The UAV safety video debuted on NAAA’s Facebook page on
July 10. Since then, it has reached nearly 11,000 Facebook users, garnered 222
Likes and been shared more than 60 times. The video has also been played nearly
500 times. Among those sharing it have been the Colorado Department of
Agriculture and Colorado CattleWomen Inc., proof the video is reaching its
intended audience. Here are some of the comments the video elicited from those
who shared it:
If
you fly a DRONE, or hire one to work on your land, THIS IS LIFE-AND-DEATH
IMPORTANT...The pilots of crop-spraying airplanes can’t see a drone soon enough
to avoid it, so please please make sure drones and low-flying aircraft aren’t
in the same place at the same time...
If
you fly a drone for work or for play, please read this. I didn't even think
about this. Very little grain is being grown in our corner of the state, but
many people are using the services of crop dusters to spray for weeds like
white top and most recently to spray for grasshopper infestations.
This
is a great, if confronting clip by our US friends which give some great information
about Safely operating UAV’s in Agricultural areas. They are a great tool but
need to be used with caution when there are manned aircraft about. Please, if
you are intending to use a UAV and you are aware of an ag aircraft working
nearby, endeavour to contact the pilot or operator and let them know your
intentions. Additionally please be aware that if Fire Agencies observe a UAV in
the vicinity of a fire where waterbombing aircraft are working they will shut
us down until the UAV has gone. This may place property and lives at extra
unnecessary risk.
NAAA’s UAV safety stuffers are another great tool that
members can use to educate farmers, crop advisers and other agriculturalists about
the safety concerns ag pilots have about UAVs and offer recommendations for
safe and responsible UAV operations around manned aircraft. The double-sided
safety stuffers are printed on glossy, four-color paper and available in packs
of 100.
The UAV stuffers are free to NAAA Operator Members and
available to non-members for $25 per 100-pack. To order your UAV safety
stuffers contact NAAA at (202) 546-5722
(202) 546-5722 or information@agaviation.org. When emailing, please put “NAAA UAV Safety Stuffers”
in the subject line, indicate the number of packs desired and provide a mailing
address for shipping purposes. (Additional postage fees may apply for large
orders.) To learn more about NAAA’s UAV safety efforts, visit AgAviation.org/uavsafety.
