Eric Bradley in front of the AT-802 aircraft that he flies for FPL.

Forest Protection Limited (FPL) has been an integral part of the Canadian Aviation landscape for 69 years. The staff have helped keep the forests safe from pest outbreaks and played an important role through the provision of Aerial Firefighting in almost every province in Canada over the course of the corporation’s history. Our incredible team of aviators makes our company proud, and we thought we should celebrate the occasion by interviewing one of our most seasoned veterans and one of our up-and-coming pilots about their experiences in aerial application aviation. What follows is a series of questions and answers between Steven Hansen, FPL’s Managing Director, and Eric Bradley, who has been associated with FPL in one form or another since 1976, plus Dan Robb, who joined the FPL ranks as an AME in 2012 and worked his way into a pilot role by 2018.

Dan Robb in front of an AT-504 in the summer of 2019.

1. How did you get into flying, and when?

Bradley: “Flying was in my family. Dad was a recreational pilot and owned a war surplus de Havilland Tiger Moth. I flew with him throughout my childhood and was licensed at the Fredericton Flying Club as soon as I was old enough – 1970 when a Piper Cherokee rented out for $15 an hour. I never considered commercial flying and was on path to become a biologist until I’d already graduated with a BSc and had hit a personal life crossroads.”
Robb: “I got interested in flying when I was about 7. Building models and flying radio-controlled aircraft came naturally to me. I soon became a dedicated air cadet which enabled me to be involved with full-size certified aircraft and gliders to fuel my interest in the nuts-and-bolts as well.

2. What drew you to work in Ag / Forestry aviation?

Bradley: “FPL and spruce budworm spraying had always been in my life. It was a sure sign of spring when we could hear TBM’s being readied for spray flying around the Fredericton area. I had tried out for a pointer/navigator position while I was at college (UNB) but failed to make the cut. My 2nd job as a commercial pilot was in 1977 as a pointer pilot on a Cessna 172 for the FPL spray project. I didn’t know it then, but that was to be the biggest project ever for FPL spruce budworm spray. (My first job in 1976 was flying fire patrol out of Dunphy in a Tri-Pacer. I was replacing the regular pilot who had taken leave to fly for FPL on budworm spray as a pointer pilot.) Even as I began my commercial pilot career, I knew I wasn’t military or airline material. For some reason (I shake my head today…) flying the TBM seemed like a worthy aspiration and TBM pilots (some ex-air force, some experienced bush and ag pilots) seemed to be the pinnacle of success.”
Robb: “I was lucky enough to be hired at FPL as an apprentice AME in 2012 after working a year in Labrador. I enjoyed the simplicity and rugged nature of Ag aircraft which inspired me to own and fly my own conventional gear aircraft soon after.”

Early in his flying career, Dan Robb pictured with his Cessna 172

3. Share a brief pilot history including the types of aircraft you have flown, pilot roles fulfilled, and industry experience, etc.

Bradley: “I eventually flew the Cessna 180/185 taildraggers in support of the budworm spray project and used grants from government programs to take spray training and get my start in ag aviation. In 1981 I took a spray course at Lakeland College in Alberta and spent the rest of the year pursuing my skydiving hobby. I returned to work with FPL on the “small spray” Cessna 188 where I fortuitously met my future wife (an FPL pointer) and my future employers – General Airspray. I spent 10 years with General Airspray flying the Super Cub on winter seeding contracts and the Grumman Ag Cat doing budworm spray in NB and northern Ontario forestry herbicide contracts. I also got married and started a family. Fredericton continued to be my home. By 1995 the TBM spray had ended but I was lucky to be hired as a TBM pilot doing the NB fire suppression contract. I remember being checked out in the TBM. It was single-seat, so no dual. Getting the engine started with the mechanic on the wing was a real challenge. It was so noisy on take-off that I couldn’t slide the side canopy open, and I could hardly think. I had a typical first flight – a little bobble when airborne while I struggled with the multi-fingered gear retraction lever(s), and then a slight descent as the power came off (all by itself…) because the vibrations had caused the throttle linkage (with insufficient throttle tension set) to slide back to idle… I made a quick recovery (as all TBM pilots have done) and was shipped off to Miramichi for the next 25 years. During that time, the TBM was retired and the new Air Tractor with air conditioning, auto-pilot, fingertip controls, and a nice new turbine engine became the air tanker of choice. I had flown nearly 900 hours on the TBM and always had the grin – along with blisters, aching muscles, ringing ears, and the constant worry watching for potential engine issues and the dreaded shaking cowl. I learned to enjoy flying with the side canopies open, but the noise never diminished. When my radio communications were garbled, they’d tell me to shut the windows and try again. I was, eventually, able to think…”

Robb: “Having a background in air cadets, flying powered paragliders, and working full time as a licensed AME I worked hard and achieved my private and commercial pilots license in 2014. I flew my 1953 Cessna 170B every day after work for fun and before I knew it, I had enough hours to apply at FPL as a pilot in 2018. For the last 3 years, I have been flying fire patrol in a Piper Aerostar along with some Birddog and shadow roles during fire operations. I was trained in-house in an AT504 in forestry application which led to my trip to Battleford, Saskatchewan for professional AG flying training in 2019. Later that season I took part in the budworm project based in Charlo, NB flying the AT 502B as well as the 2020 season with a deployment to Port-Au-Choix, NL.”

Dan Robb pictured with Fran DeKock in front of an AT-504 at Battleford Airspray.

4. What are some highlights from your career(s) to date? Specific events or accomplishments you are proud of?

Bradley: “During FPL’s association with AgNav I was sent to South America on an AgNav promotion tour. Even though I had no Spanish, it was the trip of a lifetime.”
Robb: “Some highlights are my trip to Port-Au-Choix, NL as the Air Mission Commander in 2020 and my experience I gained as a bird dog pilot in 2020 working many fires in the province of NB.”

5. What are some changes you have seen throughout your career?

Bradley: “FPL was always an industry leader in innovation. When DGPS guidance came out, FPL was one of the early adopters of the new AgNav system. I was involved from the beginning and had to learn some computer skills. Our Cessna 188 was a testbed and did some of the early development work. The system we use today, GUIA, is much improved and works brilliantly. Today, a new spray pilot can be taught to use the DGPS guidance system with auto-booms and flow control and he can do an excellent job of aerial application right from the start. In the old days, we had experienced spray pilots who were exceptionally skilled.”
Robb: “Some changes I have seen in the industry is a strong drive to do the job well and also doing it in the safest manner as possible instead of just getting the job done.”
Hansen: “I agree with both of you. I think FPL has been out front of a lot of the technology that is in use today in the industry, and there is no doubt that pilots want to do their job well and safely. I think safety has to be at the heart of every decision we make as a company and as an industry.“

6. What do you / have you enjoyed most about working for FPL? What changes have you seen over the years?

Bradley: “FPL has always been an excellent employer who looked after its equipment and its pilots. I was always grateful not to have to worry about flying decrepit aircraft overloaded and wondering if my next paycheque would show up. The Air Tractor 802 has turned out to be an excellent TBM replacement and an excellent forestry sprayer and bomber. I take great pride in representing FPL in top notch equipment.”
Robb: “What I enjoy about FPL is the small team of staff that are dedicated to their work and like what they do. A great team to work with. I have seen a lot of positive changes at FPL over the years, always focusing in on safety and health and well-being of all employees.”

7. What are some key messages you would like to pass on to the next generation of Ag / Forestry aviators?

Bradley: “I think the “risk management” required of our low-level operations is best served by advice to “find something that works and do the same procedure over and over”. Professionalism is reflected in the repetition of success. If you look good, you feel good which leads to doing well.”

8. What should FPL continue to work towards as it continues to operate in the future?

Robb: “FPL should continue to focus on and promote professionalism and safety, as well as providing great education and ongoing training for staff.”

9. Any parting thoughts/comments you would like to make?

Robb: “No matter how distant a goal may seem in the beginning; some hard work and dedication can make it a reality.”
Hansen: “Couldn’t agree more Dan. FPL’s values (Professionalism, Intelligence, Reliability, & Sustainability) have helped us to become the Centre of Excellence for Aerial Work in Atlantic Canada. That is in no small part because of the years of continual hard work and dedication of our talented team of pilots, AMEs and staff.

This year FPL is gearing up for its most comprehensive pilot training package in anticipation of what promises to be an incredibly busy year, with a couple hundred thousand hectares of budworm aerial treatment in New Brunswick and Newfoundland, and fire service to any jurisdiction in the Atlantic region who have a need. We will welcome our pilots back to the ground and air training in the first week of April and will be fully operational by 01 May 2021.