriate.
The correct configuration depends on aircraft usage. The risk profile of a fixed-wing aircraft spraying broad-acre crops will differ from that of a helicopter towing a spraying boom in difficult terrain or a drone performing precision spraying. AGL Aviation can assist the operator in ensuring that their aerial application liability insurance is arranged around the work being undertaken.
Commercial agricultural drones can, in fact, be insured. AGL Aviation can provide agricultural operators with advice on agricultural drone insurance for commercial drone operations, including spraying, mapping, surveying, crop monitoring, and precision agriculture. The cover may include the drone, third-party liability, payload risks, and ground equipment, depending on the setup.
Yes, AGL Aviation can help find insurance for a helicopter in agricultural/rural operations. AGL Aviation can assist with arranging insurance for agricultural aviation, including helicopter hull cover, aviation liability, chemical drift cover, public liability, and pilot cover.
AGL Aviation typically requires information on the aircraft, pilots, type of operation, location, flying hours, claims history, aircraft value, chemical application work and ground equipment/hangar/property requirements for a quote. This is normal in insurance.
If the aircraft is being used for a more specialised purpose, the aircraft make and model, registration, usage, pilot experience, and other operational factors will be particularly significant.
Yes, multiple aircraft can be insured under a single policy, depending on the insurer, aircraft type(s), ownership structure, pilots, and operations involved.
This can be beneficial for agricultural aviation companies that operate a combination of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and/or drones. AGL Aviation will be able to assess if one insurance policy for all agricultural aviation activities is warranted, or if separate insurance is more appropriate for each aircraft and/or each operation.
Didn’t find the answers to your questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us.
