On July 9, NAAA made what has become an annual sojourn to the 17th Wingnuts Flying Circus air show in Tarkio, Missouri. The air show is primarily organized by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation. As part of the annual air show, a town hall meeting on general aviation issues is hosted by Congressman Graves consisting of national leaders of general aviation organizations and congresspersons involved in transportation issues.
This year was no different, and NAAA CEO Andrew Moore participated in the townhall representing issues facing the agricultural aviation industry to the half a dozen key congressional members in attendance that serve on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee—four of which either chair or serve as the ranking members of its subcommittees. With the FAA reauthorization bill scheduled for consideration on the House floor next week, Moore pleaded to the legislators and audience for further protections in the bill to protect low-altitude, manned aircraft pilots operating in that airspace. Moore emphasized the $37 billion a year value to corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and rice production in the U.S. alone due to yield gain from aerial application that also results in the preservation of 27.4 million acres of land—an area roughly the size of Tennessee (or 62% of the size of Missouri). As such, Moore stated directly to the federal legislators, “I plead to the congressional members here—many if not all of which have farmers that rely on aerial application services—to ensure that the House of Representatives FAA reauthorization bill includes marking and location-logging requirements for rural towers 10 feet in diameter or less and between 50 to 200 feet. And that drones must give right-of-way to manned aircraft. This is an imperative safety issue.”
The townhall panel included: U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.); U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR); U.S. Rep. Troy Niels (R-Texas); U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.); U.S. Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.); U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves (R-La.); Former FAA Acting Administrator Dan Ewell; AOPA President Mark Baker; International Council of Air Shows President John Cudahy; NBAA President Ed Bolen; GAMA President Pete Bunce; AUVSI President Brian Wynn; EAA President Jack Pelton; NATCA Central Regional Vice President Aaron Merrick; HAI President Jim Viola; Reliable Robotics President Robert Rose; and NAAA CEO Andrew D. Moore.
Once again and for the 17th time, the Wingnuts Flying Circus event brought together general aviation pilots, aviation industry leaders and government officials to share mutual passions for flying. At last year’s show local agricultural aviation operator Adam Meyerkorth participated in the Wingnuts Flying Circus air show, which demonstrated and promoted ag aviation’s importance and centennial.
U.S. Congressman Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, jests with NAAA CEO Andrew Moore at the Wingnuts Flying Circus air show GA townhall meeting in Tarkio, Missouri.