The industry’s state/regional convention season begins in less than two weeks, first with Michigan AAA and then the Kansas AAA and California AAA conventions. Review the calendar of conventions here. As you determine what state/regional conventions you’re going attend, make sure you plan to attend a PAASS Program. Attending the PAASS program not only makes you a safer ag pilot, it can also provide you with the continuing education units from state pesticide agencies needed to renew your commercial pesticide license.

 

The 2023-2024 PAASS program will begin with a review of agricultural aviation accidents from the 2023 season. It will also include a discussion of accident trends seen over the 10-year period from 2013 to 2022.

 

For the human factors segment, PAASS will take on the subjects of stall spin accidents and overly aggressive flying. Fran de Kock of Battlefords Airspray in Canada provides both classroom and in-cockpit instruction on how to turn an agricultural aircraft safely, training to learn how an aircraft feels as it approaches a stall, and why agricultural aviation is not aerobatics.

 

PAASS will go back to the basics in environmental professionalism – discussing the importance of droplet size and boom length. Using larger spray droplets and reducing the length of the boom are both proven techniques for reducing drift. 

 

To reinforce the importance of security at ag aviation operations, the 2023-2024 PAASS program will provide details on an incident where a perpetrator attempted to steal an agricultural aircraft. By learning about this incident, operators and pilots can better assess their own security measures in order to prevent criminals from stealing or damaging equipment and contaminating fuel and agrichemicals. Review a full summary of the 2023-2024 program here.

 

Attending a PAASS Program is one of the requirements for becoming a Certified-Professional Aerial Applicator Safety Steward (C-PAASS). Requirements include:

1. Annual attendance at PAASS.
2. Biennial Participation in Operation S.A.F.E. If you are unable to attend a traditional Fly-In this Fall, as an NAAA member, you have alternative options; read more.
3. NAAA Membership.
4. State/Regional Association Membership.

 

The application window for 2023 C-PAASS Certification will close shortly after the Ag Aviation Expo. Make sure your name is on this prestigious list for the inaugural year of C-PAASS. If you haven’t done so yet, you can check your 2023 C-PAASS eligibility here.