So far 2020 remains dry for most farmers in our area with a few exceptions for those in the far eastern and western parts of our district. Most canola has been seeded and we are keeping reasonably busy baiting for snails and mice. A good drop of rain would be most welcome right now as we have passed the traditional time for our season break. 2019 was also dry up until August when reasonable rains fell giving many farmers promise only to have it taken away with a major frost event in September. Insect activity kept SEAA busy through October but 2019 for SEAA overall provided half of the work that we would normally do. 

In October Scott participated in Dunn Aviations’ fire bombing training course in Bunbury and Collie. This was followed by some on the job training generously provided by Neville Dunn out of Jandakot Airport in his AT 504. Unfortunately WA fire activity ramped up and this was discontinued, however following a call from Pays Air Service in late December, Scott took our AT802 to NSW to undertake sub-contract firebombing work for that company who contract to NAFC, the NSW RFS and other fire authorities. Scott and aircraft were based in the Riverena town of Wagga, working from there and Tumut in the Snowy Mountain area with many other aircraft from various companies mainly on the Dunns’ Rd. fire that caused major destruction to the towns and districts of Batlow and Tumburumba. The aircraft ran faultlessly and kept busy for the time it was there until good rains led to a major decrease in fire activity in the region. The aircraft came home in late February.

2017 was a successful year for those involved in the agricultural industry in the southern grain growing area of Western Australia with good quality grain and higher than expected crop yields.

A new AT502 was purchased from the USA through Fieldair in Ballarat in early 2017 and shipped into Australia where it was re-assembled and put on the Australian register prior to pick up in August and ferried home to Esperance by Scott Mackie. It was put to work straight away spraying fungicide and was a welcome addition to the fleet that was keeping busy with demand for our services at the time.

Soon after the arrival of our new plane Alan and Carson Corr from Agri-spray Consulting based in the U.S.A. arrived in Esperance on their tour of Australia, checking and testing the spray patterns of ag aircraft. This tour was organised by the Aerial Application association of Australia. Our aircraft were tested here in Esperance and both Alan and ourselves were very pleased with the results which proved that our aircraft are applying agricultural chemicals accurately, evenly and responsibly.

2018 so far sees us applying mouse and snail bait prior to seeding which has now started. We remain hopeful for another good season.

2013 proved to be a successful season for those involved in agriculture in the south eastern wheat-belt area of Western Australia. Good rains throughout the growing season produced exceptional grain yields, providing a much needed boost to those who had been struggling with dry seasons for the past few years.

The crew at South East Air Ag kept busy starting in March, progressing through the season, operating up to five aircraft for a period, matching demand for our services as they were required, tapering off as the harvest progressed, with only two aircraft operating at the end of December, one spraying stubbles and the other sub-contracted to Dunn Aviation, being used on a fire-bombing contract.

A second prime mover was purchased early in 2013. New trailers and a tri dolly were purchased in October to cart fertiliser and grain with around 11,800 tonnes of grain moved this harvest with the two road trains.