| December 8, 2022 |
| 2022 Ag Aviation Expo Halftime Report |
The 56th annual Ag Aviation Expo kicked off this week in Knoxville with
visitors from around the globe eager to network with friends and peers,
educate themselves at the 32 education sessions and improve their
businesses by visiting with more than 160 exhibitors on the trade show
floor.
Read More |
|
|
| Take the Covington Challenge! Covington Aircraft Pledges to Match Donations to NAAREF Made by Dec. 31 |
 In honor of its 50th anniversary, Covington Aircraft Engines will match any donations made to NAAREF—up to a total of $50,000—before the end of the year. This is an incredible opportunity to double the value of your NAAREF donation, which is why NAAA and NAAREF encourage operators, pilots and supporters of NAAREF’s safety education and efficacy programs to take the Covington Challenge!
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 |
|
| In Case You Missed It! |
| 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, last 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 |
| On Nov. 25, 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 |
| Late last month, 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 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}
