Lancing is a type of aerial spot spraying used to treat individual trees/noxious weeds by using “Basal Bark mixture” applied by hand using the helicopter as an operational platform to ‘Chemically Ringbark’ tree trunks via a lance in a manner that wets the complete circumference of the trunk or lower stems. Most trees controlled in this way are small, and the “chemical ringbark” action is applied directly to the stem only and not the whole foliage. The release height above the tree is a matter of centimetres hence the overall herbicide use is more accurate and in considerably lower volumes than what most public perceive about aerial spraying. Spray drift from this product and application method is extremely low. A passenger crew person inside the helicopter sits holding the “lance” and applies the herbicide as the helicopter is piloted in a hover directly over the plant.

The ABBA method is particularly useful for widely scattered trees, inaccessible or unsafe areas (such as steep slopes) and in sensitive areas where specific targeting of wilding conifers is required amongst desirable vegetation or public assets.

Dead trees are left standing until they naturally rot away. It is the most efficient way to control scattered wildings in difficult-access areas or within high-value vegetation.