Early in 2014, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released special investigation report (SIR) number SIR-14/01 detailing investigations of 78 ag accidents that occurred during 2013. All of these accidents involved some aspect of agricultural operations, pilot training, or other crop protection activities. Not all these accidents occurred during a part 137 operation but were tied to the ag industry close enough to warrant investigating their causes.

This week NAAREF submitted a third follow-up letter to inform the NTSB of the actions being taken on the Board’s safety recommendations. The four SIR safety recommendations to NAAREF and the FAA were:

1. Guidance for fatigue management is lacking for agricultural aircraft operations, and such guidance could help operators and pilots develop effective strategies to reduce the likelihood of fatigue, dehydration, hunger, and other physiological factors that can negatively affect a pilot’s concentration, decision-making, and performance.

2. Risk management guidelines and best practices specific to agricultural aircraft operations are necessary tools to help operators and pilots mitigate the unique risks associated with their operation. Risk management is a decision-making process by which pilots can systematically identify hazards, assess the degree of risk, and determine the best course of action.

3. A resource that contains detailed information related specifically to agricultural aircraft inspection, maintenance best practices, and quality assurance can reduce the likelihood that unsafe practices may be introduced and perpetuated.

4.Standards and procedures are essential for safe operations. Without a resource that contains detailed information related specifically to agricultural aircraft operations, knowledge and skills test topics in existing FAA guidance materials, unsafe, nonstandard practices can be introduced and perpetuated.

NAAREF’s responses listed in the letter sent to the Board this week are broken down and summarized by each recommendation as follows:

1.A-14-028 – Fatigue Management.

    a. The 2015-2016 PAASS Program Human Factors module was an excellent program on the topic of recognizing and mitigating the effects of fatigue in ag aviation.

    b. A brochure called “Combatting Fatigue in Ag Aviation” was created to remind pilots and operators of the dangers posed by fatigue. The brochure is available at PAASS Presentations.

    c.Fatigue, fatigue management, nutrition, dehydration and other physiological factors have been used as topics on Fly Safe bulletins.

    d.The May/June 2015 issue of Agricultural Aviation magazine was dedicated to the subject of fatigue. A total of eleven articles and sidebars covered fatigue as viewed from different perspectives. The July/August 2015 issue contained two additional fatigue articles.

    e.NAAREF produced a video on fatigue first for presentation at the NAAA convention’s safety session and then to be posted on the NAAA website’s “Safety and Education Videos” page.

2.A-14-029 – Risk Management.

    a.The 2016-2017 PAASS Human Factors module addressed the topic of risk management in aerial application. The program instructed attendees in becoming aware of potential risks; clearly identifying those risks; and managing those risks successfully.

    b.Obstructions are one of the major risks to the ag pilot. The NAAREF Safety Session at the 2015 NAAA national convention featured a video titled Wires and Obstructions discussing wires, trees, wind turbines, towers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The video is available for viewing on the website along with the fatigue video described above.

    c.Fly Safe safety reminders were sent to ag operations and Agricultural Aviation articles were written pertaining to risk mitigation.

3.A-14-030 – Aircraft Inspection and Maintenance.

    a.The 2017-2018 PAASS Human Factors module produced with the assistance of Tom Little, a former ag pilot and currently an NTSB accident investigator, selected accidents where improper or lack of maintenance was determined to be the accident’s cause. Each accident was analyzed, and the attendees were given a chance to discuss steps to prevent this type of accident.

    b.Maintenance has been and will continue to be used as the topic of Fly Safe bulletins and magazine articles.

4.A-14-031 – Knowledge and Skills Tests.

    a.A working group appointed by the NAAA Safety/Federal Aviation Regulations Committee will work with FAA and NTSB representatives to produce guidance on administration and content of the Part 137 knowledge and skills test. Information will be drawn from FAR Part 137, FSIMS 8900.1 and Advisory Circular 137-1B to produce guidance and a checklist for the industry’s use.