Which operation change would have minimal effect on the safety and effectiveness of an aerial application?

Moving to a different mixing loading location is an operational change that would have minimal effect on the safety and effectiveness of an aerial application. This is because the primary factors influencing the success and safety of aerial applications are often related to flight parameters, such as altitude and speed, as well as the pilot's skill and judgment during the application process.

The mixing and loading location is primarily concerned with the efficiency and correctness of preparing the application materials, but it does not directly influence how the application is conducted once airborne. As long as the new location meets safety and environmental standards, the impact on the actual aerial application process is likely to be negligible.

In contrast, changing the pilot can greatly affect the performance because a pilot’s experience and skill level can significantly influence the safety of the flight and the effectiveness of the application. Adjustments in flight altitude and application speed are crucial factors that can directly impact droplet distribution, coverage, and the potential for drift, making them more significant in terms of safety and effectiveness than the location of mixing and loading materials.