| October 26, 2023 |
| NAAA Firm on Safety in the FAA’s Heedless March Toward UAS BVLOS Operations |
| On Monday, NAAA submitted comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding a recently published petition by Wing Aviation LLC (Wing) to amend its existing exemption to conduct 14 CFR Part 135 package delivery operations using an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS). Wing is a subsidiary of Alphabet, Inc., the parent company of Google. Wing is focused on expanding global drone delivery networks to bring residential drone delivery to major metro areas. Wing received their initial exemption in 2019, for which NAAA commented in opposition. Read More |
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| NAAA Comments on EPA’s Endangered Species Herbicide Strategy |
| As part of their current spate of efforts to ensure pesticide registrations comply with the endangered species act (ESA), in July of this year EPA released their draft herbicide strategy (HS). The HS follows on the ESA workplan, the ESA work plan update, and the vulnerable species pilot project (VSPP). While the VSPP seeks to provide a very targeted approach to protecting 27 particularly sensitive species, the HS seeks to protect over 900 ESA listed species by applying mitigations over a wide swath of agricultural land. Read More |
| GPS Disrupter Ligado Networks is Close to Bankruptcy, Again |
| One of the many issues NAAA has been advocating on behalf of the aerial application industry is to prevent Ligado Networks’ attempt to operate a ground-based 5G network in the L-band radio spectrum, the band adjacent to the one used for GPS. Since 2020 NAAA has been part of a large coalition of aviation and other industries that rely on GPS and are fighting to overturn the FCC’s approval of Ligado’s application to operate in this spectrum. Read More |
| Fall 2023 Issue of Agricultural Aviation Now Online! |
 The Fall 2023 issue of Agricultural Aviation is available online and in the Agricultural Aviation Magazine App. Stories include details on the the upcoming Ag Aviation Expo, the use of night vision goggles in aerial application, results of the industry activity survey, an overview of the 2023-2024 PAASS Program, details on the 2023 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo, and much more! Read More |
| Ag Aviation Expo Attendee Pre-Reg Closes Nov. 3; Room Block Closes Nov. 9 |
 NAAA is excited to host our annual convention in Palm Springs, CA Dec. 4-7. If you’re attending, we urge you to save $75.00 and pre-register by Nov. 3. It will also help us reduce lines at the registration desk and have accurate food/beverage counts, especially if you’re attending the Kickoff Breakfast to hear from Burt Rutan, Aerospace entrepreneur and Virgin Galactic spacecraft designer. Read More |
| Apply for C-PAASS 2023 by December 11 |
 Join the growing number of ag pilots who are committed to enhancing safety, environmental stewardship, and application efficacy in the agricultural aviation industry. The deadline to become 2023 C-PAASS certified is Dec. 11; count yourself among those committed to being the best of the best in the industry.
Read More |
| Beware of Fraudulent Email with Ag Aviation Expo Name & Logo |
 NAAA received notification that scammers have sent an email to several members offering attendee lists to the Ag Aviation Expo. THIS EMAIL IS SPAM AND NOT AFFILIATED WITH NAAA; PLEASE DELETE IT. NAAA does not email members to offer lists of any kind. Read More |
| Support NAAA by Renewing Your Membership for 2024 |
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! |
| Many Auction Items Up for Bid at NAAA Live Auction; Letter of Credit Required for PT6A-34AG Engine |
 Thank you to the many companies that support ag pilots and their operations, as well as the industry, through donating items for the Live and Silent Auctions at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo. The money raised from these items supports NAAA programs. Thank you to Pratt & Whitney Canada for its generous donation of a brand-new PT6A-34AG turboprop engine. The engine is valued at $658,000. Read More |
| Beware of Fraudulent Emails & Calls with Ag Aviation Expo Name |
NAAA received notification that scammers using the company name Convention Housing Experts LLC have sent an email to several Allied members offering hotel rooms. NAAA also received notification that a different company has called some of our Allied members telling them to book their hotel room with them. These communications are spam and not affiliated with NAAA; please delete it and do not respond to their calls. Please only book your Ag Aviation Expo hotel room using information directly from NAAA. 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 |
