| August 10, 2023 |
| FAA Responds to NAAA’s Concerns with New Part 137 UAS Certification Process |
| On August 2nd, NAAA received a letter from Lawrence Fields, Acting Executive Director, Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responding to concerns expressed by the association regarding the changes to the Part 137 certification process for Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) applicants outlined in FAA Notice 8900.659. Read More |
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| NAAA Mourns the Loss of Don Pruett in Fourth Fatality of 2023 |
 Donald L.S. Pruett was fatally injured in an ag aviation accident which occurred July 31, 2023, in Washington County, Illinois. Don was 41 at the time of his passing. The members and staff of NAAA offer their sympathies and condolences to Don’s family and friends. Read More |
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| NAAA Mourns the Loss of Derek “Hooty” DuHoux in Fifth Fatality of 2023 |
 Derek John “Hooty” DuHoux died August 2, 2023, from injuries sustained in an ag aviation accident which occurred July 25, 2023, in Chippewa County, Minnesota. Derek was 34 at the time of his passing. The members and staff of NAAA offer their sympathies and condolences to Derek’s family and friends. Read More |
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| AD Issued for AT-802 Air Tankers |
| The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Air Tractor AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes with Wipaire, Inc. Wipline 10000 Amphibian Floats installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) # SA01795CH, as well as previously floated aircraft that have been converted back to landplane configuration per the same STC. Read More |
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| Happy 10th Birthday to Disney’s Planes |
 Ten years ago, Disney released Planes on Aug. 9, 2013 to great fanfare in the aviation industry, particularly agricultural aviation. The movie has grossed $240.2 million worldwide since it was released. The animated comedy adventure features a cast of colorful aviation characters, including Dusty Crophopper, a big-hearted ag plane with even bigger dreams of competing in a high-flying air race around the world. Read More |
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| 2023 NAAA Award Nominations Due Sept. 8 |
| Use NAAA’s online awards form to submit a 2023 Award nomination! |
 Do you have a rising pilot within your ranks? Do you admire certain NAAA members for their outstanding service to the industry or their community? The aerial application industry is filled with exceptional people who go above and beyond the call of duty, often with little fanfare. Make someone’s day or year by nominating them for a 2023 NAAA Award. Read More |
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| NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings Oct. 6-7 in Dayton, OH |
| The October 2023 NAAA & NAAREF Board and Committee meetings will take place in Dayton, Ohio. All meetings are open to NAAA members. Read More |
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| Frank Prentice of Covington Aircraft, Passes |
 Frank Prentice, a friend to the ag aviation community and former Vice President of Covington’s Radial Engine Division, passed away on Thursday, July 20, 2023, after a battle with cancer. He started work at Covington Aircraft in 1974 and retired in 2009 |
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| In Case You Missed It! |
| Turbine Training Funds Available Through Charles Stokes Memorial Turbine Training Scholarship; Deadline Aug. 31 |
 Two $3,000 scholarships are available
to eligible NAAA Operator and Pilot members for turbine transition
training through the newly created Charles Stokes Memorial Turbine
Training Scholarship. The new NAAA scholarship program is funded by a generous educational grant from Jim Mills of
Turbines Inc., who established the scholarship in memory of Charles
Stokes.
Read More |
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| Apply for ‘Ag Wings of Tomorrow’ Scholarship by Aug. 31 |
 From seeking a mentor to finding the funds for training, the road to becoming an ag pilot is fraught with obstacles, but having $5,000 in seed money certainly helps. Four such scholarships are available through the 2023 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program, thanks to the generous support of BASF and Thrush Aircraft. Aspiring ag pilots, apply by Aug. 31!
Read More |
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| EPA Releases Proposed Vulnerable Species Pilot Project to Protect Endangered Species |
| In 2022, EPA launched its Endangered Species Act (ESA) Vulnerable Species Pilot to identify both at-risk species reasonably certain to be adversely affected by non-residential outdoor uses of pesticides and proposed mitigation measures to reduce these impacts on the species and their habitat. On June 22, 2023 EPA published a draft white paper listing the initially identified set of listed species and the proposed mitigation measures. Read More |
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| EPA Publicly Acknowledges Points NAAA Has Repeatedly Made About Aerial Drift Mitigations |
 Coinciding with the release of the Vulnerable Species Pilot project and Herbicide Strategy drafts (see stories below), EPA also published a technical document that provides scientific background and justifications for the proposed mitigation measures in the two drafts. The technical document contains several key points about aerial applications and drift mitigation that NAAA has been making to EPA for years, and their inclusion in the technical document is a major victory for aerial applicators. Read More |
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| EPA Releases Proposed Draft Herbicide Strategy to Protect Endangered Species |
| On July 24th, EPA released a proposed draft strategy outlining the Agency’s plan to protect endangered species as it relates to herbicide applications. The proposed herbicide strategy describes early mitigations for more than 900 listed species and designated critical habitats. Read More |
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| EPA Publishes Proposed Settlement in the Endangered Species Mega Case |
| On July 17th, EPA published notice of a proposed settlement agreement in the Center for Biological Diversity v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, often referred to as the Mega Case. Read More |
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| NAAA’s Lindsay Barber Becomes the Association’s Director of Communications & Marketing; Hires Association Veteran Lauren Henretty |
| NAAA has named Lindsay Barber, CMP, to serve as the association’s director of communications & marketing and hired Lauren Henretty, CMP, to serve as NAAA’s new associate director of meetings & marketing. Read More |
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| NAAA Continues Farm Bill Advocacy on Senate Side Urging NPDES Permit Relief for Pesticide Applicators and Other Key Regulatory Relief Provisions |
 Late last week before the Senate’s month long August recess, NAAA continued advocating its policy priorities of NPDES permit relief and state pesticide preemption to staffers of Senators serving on its Agriculture Committee. Read More |
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| NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Attendee Registration Now Open |
 We look forward to seeing you at the 2023 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in Palm Springs, CA, Dec 4-7, a new convention destination for the Ag Aviation Expo. Attendee registration is now open.
Read More |
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| Apply for C-PAASS 2023—Certified-Professional Aerial Applicator Safety Steward |
 If you’ve recently participated in a 2022 and/or 2023 Operation S.A.F.E.
Fly-In and you’re receiving this eNewsletter because you are an NAAA
member, you have completed two of four requirements to apply for C-PAASS
certification for 2023.
Read More |
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| Has Your Aircraft Been Pattern Tested Yet? There Are Tools to Help |
 If you have not attended or scheduled an Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-In
for this season yet, the time is becoming short in many parts of the
country. If you can’t attend one of these events, as an NAAA member, you have alternative options. Read More |
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| Makeup PAASS Programs Now Available for 2021, 2022 and 2023 – Get C-PAASS Certified Today! |
 The impact of the PAASS Program on reducing the number of agricultural
aviation accidents and drift incidents is proven—26% reductions in both
categories since the program first hit the stage. In an effort to
present the program’s life-saving curriculum to those who may have
missed it, the National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education
Foundation (NAAREF) has leveraged the NAAA Education Center to host
recorded webinars of the PAASS Program from 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Read More |
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| Important Call for GPS Data to Protect Manned Ag Aircraft from Drones |
In 2022, 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 |
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| 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 |
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 responding to concerns expressed by the association regarding the changes to the Part 137 certification process for Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) applicants outlined in FAA Notice 8900.659. ){kind=small}
 has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Air Tractor AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes with Wipaire, Inc. Wipline 10000 Amphibian Floats installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) # SA01795CH, as well as previously floated aircraft that have been converted back to landplane configuration per the same STC. ){kind=small}
 Vulnerable Species Pilot to identify both at-risk species reasonably certain to be adversely affected by non-residential outdoor uses of pesticides and proposed mitigation measures to reduce these impacts on the species and their habitat. On June 22, 2023 EPA published a draft white paper listing the initially identified set of listed species and the proposed mitigation measures.){kind=small}
, EPA also published a technical document that provides scientific background and justifications for the proposed mitigation measures in the two drafts. The technical document contains several key points about aerial applications and drift mitigation that NAAA has been making to EPA for years, and their inclusion in the technical document is a major victory for aerial applicators.){kind=small}
 has leveraged the NAAA Education Center to host
recorded webinars of the PAASS Program from 2021, 2022 and 2023.){kind=small}
