NAAREF held its third annual in-season safety session June 12 in an effort to remind the ag aviation industry about the importance of focusing on safety throughout the season. The first in-season safety session was conducted in 2021 in response to the high number of fatal accidents that had occurred by the end of May that year. While the 2023 season thus far has fewer accidents than in previous seasons, we cannot afford to let our guard down. Safety must remain a top priority.
The safety session was conducted by a panel of PAASS presenters: Matt Hovdenes, Eric Klindt, Mike Rivenbark, Rod Thomas and Brian Townsend. NAAREF Executive Director Andrew D. Moore opened the session and introduced the panelists. The panel discussed several topics, including operating helicopters in the ag environment safely, avoiding wire strike accidents, and the importance of communication, proper ferrying height, and ADS-B for avoiding midair collisions and runway incursions.
If you missed the NAAREF in-season safety session, you can view a recording here.
