Generally, two professional pilots are needed to operate the aircraft. Agricultural Pilots fly airplanes or helicopters over farmlands at low altitude to dust or spray fields with fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides. Agricultural Pilots also plant small fish in streams or lakes, fight forest fires and spread seeds over fields. Precision seeding by these pilots contributes greatly to higher crop yields. Photogrammetry Pilots are aerial photographers who fly at specified altitudes and speed, photographing areas of the earth's surface for mapping and other photogrammetric purposes.
Pilots plan their flights carefully.
Before departure they check to be sure that all equipment is in working order. Airline Pilots confer with company flight dispatchers and weather forecasters. Takeoffs and landings are the most difficult parts of the flight. The actual flight is relatively easy unless the weather is bad. Most of the time when the plane is in the air, it is being flown by automatic pilot.