| December 1, 2022 |
| NAAA Follows Up Its Deep Aviation Safety Concerns with the FAA Drone BVLOS ARC by Entreating DOT Secretary Buttigieg to Not Compromise Low-Altitude Ag Pilots’ Lives |
| Following up on a letter, testimony and other advocacy efforts to the
FAA since last spring, this week, NAAA followed up with a separate letter to
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressing the aerial
application industry’s serious concerns about the FAA considering
promulgating via a proposed rulemaking many dangerous recommendations
detrimental to low-altitude aviation safety from the FAA’s Unmanned
Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Aviation
Rulemaking Committee’s (ARC) report published earlier this year. Read More |
|
|
| Downstown Aero Crop Service Co-Founder Dick Nixholm Passes Away at 95 |
 NAAA is saddened to report that Richard H. “Dick” Nixholm, one of the
founding members of the National Agricultural Aviation Association in
1966, passed away Nov. 28 at the age of 95. He also co-founded Downstown Aero Crop Service in Vineland, New Jersey, in 1953, and was the first president of the Northeast Agricultural Aviation Association. Dick’s son, Curtis Nixholm, operates Downstown Aero Crop Service today. Read More |
|
| NAAA Urges the FAA to Prioritize Safety, Suspend BVLOS Waiver Approvals |
| Last week NAAA wrote to FAA Administrator Billy Nolen
registering serious concerns about the sharp uptick in Part 107.31
waivers issued for unmanned aircraft (UA) to operate beyond visual line
of sight (BVLOS). Many of these waivers permit BVLOS operations where
the remote pilot in command or the visual observer can
monitor the surrounding airspace of the UA in flight but cannot see the
UA itself. Read More |
|
| EPA Approves Revised Pesticide Applicator Certification Plans for 13 State and Federal Agencies |
| Last week the EPA approved pesticide applicator certification plans for
six states, two U.S. territories and five federal agencies. The approved
plans comply with the 2017 Certification of Pesticide Applicators (CPA)
final rule, which established stronger standards for people who apply
restricted-use pesticides (RUPs), including aerial applicators. The new
standards included the establishment of an aerial application category
that would require unique continuing education for that specific form of
application. Read More |
|
| Top 10 Tips for Success at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo |
 We look forward to seeing you in a few days at the 2022 NAAA Ag Aviation
Expo in Knoxville, your one-stop shop for networking, education
and professional development and fun. Follow these 10 steps to have a successful visit in Knoxville.
Read More |
|
| 2022 Ag Aviation Expo App Available for Download |
| Do you want the latest information on-site at this year’s 2022 Ag
Aviation Expo in Knoxville? We have it for you on the NAAA Expo App,
which will feature the most up-to-date information right on your device! Read More |
|
| On-site NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Registration Fees |
When you arrive in Knoxville for the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo, your first
order of business is to pick up your badge or register at the Knoxville
Convention Center. Pick up your badge or register beginning Sunday, Dec. 4, in the Park Concourse on the second floor. Read More |
|
| Flying in the Wire and Obstruction Environment Course to be Offered at Ag Aviation Expo |
On Sunday, Dec. 4, in Knoxville, NAAA is hosting a Flying in the Wire
and Obstruction Environment Course. Acclaimed by professional pilots around the world, this course is for fixed-wing
and helicopter pilots both. It gives low-altitude aviators the essential
skills to safely operate an aircraft in wire and obstruction
environments. The cost is $100 per person. Read More |
|
| Many Auction Items Up for Bid at Live Auction; Letter of Credit Required for PT6A-34AG Engine |
Thank you to the many companies that support ag pilots and their
operations, as well as the industry, through donating items for the Live
and Silent Auctions at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo. The money raised from
these items supports NAAA programs. Join us for the Live Auction & Reception on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 5:30 p.m. at the Knoxville Convention Center. Read More |
|
| Register for AXEing for PAASS, a NAAREF Fundraiser at the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo |
 Help us raise money for NAAREF and PAASS by showing up with your throwing arm for AXEing For PAASS,
a fundraiser for the ag aviation industry’s premier educational safety
program where axes are thrown by participants at a large dartboard-like
target. The event takes place 7-9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4, at Craft Axe
Throwing in Knoxville.
Read More |
|
| FAA Proposes AD for Tail Rotor Drive on Bell 206 Model Helicopters |
| The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 206A, 206A-1 (OH-58A), 206B, 206B-1,
206L, 206L-1, 206L-3 and 206L-4 helicopters. The proposed AD was
prompted by a loss of tail rotor drive due to a failure of an adhesively
bonded joint between an adapter and a tube on one of the segmented tail
rotor drive shaft (TRDS) assemblies. Read More |
|
| In Case You Missed It! |
| NAAA Member’s Spouse Uses Unique Learning Program to Expose N.D. Middle School Students to Agriculture |
A unique new program at the Northern Cass School in Hunter, North
Dakota, is teaching kids about the importance of agriculture in their
lives. The Farm to Fork studio program was started by educator Sue McPherson to introduce 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to
careers in agriculture and teach them about where their food comes from. Sue is married to NAAA operator member Toby
McPherson and has been a teacher for 25 years. Agweek and Agweek TV reported on her class last week.
Read More |
|
| FAA Increases Duration of Aircraft Registration |
Last week the FAA increased the time required for aircraft owners to
reregister their aircraft from three to seven years. This affects
commercial and noncommercial aircraft starting Jan. 23, 2023. Read More |
|
| Two ADs Affecting Bell 206 Model Helicopters |
| The FAA has issued two airworthiness directives for Bell 206 helicopters that pertain to the main rotor blade delamination and the tail rotor drive shaft thomas coupler for certain models. Read More |
|
| Dusty Crophopper Facebook Post Becomes NAAA’s Most Viewed Social Media Post Ever, Reaching 495,000 People |
 In October, NAAA’s Facebook post about the Dusty Crophopper ag plane
being placed in its permanent home at the Smithsonian National Air and
Space Museum’s newly renovated Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center quickly
became the association’s most viewed social media post ever, reaching nearly
500,000 people.
Read More |
|
| NAAA Joins in Urging Congress to Reaffirm EPA’s Preemptive Role Regulating Pesticides |
| In November, NAAA joined 332 pesticide user organizations urging
congressional leadership to legislatively reaffirm that the EPA is the
primary, federal authority under FIFRA for making pesticide findings and
decisions and that states may regulate their use but not impose
additional labeling or packaging requirements. This preemption of the
EPA over pesticide regulations has been recently compromised. Read More |
|
| Pratt & Whitney Canada and CD Aviation to Offer Engine Seminars at Ag Aviation Expo |
| Pratt & Whitney Canada and CD Aviation are offering two full-day engine seminars Sunday, Dec. 4, at the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo. Read More |
|
| Find Your Next Seat at the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo: Look for Sign-up Boards at Registration for Pilots to Find Operators and Operators to Find Pilots |
 Looking for a pilot? Looking for an operator to work for? NAAA is
excited to announce that we are bringing back the on-site job board at
the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo in Knoxville. The jobs board is intended to
help both operators looking for a pilot and pilots looking for a seat.
Read More |
|
| Proposed AD to Establish Life Limits on Walter/GE Compressor Cases and Drums |
| The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S and
M601F model turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the
exclusion of life limits for certain compressor cases and compressor
drums from the airworthiness limitations section of the engine
maintenance manual. Read More |
|
| Renew Your Membership for 2023: We’re Better Together! |
Thank you for your support of NAAA as a 2022 member. Please renew your NAAA membership for
2023. NAAA delivers remarkable value that benefits your bottom line, provides
the crop input tools you need, enhances the industry’s safety and
professionalism through substantive educational programming and offers
excellent business networking opportunities. Watch our new video, where you’ll hear from your fellow
members why membership is essential to your business. Read More |
|
| NAAA Support Committee Events at Ag Aviation Expo |
We look forward to seeing you at the 2022 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in
Knoxville Dec. 5-8. The NAAA Support Committee has organized fun events
for spouses/significant others, family members
and office crew. Join them for what promises
to be an outstanding convention!
Read More |
|
| Important Call for GPS Data to Protect Manned Ag Aircraft from Drones |
Earlier this year, an FAA advisory committee weighted with drone
interests from Amazon, Google and other unmanned corporate interests
suggested that the agency promulgate rules that drones operating beyond
visual line of sight be permitted to:
- Increase their weight to 1,320 pounds
- Not equip with ADS-B identification technology
- Not give the right of way to manned aircraft when operating in
rural, low-altitude airspace because they claimed there are no other
users of this airspace.
As an ag aviator, you know these requests to be patently unsafe and
based on false premises. As such, we call on you to help us collect
information on ag aircraft’s use of the low-altitude airspace. Read More |
|
| 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 |
|
 Aviation
Rulemaking Committee’s (ARC) report published earlier this year.){kind=small}
 to operate beyond visual line
of sight (BVLOS). Many of these waivers permit BVLOS operations where
the remote pilot in command or the visual observer can
monitor the surrounding airspace of the UA in flight but cannot see the
UA itself.){kind=small}
final rule, which established stronger standards for people who apply
restricted-use pesticides (RUPs), including aerial applicators. The new
standards included the establishment of an aerial application category
that would require unique continuing education for that specific form of
application.){kind=small}
 for all
Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 206A, 206A-1 (OH-58A), 206B, 206B-1,
206L, 206L-1, 206L-3 and 206L-4 helicopters. The proposed AD was
prompted by a loss of tail rotor drive due to a failure of an adhesively
bonded joint between an adapter and a tube on one of the segmented tail
rotor drive shaft (TRDS) assemblies.){kind=small}
 for certain
GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S and
M601F model turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the
exclusion of life limits for certain compressor cases and compressor
drums from the airworthiness limitations section of the engine
maintenance manual.){kind=small}
