Almost two years after oral arguments were made against the Lincoln County aerial herbicide ban, a circuit judge issued a decision invalidating the ban that was narrowly passed by Lincoln County voters in May 2017. Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge Sheryl Bachart ruled that Oregon’s Pesticide Control Act prevents local government regulation of pesticides, including aerial application. Read More

This week, UPS Flight Forward (UPS FF) became the first UAS company to be awarded a Part 135 standard operating certificate by the FAA. This means UPS FF can now operate revenue-generating cargo flights via UAS anywhere in the county at any time, including at night and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Read More

This week NAAA submitted comments to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in favor of a proposed rule that would provide greater flexibility in Hours of Service (HOS) regulations for holders of Commercial Driver Licenses (CDLs). NAAA commented mostly in favor of the proposed changes, informing the FMCSA greater HOS flexibility is needed because commercial drivers supporting aerial application operations operate in conditions much different from long-haul truck drivers. Read More

Last week the Department of Labor issued a final rule that will make overtime pay available to 1.3 million additional workers. The new rule, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2020, will raise the annual salary level at which companies will have to pay overtime from $23,660 to $35,568. Workers earning less than that amount annually must be paid time and a half for working over 40 hours per week. Read More

Read More

If you are interested in unmanned aircraft systems and the concept of unmanned aerial application systems, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in conjunction with USDA, will be holding a workshop that will focus on these new technologies. This workshop, scheduled for Saturday, November 16, will be convened in Orlando, FL at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, and is being held in coordination with the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) Annual Ag Aviation Expo. Read More

NAAA received notification that an independent third party company is contacting our NAAA members to sell lists of attendees for the Ag Aviation Expo. This company is not affiliated with NAAA and this is a company that is scamming people. Please remember that no one from (or on behalf of) NAAA, Rosen Shingle Creek or T3 Expo will contact you (phone, email, etc.) to purchase lists, book travel or hotel rooms or book exhibitor services. Read More

Help us raise money for NAAREF and PAASS by wearing your loudest golf pants and participating in Putting for PAASS, a fundraiser for the ag aviation industry’s premier educational safety program. This fundraising putting event will take place on Sunday, Nov. 17 from 6 - 9:30 p.m. at Rosen Shingle Creek. Read More

It’s not too late to take advantage of BASF’s financial incentives for participating in an Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-in clinic this year (2019).  This is a continuation of a program BASF initiated in 2010 in collaboration with NAAA to provide financial support for participating aerial applicators that can be used toward membership in NAAA or for new spray equipment. Read More

The 2019-2020 PAAAS Program is ready to help you and the agricultural aviation industry improve safety, application accuracy and professionalism. Four modules will be given at state and regional agricultural aviation association meetings this fall and winter. Check the NAAA calendar and make sure you plan on attending. Read More

NAAA members are invited to join your Arkansas brethren for a fun weekend of golf and fellowship Oct. 19–20. The Red Apple Inn and Country Club in Heber Springs, Ark., is hosting the 2019 Ag Aviation Golf Tournament. This year’s proceeds will benefit the Miracle League of Arkansas, a baseball league for children with intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Read More