NAAA is getting ready to begin the 2018 Survey of Part 137 Operators and Pilots. It’s been six years since the last survey and now more than ever we need current and accurate data about what is happening in the aerial application industry.

A separate set of questions will be presented to operators and pilots. The information gathered in this survey is used to highlight the scope, importance and professionalism of the agricultural aviation industry. It is also used to counter theoretical overestimates of risk that federal agencies, such as the EPA, might make about aerial applications because of the actual data collected from survey responses. Results are also used to highlight potential threats to the future of the industry, such as towers and drones. The 2018 survey will contain questions about acres and crops treated, number of aircraft, drift mitigation techniques, wind turbines and met towers, drone encounters, health and additional important topics.

Many of the questions used in the 2018 survey are the same as those in the 2012 survey. This allows NAAA to track changes in the industry, which is beneficial for showing the adoption of technologies and techniques that improve accuracy and safety. As an example, recently the EPA has accepted that GPS is the dominant means of swath guidance in agricultural aviation and that human flaggers are no longer used.

Very shortly you will be receiving a letter, an email or both inviting you to participate in the survey. Included in the invitation will be a link directly to the survey. The survey is web-based on a secure website. The response to the first question asking if you are an owner/operator of a business that holds a part 137 certificate will either direct you to the operator or pilot set of questions. Operators should answer questions taking into account their entire operation and pilots should answer based on the aircraft they usually fly. Completing the survey should take no longer than about 20 minutes.

Completing this survey will help the industry communicate with farmers, constituents and policy makers and further inform decision makers. As in the 2012 survey, NAAA will be summarizing the results and sharing them with you and your colleagues.