ASTM International Standard Practice for Determining Application Rates and Distribution Patterns from Aerial Application Equipment ASTM E642-91(2008)

This practice covers uniform procedures for determining and reporting application rates and distribution patterns from agricultural aircraft. The procedures covered deal with both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft equipped with either liquid or dry material distribution systems. The physical characteristics of the liquid or dry material have an effect on the application rate and the distribution patterns. If inert test solutions for materials are substituted for the materials to be applied, they shall have physical characteristics similar to those of the material to be applied. If toxic materials are used in the tests, all safety precautions prescribed. A complete procedure shall consist of five parts: the first part is the determination of the output rate from the aircraft system, the second part involves the determination of the swath distribution pattern by recovery of the applied materials from suitable collectors, the third part covers the determination of usable swath width for field applications, the fourth part discusses the determination of the rate of application of the spray mixture or dry material, and the fifth and last part is the determination of the uniformity of distribution of several swaths.