Becker Flying Service marks 75 years in business here

HARTINGTON — Becker Flying Service Inc. is now celebrating 75 years of service to the northeast Nebraska area.

The company was started in 1948 by Roman “Bud” and Esther Becker.

Bud and Esther Becker created a shop, hangar and two runways on their farm north of Hartington to support their operations.

The Hartington company is now in its third generation of providing aerial spraying services to the local farming community.

Bud trained his second son, Steve, to become a skilled spray pilot, and when their oldest son, Tom, returned from his service in Vietnam, both brothers joined the family venture, offering their assistance during spray seasons.

Later on, Chuck, their fourth son, also became involved in the business. As demand for their spraying services grew in the 1970s, the operations outgrew the farm and was relocated to the Hartington Airport, where the company remains today.

The Becker family has kept at it, even though tragedy struck in 1986 when Steve Becker, 36, lost his life in a helicopter crash. Despite this devastating loss, the family displayed remarkable resilience, carrying on with their duties and successfully managing the spray operations.

In 2001, Tom Becker established an aircraft maintenance business, which offered flight training and aircraft rental services.

In 2003, Tom acquired Becker Flying Service from his father and incorporated Becker Aircraft Maintenance with his thriving spraying business.

Tom also took charge of managing the Wayne Municipal Airport. The Wayne location now serves as a secondary hub for aircraft maintenance, flight training and aerial spraying operations.

Presently, Becker Flying Service employs a full-time mechanic and services nearly 100 planes annually, catering to customers as far as Rapid City, S.D., and Omaha.

The company firmly believes in the guiding principal that “A properly maintenance aircraft is a safe aircraft.”

John Becker, Tom’s son, is the third-generation operator of the company. John holds the positions of vice president, assists with daily operations and serves as the chief pilot for aerial spraying.

Tom’s wife, Gail Becker, and daughter, Janelle Becker, handle the booking of spraying acres, create computer maps for the pilots and manage the aerial application billing.

Karma Schulte, who has been with the company for more than 21 years, oversees day-to-day operations and serves as the chief financial officer.

Scott Carr, a certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic with an inspection authorization endorsement and director of maintenance, brings extensive experience of 33 years to his role.

Carr also holds his commercial pilot license and assists with aerial spraying operations. Tom’s motto, “Surround yourself with great people, and you will achieve success,” has been instrumental in shaping the company’s growth.

Over the years, aerial spraying at Becker Flying Service has undergone significant transformations. From Bud’s early days of spraying using a 1946 J-3 cub with a capacity of 40 gallons of chemical and water, the company now operates two Cessna 188 aircraft, each capable of carrying 200 gallons, three Ayres 510 Thrush aircraft with a capacity of 510 gallons each and a Piper PA25-235 that holds 150 gallons.

Leveraging computer mapping and guidance systems, the company ensures precise and highquality application that meets the unique requirements of each individual field.

With a 75-year history of exceptional customer service and unwavering dedication to its pilots and local farming community, Becker Flying Service takes great pride in its heritage.

This commitment to excellence has been passed down through the generations within the Becker family.