| June 30, 2022 | Happy Independence Day from NAAA! |
| NAAA Comments at FAA Public Meeting Opposing Drone Beyond Visual Line of Sight Aviation Rulemaking Committee’s Recommendations Compromising Aviation Safety |
Last week NAAA testified before an FAA public meeting on the FAA
aviation rulemaking committee proposing recommendations for drones
to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in the national airspace.
NAAA CEO Andrew Moore registered opposition and detailed the serious
aviation safety risks posed by recommendations in the ARC’s report to manned ag aircraft flying in the same airspace as BVLOS drones. Read More |
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| Wilbur-Ellis Partners with Guardian Agriculture in Multimillion-Dollar Agreement to Bring Autonomous Aerial Application to U.S. Farmers |
 Wilbur-Ellis Company has entered a multimillion-dollar partnership with
Guardian Agriculture to bring autonomous aerial application to American
farmers. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Wilbur-Ellis President
and CEO John Buckley described the company’s deal with Guardian
Agriculture as “the largest commercial commitment to agriculture
robotics to date.”
Read More |
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| NAAA Fights to Keep Dry Formulations of Pesticides for Aerial Applicators Without Unnecessary and Burdensome Restrictions |
 Last week NAAA commented on the proposed interim decisions (PID) for
three pesticides: captan, folpet and propiconazole. A PID is the second
step in the pesticide registration review process, preceded by risk
assessments and followed by the final interim decision and an
endangered species review. Read More |
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| NAAA Again Successful in Securing Congressional Support for Funding Federal Aerial Application Technology Research |
 Through efforts on Capitol Hill, NAAA has succeeded again in getting
supportive language for USDA-ARS aerial application technology research
in the House Committee on Appropriations Fiscal Year 2023 Agricultural
Appropriations Spending Bill Committee Report. NAAA has secured $11,912,500
in federal aerial application research funding since 2002.
Read More |
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| NAAA Presents at Endangered Species and Pesticide Modeling Meeting |
NAAA’s director of safety & education, Dr. Scott Bretthauer,
presented at a virtual Environmental Modeling Public Meeting (EMPM) on
June 23. The focus of the meeting was mitigation strategies for protecting
endangered species from pesticides and was held to engage stakeholders
on the EPA’s recent endangered species work plan. Read More |
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| NAAA & Air Tractor to Exhibit at AirVenture 2022 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Industry Forum July 25 at 10 a.m. |
 After five successful appearances at EAA’s AirVenture from 2016 to 2019
and in 2021, NAAA will once again exhibit at AirVenture in Oshkosh,
Wisconsin, July 25-31 to showcase the aerial application industry and
wrap up the industry’s 100th anniversary celebration. NAAA has partnered with Air Tractor for this year’s exhibit, which is providing an aircraft for the booth.
Read More |
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| FAA Considering Issuing AD for STC Airplanes with TPE331 Engines |
 The FAA is considering issuing an AD applicable to STC airplanes
equipped with Honeywell TPE331 series turboprop engines with a propeller
pitch control (PPC) lever interface to the airplane control system for
the engine. The TPE331 series engines have a known airworthiness concern
in which the propeller pitch control lever can loosen and detach
in flight, causing a loss of engine control. The AD would follow SAIB NE-16-18. Read More |
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| FAA Airworthiness Directive Adopted on Walter/GE M601 D-11 Engines |
| The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all GE
Aviation Czech M601D-11 model turboprop engines. This AD was prompted by
the manufacturer revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS)
of the existing engine maintenance manual (EMM) to include a visual
inspection of the centrifugal compressor case for cracks.
Action is required within 90 days after the
effective date of the AD, which is Aug. 1, 2022. Read More |
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| Join the Conversation: CropLife America Hosting Pesticide Discussion Training Summit Aug. 1-4 |
| Registration for CropLife America’s second session of “The Pesticide
Discussion,” Aug. 1-4 in Chicago, is open. Join CropLife America’s
communications team and guest speakers for an immersive and interactive
summit designed to help train you on teaching others how to confidently
and effectively talk about pesticides. Read More |
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| In Case You Missed It! |
| 14 CFR Part 137 Operations Are Not Subject to OpSpecs |
| NAAA is once again hearing reports of operators being contacted by FAA inspectors demanding they fulfill various requirements related to 14 CFR Part 119 for operations specifications (OpSpecs). NAAA is aware of the issue and has been in contact with the FAA, which is currently working on a fix for the problem. Read More |
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| NPDES PGP Litigation Surfaces in Federal Appeals Court |
Litigation over the EPA’s NPDES Pesticide General Permit has
surfaced in California. The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed a
lawsuit against the EPA with the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the 9th Circuit last October. The CBD is raising unspecified
violations of the Clean Water Act and the EPA’s failure to properly
consult with other federal agencies enforcing the Endangered Species
Act. The 9th Circuit directed the parties to explore mediation. Read More |
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| AD Issued for PT6A-34, -34B, -34AG, -114 and -114A Turboprop Engines with Specific CT Vanes and Blades |
 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. The AD was prompted by several reports of low-time
fractures of compressor turbine blades causing loss of power or
in-flight shutdown of the engine. Actions required must be taken within 250 flight hours or
270 days after AD 2022-08-13’s effective date of May 27, 2022, whichever comes first. Continue reading for important details about this AD from Covington Aircraft Engines. Read More |
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| Seek ‘Ag Wings of Tomorrow’ Scholarship by Aug. 31 |
 From seeking a mentor to finding the funds for training, the road to becoming an ag pilot is fraught with obstacles, but having $5,000 in seed money certainly helps. Four such scholarships are available through the 2022 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program, which is made possible thanks to the generous support of BASF and Thrush Aircraft. Aspiring ag pilots, apply by Aug. 31!
Read More |
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| 2022 Support Scholarship Contest Entries Due Sept. 15 |
Attention, higher-education students: Don’t pass up the opportunity
to vie for a combined $3,000 in educational scholarships. NAAA is
accepting entries for the 2022 Support Scholarship Media Contest through Sept. 15. Prizes include a $2,000 scholarship from the NAAA
Support Committee and a $1,000 scholarship, courtesy of Covington
Aircraft.
Read More |
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| C-PAASS: 2023 Coming Soon |
The future of agricultural aviation professionalism is almost here. Read More |
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| Exhibitor Details for the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo: Booth Sales Open July 14 |
 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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| Thrush Aircraft Announces Certification of New Aircraft Model and Corresponding Production Expansion |
On June 8, the FAA granted Thrush
Aircraft LLC a Type Certificate for its newest aircraft model, the
510P2+, powered by a PT6-140AG engine and a 4-blade Hartzell propeller.
The 510P2+ is the first of four certification programs the aerial
application aircraft manufacturer has launched for two engine and
airframe configurations. Read More |
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| Interim Airworthiness Directive Issued for Robinson Helicopter R22 and R44 |
| The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Robinson Helicopter Company Model R22 BETA, R44 and R44 II helicopters.
This AD requires inspecting the engine RPM sensor wiring and installing
a wiring kit. Even though this is considered an interim AD with the FAA
still accepting comments, it still goes into effect within 15 hours
time-in-service or 15 days after the effective date of June 29, 2022. Read More |
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| FAA’s GA Survey for 2021 Coming to a Close |
The FAA’s annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (GA
Survey) is coming to an end. There are still a couple of weeks left to
participate, so if you received the invitation but haven’t completed it
yet, now is the time. Read More |
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| Ag Aviation Expo Sponsorships Available—Boost Your Company’s Brand! |
Sponsorship sales are open for the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee, Dec. 5-8, where we’re expecting a large crowd at this new Ag
Aviation Expo location. Branding at the Ag Aviation Expo is a great
opportunity to get your message in front of the agricultural aviation
industry and reach a targeted and nationwide audience of aerial
applicators in North America—an audience responsible for applying 28% of
crop protection products to commercial cropland in the U.S. 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 100th 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 are 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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 in the national airspace.
NAAA CEO Andrew Moore registered opposition and detailed the serious
aviation safety risks posed by recommendations in the ARC’s report to manned ag aircraft flying in the same airspace as BVLOS drones.){kind=small}
 for
three pesticides: captan, folpet and propiconazole. A PID is the second
step in the pesticide registration review process, preceded by risk
assessments and followed by the final interim decision and an
endangered species review.){kind=small}
 on
June 23. The focus of the meeting was mitigation strategies for protecting
endangered species from pesticides and was held to engage stakeholders
on the EPA’s recent endangered species work plan.){kind=small}
 lever interface to the airplane control system for
the engine. The TPE331 series engines have a known airworthiness concern
in which the propeller pitch control lever can loosen and detach
in flight, causing a loss of engine control. The AD would follow SAIB NE-16-18.){kind=small}
 for all GE
Aviation Czech M601D-11 model turboprop engines. This AD was prompted by
the manufacturer revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS)
of the existing engine maintenance manual (EMM) to include a visual
inspection of the centrifugal compressor case for cracks.
Action is required within 90 days after the
effective date of the AD, which is Aug. 1, 2022.){kind=small}
. NAAA is aware of the issue and has been in contact with the FAA, which is currently working on a fix for the problem.){kind=small}
 filed a
lawsuit against the EPA with the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the 9th Circuit last October. The CBD is raising unspecified
violations of the Clean Water Act and the EPA’s failure to properly
consult with other federal agencies enforcing the Endangered Species
Act. The 9th Circuit directed the parties to explore mediation.){kind=small}
 on
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. PT6A-34, -34B, -34AG, -114 and -114A
model turboprop engines. The AD was prompted by several reports of low-time
fractures of compressor turbine blades causing loss of power or
in-flight shutdown of the engine. Actions required must be taken within 250 flight hours or
270 days after AD 2022-08-13’s effective date of May 27, 2022, whichever comes first. Continue reading for important details about this AD from Covington Aircraft Engines.){kind=small}
 for certain
Robinson Helicopter Company Model R22 BETA, R44 and R44 II helicopters.
This AD requires inspecting the engine RPM sensor wiring and installing
a wiring kit. Even though this is considered an interim AD with the FAA
still accepting comments, it still goes into effect within 15 hours
time-in-service or 15 days after the effective date of June 29, 2022.){kind=small}
 is coming to an end. There are still a couple of weeks left to
participate, so if you received the invitation but haven’t completed it
yet, now is the time.){kind=small}
