In honor of its 50th anniversary, Covington Aircraft Engines launched the Covington Challenge in December of 2022 to raise funds for NAAREF. Covington pledged to match all donations up to a total of $50,000 made to NAAREF by Dec. 31, 2022. A total of $16,745 was donated to NAAREF before the deadline was up. In an amazing display of generosity and a commitment to ag aviation safety, Covington Aircraft went ahead and donated the full $50,000 to NAAREF! NAAA and NAAREF truly appreciate Covington’s generous donation and continued commitment to ag aviation safety and environmental professionalism. NAAA salutes Covington Aircraft Engines on its 50th anniversary of supporting aerial applicators as one of the industry’s premier radial and turbine engine overhaul facilities.
While the Covington Challenge is officially over, it’s never too late to donate to NAAREF. NAAREF programs include PAASS, which provides annual safety and environmental professionalism training for aerial applicators across the U.S. Operation S.A.F.E. is another important NAAREF program created to ensure aerial applicators make accurate applications.
NAAREF programs save lives, enhance our industry’s reputation, enable insurance discounts, and help us meet regulatory requirements for certification. Since it first hit the stage in 1998, PAASS—the Professional Aerial Applicators’ Support System—has reduced ag aviation accidents by nearly 26%, the fatal accident rate by 10% and drift complaints by 26%. That’s a phenomenal achievement, and PAASS played a significant role. Without successful NAAREF educational programs, it’s unquestionable that the regulatory requirements facing aerial applicators would be more rigorous.
But it takes industry donations from individual members and organizations to ensure top-quality and effective NAAREF programs. Please donate now to support NAAREF’s programs and cultivate education, safety and technology advancements in the industry.
