NAAA’s media overtures calling on UAV operators to take precautions around agricultural aircraft during the summer growing season continue to pay off. NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore discussed NAAA’s UAV safety recommendations and how drone users can contact aerial applicators during interviews on RFD-TV and RFD Radio Network.

Moore was a guest on RFD-TV’s “Market Day Report” (“MDR”) June 7. “As agricultural aircraft hit the skies this growing season, drone users need to operate in a responsible manner as well,” host Janet Adkison said before welcoming Moore to the program. He joined “MDR” by phone from NAAA’s headquarters in Virginia.

Adkison began by asking if there have been any close calls between a crop dusters and drones. (Answer: Yes, three close encounters in the past few years.) The host also asked about steps UAV operators should take to ensure they are operating safely and not putting others at risk. Throughout the 4-minute segment, several points from NAAA’s UAV safety press release were included in graphics overlaying b-roll material.

Watch the full interview in the video above.

Moore was able to speak about aerial application and UAV operations at greater length on “RFD Today” on RFD Radio Network on June 11. He spoke by phone with anchor DeLoss Jahnke about NAAA’s entreaty advising drone pilots to operate safely throughout the growing season. NAAA’s press release reminded UAV users that agricultural aviators fly as low as 10 feet off the ground, meaning they share airspace with UAVs that are limited to flying no more than 400 feet above ground level. For this reason, NAAA asked UAV operators to do everything they can to avoid ag aircraft doing important, low-level work.

“The one key is you have to make sure that you give way to any manned aircraft. That’s a priority,” Moore told Jahnke. “A couple of other things that we suggest strongly is that there be some sort of tracking device on the UAV,” such as an ADS-B transmitter.

NAAA has seven recommendations for UAV operators in all:

• Equip drones with tracking technology, such as ADS-B, so other aircraft similarly equipped know of their positions.
• Get certified and well-trained in operating a UAV.
•  Contact local agricultural aviation operations before flying by consulting AgAviation.org/findapplicator.
•  Equip UAVs with visible strobe lights.
• Give the right-of-way to a manned aircraft. It’s the law.
•  Land your UAV immediately when a low-flying aircraft is nearby.
•  Carry UAV liability insurance.

The complete “RFD Today” interviewed lasted 14 minutes over two segments. Listen to it here.