The National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation (NAAREF) was formed in 1982 as a non-profit organization to promote and foster research, technology transfer and advanced education among aerial applicators, allied industries, government agencies and academic institutions. NAAREF is responsible for several great ag aviation educational programs from PAASS to Operation S.A.F.E. Due to a drop in government support and other factors NAAREF is behind on fund raising goals for 2017-2018 and needs your support.

NAAREF is primarily supported by charitable donations from individuals and companies wishing to invest in the future of agricultural aviation. In addition, NAAREF seeks grants from government agencies and private foundations on behalf of the aerial application industry’s educational efforts. These grants have been harder to get in recent years, largely due to cutbacks in government funding.

Please donate now to help these critical, life-saving stewardship programs. Visit http://www.agaviation.org/naaref to contribute your tax-deductible donation today. Your donations will help fund the following programs that both NAAA members and non-members can take advantage of:

PAASS

In 1996, NAAREF instituted the Professional Aerial Applicators’ Support System (PAASS). PAASS is a program that educates pilots on key safety and drift minimization issues important to flying, modern agriculture and crop protection.

PAASS is designed to improve understanding of the ‘human factors’ role in critical Agricultural Aviation Decision-Making skills. The primary PAASS Program goals are to reduce the number of aviation accidents and drift incidents associated with the aerial application of fertilizers and crop protection products.

Ag accident rates have decreased from 9.50 accidents to 7.37 accidents per 100,000 ag hours flown since the PAASS Program first hit the stage in 1998. This is a 22.4% reduction in the number of ag aviation accidents since the beginning of PAASS. Data from two surveys, taken before and after the beginning of the PAASS program, show a 25.8% reduction in the number of drift complaints. These numbers show the PAASS program has been greatly successful in reducing accidents and drift incidents.

Compaass Rose

In 2002, NAAREF introduced the Compaass Rose series of round table discussions designed to provide professional support and direction to new-to-the-industry agricultural aviation pilots. The goal is for the participants to enhance their own knowledge, continue to gain agricultural aviation experience, and improve their individual professionalism. A recent change in the Compaass Rose format has strengthened its ability to provide a forum for new ag pilots to share their concerns and questions related to the agricultural aviation industry.

Anyone interested in agricultural aviation as a professional career is invited to participate in the PAASS Compaass Rose Series. CompaassRose sessions are offered at the NAAA National Convention and some State/Regional AAA Conventions.

Operation S.A.F.E.

Operation S.A.F.E. (Self-regulating Application & Flight Efficiency), was designed to clearly demonstrate that ag aviation recognizes its responsibility to minimize the potential for adverse health and environmental effects of agricultural chemical application.

The backbone of Operation S.A.F.E. is the Professional Application Analysis Clinic—the Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-In. Professional application analysis clinics are a key part of Operation S.A.F.E. Participation in an NAAA-approved swath analysis clinic under the direction of an authorized analyst, is essential to qualify for the Operation S.A.F.E. emblem. Check with your state ag aviation association to see when a clinic will be offered in your area.

Fly-Safe Messages

What started as a campaign to “Fly Safe in July” over 10 years ago, has evolved into a safety program where important safety alerts are sent every other Monday in April, May, and June and every Monday during July and August, and whenever aviation activity warrants additional safety reminders. New messages go out by fax and email. Fly Safe messages from recent past years are archived here for NAAA Members to view.

Please donate now to help support all of NAAREF’s programs and cultivate education, safety, research and technology advancements in the industry. NAAREF programs save lives, reduce drift incidents, demonstrate the professionalism of the aerial application industry, and can help stave off additional government regulations.