Print Version | Newsletter Home | NAAA Home
National Agricultural Aviation Association eNewsletter
Voice of the Aerial Application Industry
January 4, 2024 | Happy New Year!
In Case You Missed It!
Your GPS Data May Save a Life
As the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) marches in lockstep with some corporate interests in the uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) space, it is becoming clear that green lighting and expanding UAS beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) operations may be being prioritized over safety. 
 
First proposed in the 2022 BVLOS ARC Report, and later put out for public comment in 2023, the FAA is considering designating “shielded” areas wherein UAS would have the right-of-way over crewed aircraft. These areas are defined as the airspace within 100 feet vertically or laterally of an obstacle or critical infrastructure, such as power lines. According to the ARC Report this is based on “the limited likelihood of crewed aircraft operations in [these] areas.”
 
The current reality is that some of these UAS interests (think BNSF Railway, Google, Amazon), and in some cases the FAA, do not have a solid understanding of where and how we operate. It falls now to us, as an industry, to inform future rulemaking of the unique nature of aerial application operations. Using a data-driven approach, we can demonstrate our utilization of the low-altitude airspace and expose the safety threat presented by UAS not giving the right-of-way to crewed aircraft within it.
 
To this end, NAAA has a longstanding partnership with Mississippi State University (MSU) to collect GPS data logs donated by its members. Since the project’s inception in 2017, the data collected and analysis performed by MSU has fueled NAAA’s efforts in representing the safety interests of aerial applicators to regulators.
 
If you have donated logs in the past, Thank You. 
 
If you have logs which you have not yet donated, please consider it. The data you provide can help shape policy on a national level and save lives. As a reminder, any data you submit is stripped of any personally identifiable information prior to inclusion in the larger dataset.
 
There are two options to submit your logs to MSU:
  1. Request a secure upload link for data uploads.  Email Madison Dixon, Associate Director, MSU Agricultural Autonomy Institute 

  2. Mail a flash drive or other storage device to the address below (The device will be immediately mailed back once data is received if a return address is provided):
Mail To: Attn: Madison Dixon
MSU Agricultural Autonomy Institute
Pace Seed Technology Building
Mailstop #9812
650 Stone Blvd.
Mississippi State, MS 39762
 
 
<< Previous Article
Add a CommentAdd a Comment
View CommentsView Comments ()
This newsletter is intended for NAAA members only. NAAA requests that should any party desire to publish, distribute or quote any part of this newsletter that they first seek the permission of the Association. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), its Board of Directors, staff or membership. Items in this newsletter are not the result of paid advertising and are only meant to highlight newsworthy developments. No endorsement by NAAA is intended or implied.
FOLLOW US
IN THIS ISSUE
Drone Collides with Helicopter in Daytona Beach
NAAA Comments on Article About Virginia Residents Wanting Notification Before Pesticide Spraying
Top 10 Agricultural Aviation Articles of 2023
NAAA Family Grows, Congratulations to Matt & Carina Gill
Set Yourself Up for Success by Renewing Your Membership for 2024
NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings Feb. 15-17 in Alexandria, VA
In Case You Missed It!
EPA Provides Update on Future of Chlorpyrifos After Court Reverses 2021 Ban – NAAA Engaging with EPA to Protect Aerial Application on Labels
NAAA and Ag Aviation Highlighted in the Key U.S. Ag Journals The Hagstrom Report and National Journal Daily
NAAA Comments on Two EPA Pesticide Endangered Species Evaluations Supporting Aerial Use Without Unnecessary and Burdensome Restrictions
Your GPS Data May Save a Life
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
 

Jan. 5-7

Arkansas AAA Convention
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort Hot Springs, AR

Katherine Holmstrom

(870) 830-2308

 

Jan. 8-10

Louisiana AAA Convention
Golden Nugget, Lake Charles, LA

Kim Brown

(225) 436-3199

 

Jan. 10-12

Texas AAA Convention
Omni, Corpus Christie, TX

Chris Shields

(512) 476-2644 

 

Full Calendar of Events

 
 
 

 

AG AVIATION HOTLINKS
Certified-Professional Aerial Applicator Safety Steward
(C-PAASS) Program

DropFlight App Makes Spray Pattern Testing a Snap
Agriculture’s Air Force Book
Aerial Applicators’ Growing Role Video Download Files
Agricultural Aviation Mag.
NAAA/NAAREF Safety Videos
Turn Smart: Respect the Safety Margin Video
NAAA Media Kit
Customizable Aerial Application DIY Press Releases
NPDES PGP Compliance Tools
Shooting-Response Checklist
NAAA UAV Encounter Checklist
Tower Outreach Tools
NAAA UAV Safety Stuffers
NAAA Professional Operating Guidelines Booklet
TOOLS
Contact Us
Search Back Issues
HOME | ABOUT | OUR PARTNERS | EVENTS
POLICY INITIATIVES | MEDIA | MEMBERSHIP | CAREERS
National Agricultural Aviation Association, 1440 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 202-546-5722 | Fax: 202-546-5726 | information@agaviation.org

To ensure delivery of NAAA eNewsletter, please add 'information@agaviation.org'
and 'information@agaviation.mmsend.com' to your email address book.

If you are still having problems receiving our emails, see our whitelisting page for more details.
National Agricultural Aviation Association