| May 5, 2022 |
| NAAA Submits Augmented Tower Marking Proposal to Congressional Transportation Committees as 2023 FAA Reauthorization Process Begins |
This week NAAA submitted a proposal for the upcoming FAA reauthorization to two congressional transportation committees that would strengthen a tower marking statute that the association successfully had included in the 2018 bill by requiring all towers between 50 and 200 feet in rural areas meeting certain physical standards to be marked and logged into an FAA database. Read More |
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| NAAA Attends Energy Conference Trade Show to Promote Better Wire Marking |
 NAAA recently spent two days at the IEEE PES (Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers Power & Energy Society) T&D Conference
and Exposition in New Orleans. IEEE PES is the world’s largest
convention for the electrical power industry. NAAA member Tom Wolf from
JBI Helicopter Services and NAAA staff member Scott Bretthauer were
there to promote the use of Balmoral Engineering’s rotating wire marker,
the RotaMarka, on power lines in rural areas in order to reduce the number of wire strike agricultural aviation accidents. Read More |
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| NAAA Spearheads Ag Aviation Association Effort to Protect GPS |
| Last week, NAAA and 27 state and regional agricultural aviation
associations joined with 61 other organizations in letters written to
President Joe Biden and the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
The letters were sent on the second anniversary of the FCC’s approval of
Ligado Networks’ application to operate a 5G network in the L-band
radio spectrum, the band adjacent to the one used for GPS. Read More |
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| Spring 2022 Issue of Agricultural Aviation Now Online! |
 The Spring 2022 issue of Agricultural Aviation
is available online and in the Agricultural Aviation Magazine
App.
Branded as “The Safety Issue,” the focus of this special issue is all
about safety—from aviation to environmental safety to ensure ag pilots’,
farmers’ and planet Earth’s well-being.
Read More |
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| Special Conditions Issued for Pressure Refueling of Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66 Helicopter |
| On April 27, the FAA published the following special conditions as part
of the type certification basis for Robinson Helicopter Company Model
R66 helicopters. Read More |
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| Shine a Light on the Industry’s Unsung Heroes! |
The aerial application industry is filled with exceptional people who go above and beyond the call of duty, often with little fanfare. Make someone’s day, year or career by nominating him or her for a 2022 NAAA Award! NAAA’s online submission form is the fastest and simplest way to nominate someone in just a few clicks.
Read More |
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| In Case You Missed It! |
| NAAA Leaders Discuss Drone Safety on ‘Farm Life Live’ |
2022 NAAA President Jim Perrin and CEO Andrew Moore discussed drone safety issues April 21 on Farm Life Live, an online program hosted by Farm Life Media President Brannon Deal. Moore and Perrin, the show’s sole guests, had a terrific conversation with Deal. Read More |
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| AD Issued on Specific CT Vanes and Blades for PT6A-34, -34B, -34AG, -114 and -114A Turboprop Engines |
| In April the FAA issued an awaited airworthiness directive (AD) on
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. PT6A-34, -34B, -34AG, -114 and -114A
model turboprop engines. Read More |
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| FBI Warns Food and Agriculture Sector Partners of Potential Ransomware Attacks |
Last month the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) informed food and
agriculture sector businesses that ransomware actors may be more likely
to attack agricultural cooperatives during critical planting and harvest
seasons, disrupting operations, causing financial loss and negatively
impacting the food supply chain.
Read More |
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| NAAA Comments Against Drone Petition Requesting Exemptions Compromising Airspace Safety |
| Last month NAAA submitted comments on Airobotics Inc.’s petition seeking
relief from specified safety requirements of Federal Aviation
Regulations. Airobotics is seeking relief to operate a small Unmanned
Aircraft System (UAS) for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) inspection
operations. Because of the BVLOS request, the operation does not fall
under part 107, which prohibits BVLOS. Read More |
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| NAAA Nabs Significant Coverage for News Release Cautioning Unmanned Aircraft Operators Not to Interfere with Low-Altitude Manned Ag Aircraft This Season |
With another growing season getting underway at a time when aerial
application services are expected to be in high demand, last month, NAAA
sent a news release to aviation and agricultural media outlets advising unmanned aircraft operators to be mindful of low-flying manned agricultural
aircraft operations. NAAA’s unmanned aircraft advisory received significant pickup from a slew of media outlets. Read More |
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| President Perrin Shines on ‘This Week in AgriBusiness’ |
Ag broadcaster Max Armstrong’s conversations with NAAA officials at
March’s Ag Day on the Mall event in Washington are the gift that keep on
giving! Check out NAAA President Jim Perrin’s terrific interview on
the April 16 episode of This Week in AgriBusiness on RFD-TV. Read More |
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| Storm Cat Could be Looming on the Horizon as a Redesigned Ag-Cat |
| According to a report in General Aviation News, Storm Aeronautics
is developing a modified Ag-Cat—the “Storm Cat”—that it will produce
and sell to compete with today’s agricultural monoplanes. Read More |
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| Biofuel Policy Taking Root Ranging from E15 from Corn, Biodiesel from Soybeans and Biofuels from Canola Oil |
| Last month, the Biden administration announced that it will lift the
summertime ban on E15 gasoline to help ease high gas prices. E15 is a
mix of regular gasoline and a smaller amount of ethanol, a plant-based
fuel typically made from corn in the U.S. Read More |
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| EPA Releases Endangered Species Pesticide Work Plan |
| Recently the EPA released a comprehensive work plan to mitigate the
impact of pesticides on endangered species. The EPA is required by the
Endangered Species Act to consider the impact a pesticide
registered under FIFRA has on endangered species and employ mitigations
if necessary to protect species impacted by a pesticide. Read More |
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| Proposed AD on GE/Walter 601 Centrifugal Compressor Case |
| The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
GE/Walter M601D-11 model turboprop engines. The proposed AD would
require revising the airworthiness limitation section of the existing
engine maintenance manual to incorporate a visual inspection of the
centrifugal compressor case for cracks every 100 hours. Read More |
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| Proposed AD on Bell 204, 205, 210, 212, 214 and Similar Restricted Models |
| The FAA has proposed adopting a new airworthiness directive for Bell
Textron Inc. Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 210, 212, 412, 412CF and
412EP helicopters and similar restricted category helicopters. Read More |
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| Exhibitor Details for the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo: Booth Sales for Aircraft & Large Booth Space Now Open |
 Join us for the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo in the new location of
Knoxville, Tennessee, Dec. 5‒8. NAAA Expo attendees and exhibitors will
take over several hotels and the convention center in thriving downtown
Knoxville, which is full of great restaurants, fun bars and unique shops. Exhibiting allows you to get your company, product/service and brand in front of an expected 1,500 attendees.
Read More |
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| We All Have a Telling History: Use Yours and NAAA’s Materials to Broadly Communicate Agricultural Aviation’s |
| By Andrew Moore, NAAA CEO |
 NAAA has reached the climax in the centennial epic of sharing our
industry’s history to the public, which of course was Aug. 3, 2021. But
just because the official centennial anniversary date is behind us
doesn’t mean all efforts to share the importance of our industry to the
public have passed you by. We will be celebrating the centennial of
agricultural aviation for an entire year. If you are an active citizen in the world of aerial application, don’t be a static
audience member during this epic, year-long centennial event. Take the stage with
us as we enunciate the gospel
of agricultural aviation to the public. Read More |
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| NAAA Releases Book of the Century! Buy It Today |
 To commemorate agricultural
aviation’s 100th anniversary, NAAA is pleased to present Agriculture’s Air Force: 100 Years of Aerial Application. NAAA’s meticulously sourced book is based on a collective history of the industry based on material from Agricultural Aviation magazine, AgAir Update, Low & Slow and other resources. Agriculture’s Air Force is a true keepsake. Order your copy today!
Read More |
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 T&D Conference
and Exposition in New Orleans. IEEE PES is the world’s largest
convention for the electrical power industry. NAAA member Tom Wolf from
JBI Helicopter Services and NAAA staff member Scott Bretthauer were
there to promote the use of Balmoral Engineering’s rotating wire marker,
the RotaMarka, on power lines in rural areas in order to reduce the number of wire strike agricultural aviation accidents.){kind=small}
 on
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. PT6A-34, -34B, -34AG, -114 and -114A
model turboprop engines.){kind=small}
 informed food and
agriculture sector businesses that ransomware actors may be more likely
to attack agricultural cooperatives during critical planting and harvest
seasons, disrupting operations, causing financial loss and negatively
impacting the food supply chain.){kind=small}
 for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) inspection
operations. Because of the BVLOS request, the operation does not fall
under part 107, which prohibits BVLOS.){kind=small}
 for all
GE/Walter M601D-11 model turboprop engines. The proposed AD would
require revising the airworthiness limitation section of the existing
engine maintenance manual to incorporate a visual inspection of the
centrifugal compressor case for cracks every 100 hours.){kind=small}
