NAAA Reps Continue Talks with FAA on UAV Safety

NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore, former NAAA President Scott Schertz and Coordinator of Government and Public Relations Sterling Wiggins met with Jim Williams, Manager of the FAA’s UAS Integration Office, last week to discuss the serious safety concerns NAAA members have regarding the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System.

 

NAAA representatives emphasized that it’s critical that UAVs be, at a minimum, equipped with strobe lights and ADS-B out technology to allow ag aviators to clearly see these low-level obstacles. Williams indicated that he agreed that UAVs present a hazard to low-level aviators, but believed that he could not make an argument for ADS-B equipage of all UAVs without data of near misses and accidents caused by them and model aircraft. Williams said that this is the standard that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would require in order to mandate ADS-B Out equipage of UAVs and ADS-B In equipage of ag aircraft. OMB serves as the clearinghouse for all government regulations and gives the Executive Office of the President a chance to weigh in or block proposals.

 

Williams also said that in the case of small UAVs operated within line of sight, the FAA intends to place the burden of see-and-avoid on the UAV operators given the small size and maneuverability of the aircraft (in compliance with the general principles outlined in Part 91.113). In the case of larger UAVs and those operated beyond-line-of-sight, Williams said the FAA intends to require all the same airworthiness standards that exist for manned aircraft, including flashing exterior strobe lights. Williams also said that the FAA will not allow beyond line of sight flight until a viable, successful sense-and-avoid system has been developed and approved by the agency.  

 

As for development of a final rule regarding small UAVs (those 55 lbs. or less), Williams said it is slated for a November 2014 release. Williams also indicated that the agency still plans to have the first of the six UAV test sites up and running by June at the latest (likely the North Dakota site), with a May date still possible.

 

FAA reiterated in its meeting with NAAA that all commercial operations of UAVs, including a farmer’s operation of a UAV to inspect his crop bound for market, remains illegal.  NAAA urges all members to report any near misses and/or illegal operation of UAVs to your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). NAAA also requests that you notify the association in order to assist us with gathering data to support our safety arguments, particularly any near-miss incident data. Members are also reminded, as was emphasized by the FAA in the NAAA meeting, to comply with the FARs and operate their aircraft at a minimum altitude of 500 feet AGL when ferrying to ensure they are clear of low-level obstacles and possible UAV activity.

 

NAAA will continue to reach out to federal officials and push the case for safe UAV integration as the FAA progresses in its implementation plans, and will keep members updated accordingly. 

Former NAAA President Brian Rau Responds to Farm Journal Article on UAVs

When Farm Journal writer Ben Potter ended his “Drone-Buying Checklist” article with an invitation for readers to email him, former NAAA President Brian Rau decided to do just that. Rau was NAAA President in 2010 and currently chairs NAAA’s Government Relations Committee. Earlier this week, he reached out to Potter about a recent article he wrote posing questions farmers and other would-be drone users should ask before purchasing a UAV. The impetus for Rau’s response was the following point in the article:

Will you be FAA compliant? In the past, farmers were advised to fly UAVs under 400’ and not use them for commercial use to stay within FAA regulations. However, a judge recently ruled that FAA’s prohibition on drone use was based on policy statements rather than actual regulations. Be prepared for the legal ramifications to change quickly. 

Rau wanted to clarify the NTSB administrative law judge’s ruling Potter referenced and raise an important point the writer may not have considered. Rau’s email stated:

Regarding [your] point: Will you be FAA compliant? The impression of this point and the whole article is that it is currently legal to use UAVs in a farm business, which is not true. The legal ruling that you refer to regarding aircraft operating under 400 feet was a ruling of one judge of the NTSB. The NTSB is not the regulatory agency for aviation and the FAA has appealed it to the full board. A “stay” on the one judge’s ruling was also ordered at the same time. … There are many FAA certified aircraft and pilots that operate under 400 feet including Agricultural Aircraft, EMS, Fire Suppression, Law Enforcement, Military training, pipe line and power line patrol, search and rescue and animal damage control. 

 

The issue is all about safety. Currently, aircraft operating at low altitudes use see and avoid to prevent collisions with other aircraft. If one aircraft cannotsee (the UAV) the system is only half as safe. This issue is being worked on and all aircraft including UAVs will eventually have the ability to sense and avoid. This is one of the issues the 6 test sites across the country are working on right now. Our industry (aerial application) will probably be one of the users of UAV technology once it is legal to use, although the actual commercial aerial application of products by UAV is probably a long way off. 

 

The important issue that you missed is the issue of Liability. Almost all farm/grower liability policies exclude any aircraft or aircraft operation coverage. (I farm also.) In the case of a collision with another aircraft (or a ground based object or person) the operation of the UAV would probably be found to be illegal and the operator liable for any damages, injuries or deaths and no insurance coverage would be in place.

 

There is a lot of aviation activity in many rural agricultural areas, and I think people need to consider the issue of UAV operation carefully with all the facts.

Rau concluded his letter with an invitation for the writer to contact him or NAAA to learn more about the aerial application industry’s interest in the safe and legal integration of UAVs operating alongside manned aircraft in low-level airspace. In response, Potter said he would take Rau’s points “to heart as we do need to cover safety, legality, etc. more robustly later this year.” 

 

NAAA commends Rau bringing the perspective of aerial applicators on the issue of UAVs to the attention of Farm Journal. Such foresight should bear fruit down the road as agricultural publications continue to cover the emerging agricultural UAV market. 

Book Your Room at the NAAA Convention Headquarters Hotel

We look forward to seeing you at the NAAA Convention from Dec. 8-11 at The Galt House and the Kentucky International Convention Center. It’s not too early to book your hotel room at the NAAA headquarters hotel.

 

There are two rooming options at The Galt House:

 

1. $110/night + tax for Rivue Tower (single or double) – Waterfront Balcony Suites offer views of the Ohio River and downtown
2. $130/night + tax for Suite Tower (single or double)  Executive suites with a separate bedroom

Book your hotel room online or call (800) The-Galt or (502) 589-5200

We are continually updating the schedule of events for this year’s convention. Please note that the schedule is subject to change and all updates will be made online and in future issues of the Agricultural Aviation magazine.

PA-25 p3 Ag Aircraft on Display at Sun ’n Fun Expo

 

The new PA-25 p3 aircraft from Lavia Argentina S.A. (Laviasa) is on display this week at the Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Fla. The aircraft received an updated U.S. Type Certificate last summer, which makes it fully registered to fly in the United States. Official U.S. dealer Eagle Vistas LLC of Sebring, Fla., is exhibiting the aircraft at Sun ’n Fun.

 

Billed as an entry-level agricultural aircraft, the PA-25 p3 is available as a single-seater or two-place canopy version for ag pilot training and banner/glider towing. According to Eagle Vistas, the new PA-25 features several new improvements, including a bigger fuel tank, now 53 gallons, and hopper capacity that increased from 150 to 180 gallons. The new PA-25 p3 model also has a Lycoming Engine, Fuel Injected IO-540-D4A5, a three-bladed constant speed propeller, new spring aluminum landing gear and offers Electronics International electronic engine monitoring. AmSafe’s airbag system will soon be an option.

 

The new PA-25 is the successor to the Piper PA-25 (a.ka. Pawnee), built by Piper Aircraft from the 1960s to the ’90s. Argentinian manufacturer Laviasa purchased the U.S. Type Certificates for the PA-25 from Piper Aircraft in 1998. Watch the video below to learn more. 

 

Nominations Open for 2014 NAAA Awards

The 48th Annual NAAA Convention & Exposition is still several months away, but before your season gets too busy, nominate someone for an award today! 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 individuals who go above and beyond, often with little fanfare. Please think about the special people you have known and worked with over the years and tell us why they deserve an NAAA Award. Awardees will be honored at NAAA’s Farewell/Awards Banquet on Dec. 11 in Louisville, KY.

 

There are 10 NAAA Award categories and one NAAREF award, the Evans-Christopher Operation S.A.F.E. Award. The Awards Nomination Form is available as print-only and fillable PDFs. To make a nomination, email or fax completed entries to NAAA at information@agaviation.org or (217) 532-6106. For typed submissions, please use the fillable form. Please call (202) 546-5722 with any questions. 

 

NAAA Award Categories

• Agrinaut Award: Honors the agricultural aircraft operator or operating organization that has made an outstanding contribution in the field of ag aircraft operations. The recipient for the award must be or have been actively engaged in commercial agricultural application with an agricultural aircraft and the achievement cited should be a “state of the art” contribution for the benefit of the agricultural aircraft industry as a whole.

• Allied Industry Individual Award: Recognizes the NAAA members or staff and/or an allied industry individual who has significantly contributed to the allied industry and their exhibit efforts.

• Delta Air Lines “Puffer” Award: Recognizes the individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the design of agricultural aircraft and/or related equipment.

• Evans-Christopher Operation S.A.F.E. Award: Recognizes individuals or entities that have made outstanding contributions to the Operation S.A.F.E. program. This Award is presented by NAAREF.

• John Robert Horne Memorial Award: Honors a pilot with five years or less experience in the agricultural aviation industry that has an exemplary safety record and/or has contributed to safety in ag aviation.

• Larsen-Miller Community Service Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions by a member to his community.

• Most Active Woman Award: Recognizes an outstanding contribution by a woman who is active in the affairs of the industry or the association.

• Opal & Bill Binnion Memorial Award: Acknowledges those who contribute to the WNAAA in their efforts to educate the public about aerial application.

• Outstanding Service Award: Awards outstanding service to the commercial agricultural aviation industry or to its association.

• Related Industry Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions by an allied industry member and his company.

• William O. Marsh Safety Award: Recognizes significant achievements in safety, safety education or an outstanding operational safety program.