| September 28, 2023 |
| FAA Approves Some UAS BVLOS Operations Without Visual Observers |
| The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently released decisions on several Petitions for Exemption from commercial Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) operators seeking to conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations without the use of visual observers (VOs). These Petitions were opened for public comment in June of this year along with a broader request for comment on UAS BVLOS operations in general. NAAA provided comments for each of these, alongside several other industry partners. Read More |
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| CropLife Magazine eNews Publishes NAAA Cover Crops Press Release |
 In continued coverage from NAAA’s press release alerting communities about ag pilots working to seed cover crops, CropLife, a U.S. agribusiness publication, has published the information on their website. The CropLife website receives 35,000 visitors per month, which is great awareness for the good work of aerial applicators, to ag retailers, distributors, manufacturers and suppliers. Read More |
| Is Operation S.A.F.E. on your End-of-Season Checklist? |
 If your aircraft has not been through Operation S.A.F.E. in 2022 or 2023, NAAREF recommends doing so prior to the start of the 2024 season. While many across the country have their aircraft pattern tested in the Spring, it is not at all uncommon to do so in the Fall. Performing this critical testing on your equipment in the Fall presents several benefits. The operational pace, for one, is typically milder in Fall compared to Spring. You also may have ideas for application setup changes fresh in your mind after a season focused on your work. Read More |
| Tenth Fatal Ag Accident of 2023 Claims the Life of Lawrence Polries |
 NAAA is saddened to report that Lawrence (Larry) Polries from Jamestown, ND was killed in an ag accident on September 19, 2023. He was 63 years old at the time of his death. The members and staff of NAAA offer their deepest sympathies and condolences to Larry’s friends and family. Read More |
| Aerial Application Represents at Mississippi Commemorative Air Force Event |
 This past weekend, the Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force hosted a Hangar Hangover event in Madison, MS. The event hosts a wide range of aircraft and cars for spectators to view, including fully restored aircraft from the World War II era. Read More |
| AD Amended for Continental Engines Oil Filter Adapter Gasket |
| The FAA has issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-17-04 (superseding AD 2022-04-04) which requires replacing the oil filter adapter gasket on certain Continental Aerospace Technologies Inc. engines. Read More |
| NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings Begin Next Week 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. The hotel room block is at the Marriott at the University of Dayton and meetings will take place at the Dayton Convention Center. Read More |
| Pre-Register for the Ag Aviation Expo to Avoid Long Lines Onsite |
 We urge you to pre-register before Nov. 3 for the 2023 Ag Aviation Expo, which saves you $75 per person. Pre-registration helps us to have accurate food, beverage and seating counts at our events. Attendee registration and booth sales are open for the NAAA Expo in Palm Springs Dec. 4-7! Read More |
| NAAA Membership Renewal Open for 2024; Renew Your Membeship Today |
Thank you for your support of NAAA as a 2023 member. We request your continued support by renewing your NAAA membership for 2024. While you have been busy aiding farmers to produce a safe, affordable, and abundant supply of food, fiber, and bioenergy, NAAA has been busy making sure low altitude airspace is safe for your aerial application business to operate, as well as ensuring that you have the pesticide products you need to do your job. Read More |
| In Case You Missed It! |
| NAAA Earns Solid Media Coverage for Cover Crops Press Release |
 On Monday, Sept. 18, NAAA sent a press release about ag pilots working to seed cover crops to national agriculture and aviation media contacts. It has only been a few days, but the release has been picked up by RFD-TV and American Ag Network. Read More |
| Vote for AgAir Update’s Bill Lavender for the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame |
 This past month, AgAir Update Founder Bill Lavender was nominated to be inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. Bill began his aviation career in 1973 and has amassed over 14,000 flight hours. Bill retired from general aviation flying in 2021. During his four-decade aviation career, he has owned and operated over 15 aircraft, from AgWagons to Turbine Thrush and Barons. Read More |
| NAAA Mourns the loss of Tylor Johnson – Fatally Injured in Ninth Fatal Accident in 2023 |
 The members and staff of NAAA offer their condolences to the loved ones of Tylor Johnson. Born on October 8, 1989, Tylor passed away on September 12, 2023, at the age of 33. He was fatally injured in the ninth fatal ag accident of 2023. |
| California Operator Nick Macy Killed in Accident at Reno Air Races |
 Nick Macy, owner of Macy’s Flying Service in Tulelake, CA, was killed in a mid-air collision at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, NV. The accident occurred on Sunday, September 17 at the conclusion of the T-6 Gold Race. Nick, who placed second in the race, and the winner, Chris Rushing, collided while landing. Chris was also fatally injured in the accident. Read More |
| Another Fun Children’s Book Available on Aerial Application: The Story of Amelia Airedale |
 If you want to have a doggone good time reading to a little tyke on the subject of aerial application fetch yourself a copy of “The Story of Amelia Airedale,” a book for younglings about an Airedale pooch named Amelia that is fascinated by the aerial applicators treating spuds in Idaho. Read More |
| Thank You, NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Sponsors! Attendees, Register Today! |
| Attendee registration and booth sales are open! Please register today. NAAA sincerely appreciates the companies that support NAAA and the agricultural aviation industry by sponsoring the 2023 Ag Aviation Expo in Palm Springs, California, Dec. 4-7. Read More |
| 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 |
