May 23, 2014
NAAA eNewsletter

NAAA Goes Downstown for N.J. Calibration Clinic

Earlier this week NAAA staff members Jay Calleja, Sterling Wiggins and Andrew Moore traveled to Vineland, N.J., at the invitation of Downstown Aero Crop Service Inc. to observe an ag aircraft calibration clinic. Downstown organized the event to enhance the precision of its application equipment and to showcase the technological sophistication of aerial application services to its farmer/customers. Downstown is operated by Curt Nixholm and Vern Becker. About 30 percent of Downstown’s work is agricultural, primarily treating cranberries and blueberries in the southern New Jersey “Garden State” region. The operation also holds major fire-fighting contracts with the state of New Jersey and conducts mosquito abatement work in New Jersey and bordering states. 
 
 
The Downstown Aero Crop Service team: (from left to right) pilots Dennis Mazzoni and Ed Carter; operators Curt Nixholm and Vern Becker; and NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore.
Leading the calibration clinic was aerial application analyst-extraordinaire, Dr. Dennis Gardisser of WRK of Arkansas LLC, assisted by fellow veteran analyst John Garr of Garrco Products Inc. and Garrco’s eight-member company team. A fleet of Air Tractors and Ag Cats were calibrated for both wet and dry materials. This was followed by presentations by Gardisser and Garr on the purpose of calibrating and using suitable tank mixes to ensure the proper droplet size and swath width to maximize application efficacy, efficiency and environmental stewardship. NAAA’s Executive Director, Andrew Moore, also gave an overview of the aerial application industry and its importance to crop production to the farmer-audience. He also highlighted key safety issues of concern to the aerial application industry such as the proper marking of towers and unmanned aerial vehicles located and operating in agricultural regions to ensure ag pilots’ safety.  
 
NAAA thanks Downstown Aero Crop Service for its hospitality and organization of the clinic to not only augment their own professionalism, but also to spread the message of the importance of the aerial application industry to their farmer-customers and public via the calibration clinic format.

Language Supportive of Aerial Application Research Included in 2015 Senate Ag Appropriations Markup

NAAA is pleased to report that the association continues to be successful in ensuring the importance of aerial application research to USDA and Congress. Yesterday the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2015 Agriculture Appropriations Bills and included language endorsing the continued support of the USDA-ARS Aerial Application Technology Program. The Committee recommended an appropriation of approximately $1.14 billion for the Agricultural Research Service, compared with $1.122 billion of funding that the ARS received in Fiscal Year 2014.  
 
Since 2002 NAAA has been successful in lobbying the government for an additional $6,512,500 to be invested in aerial application research.
 
The mention of aerial application within Senate legislation is once again no small feat, as it is one of only a handful of programs specifically mentioned. The language reads as follows:
 
Aerial Application Research.—The Committee recognizes the importance of [the] ARS Aerial Application Technology Program. The program conducts innovative research making aerial applications more efficient, effective, and precise. Research for aerial application serves the public good as a vital tool for the future, as agriculture strives to meet the food, fiber, and bio-energy demands of a growing population.   
 
The full House Appropriations Committee is slated to markup its Fiscal Year Agricultural Appropriations Bill soon and it is expected to have language similar to the Senate’s supporting aerial application research. NAAA will continue to work for adequate USDA-ARS funding for the continued design of aerial application technologies, tools and techniques that mitigate drift, result in fuel savings, as well as make aerial applications more efficacious. Favorable committee report language sends a strong message to the USDA to continue to sustain appropriate funding for aerial application research and this message couldn’t be more important as USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), where the aerial application research unit is housed, has had their budget cut over the past few years resulting in the shutdown of ten research units.

Save the Date for NAAA’s June 17 Cover Crops Webinar

his month’s issue of Agricultural Aviation takes an in-depth look at cover crops and the opportunities, challenges and keys to success when it comes to seeding them by aircraft. And that’s just the beginning! NAAA is pleased to present a special one-hour webinar hosted by Practical Farmers of Iowa that will explore the ins and outs of successfully aerially seeding cover crops and ways to ensure continued expansion of this business opportunity. The webinar takes place June 17 at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT.  

In this webinar, you will learn:

  • Why farmers are using cover crops, why farmers are using planes to seed cover crops, farmers’ biggest barriers to seeding cover crops with planes, and how cover crops benefit not only the farm but water quality and soil health. 
  • From an aerial applicator already aerially seeding cover crops about why the operation he manages added cover crops; changes they have made  to make cover crops easier and faster to seed; calibrating for different seed sizes to ensure good coverage; how to deal with different seed mixes; keys to improving cover crop establishment; ways to grow your business through good recommendations; and more.
  • Recommendations on what seeds are being aerially applied in different areas of the country, with an emphasis on which cover crop species are most successful in different parts of the U.S.

Joining the webinar is easy!

  1. Read the instructions and join in at practicalfarmers.org/new-events/farminars on the correct day at time of the event (June 17 at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT/1 p.m. MT, 12 p.m. PT).
  2. Click “Join in” at the bottom of the page.
  3. Registration is not required, but if you choose to pre-register, you will receive reminder emails one week and one day before the webinar takes place.
Want to Learn Even More? NAAA Has You Covered!
Join us at the 2014 NAAA Convention & Exposition in Louisville, Ky., for NAAA’s first-ever Cover Crops Concurrent Session. The cover crops session will be held Thursday, Dec. 11, at 2:45 p.m. at The Galt House, NAAA’s headquarters hotel.
 
For more information on the June 17 cover crops webinar, please contact NAAA’s Jay Calleja at jcalleja@agaviation.org or (202) 546-5722.
 

News Site Distorts NAAA’s UAV Position and Lobbying Efforts, NAAA Fires Back

Last week, InTheCapital, an online news outlet, published an article on various industries’ drones advocacy efforts that misstated NAAA is lobbying against drones and inaccurately reported that the association spent $106,000 last year to oppose UAVs. The reporter was referring to data obtained from lobbying reports NAAA is required to submit to Congress. The truth—that we made the reporter’s editor aware of—is NAAA spent that amount on a whole host of government relations issues impacting the aerial application industry. Moreover, NAAA does not oppose UAVs but rather insists they be safely integrated in the same low-level airspace aerial applicators operate in by being equipped with strobes and ADS-B Out technology. Apprised of the facts, the editor adjusted the online article and inserted an editor’s note making NAAA’s position known, thereby properly putting us back on the high ground on this issue.

The full letter to the editor is as follows:

From: Jay Calleja
To: Brian Warmoth, Managing Editor
RE: Errors in drones lobbying article

Dear Mr. Warmoth:

In her May 13 article for InTheCapital, Hollywood and Farmers Team Up to Lobby for Drones, Tess VandenDolder was way off base in her “reporting” of the National Agricultural Aviation Association’s position on UAVs and our lobbying activities in that regard. To report that NAAA spent $106,000 last year to lobby against drones is false and misleading, and the galling thing is the facts were staring Ms. VandenDolder in the face. Ms. VandenDolder’s article bears striking resemblance to a Bloomberg piece her article links to, Filmmakers to Farmers Seeking Drone Bonanza in Washington. Had she read and subsequently repurposed Bloomberg’s article more carefully, Ms. VandenDolder would have noted that the $106,000 NAAA spent in 2013 was devoted to lobbying for a variety of issues, including but not limited to the safe integration of UAVs into the National Airspace. In addition, even a cursory look at NAAA’s website would have shown the range of policy issues that affect aerial applicators (a.k.a. crop dusters).

To add insult to injury, Ms. VandenDolder appears to doubt the sincerity of NAAA’s safety concerns, inferring that the real reason for our “objections” is “the fact that drone technology could replace the use of crop dusters all together.” Setting aside that claim for a moment, for the record, NAAA does not object to the use of UAVs for commercial activities so long as their presence does not jeopardize the safety of manned aircraft, particularly in the low-level airspace in which aerial applicators operate. We are confident that the appropriate balance will be struck, but until suitable regulations are in place the unregulated use of UAVs by farmers and other businesses is akin to the Wild West. Again, had Ms. VandenDolder made a quick visit to NAAA’s website, www.agaviation.org, or heaven forbid, called us, the sincerity of our industry’s safety concerns would have become clear. The second article on our homepage is titled, Protecting Ag Pilots from the Threat of UAVs.

We are disappointed in the level of slipshod reporting Ms. VandenDolder demonstrated in this case. For her and InTheCapital’s sake, I hope it is not indicative of her overall reportorial abilities. In the future, we suggest that she contact us if she would like to learn more about why safe integration of UAVs is so important. This literally is a life-and-death matter for our members. As such, we take it very seriously.

Sincerely,

Jay Calleja
Manager of Communications
National Agricultural Aviation Association  

Dusty Crophopper Joins Smokey the Bear in New Wildfire Prevention PSAs

In an effort to educate Americans about how to avoid accidental wildfires, DisneyToon Studios has joined the Ad Council, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters to launch a series of public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring scenes and characters from Disney’s Planes: Fire & Rescue. The PSAs are an extension of the Wildfire Prevention PSA campaign, featuring Smokey the Bear. 
 
In the new television, digital and radio PSAs Dusty Crophopper and his firefighting peers encourage audiences to be “Smokey’s Wingman” and do their part to prevent wildfires. They also cover the proper steps for extinguishing a campfire. For more fire prevention and safety tips, visit www.SmokeyBear.com. Planes: Fire & Rescue hits theaters July 18.
 

NAAA Convention: Kickoff Breakfast Details & Thank You Current Sponsors

Join us for the 48th Annual NAAA Convention & Exposition from Dec. 8-11th in Louisville, Ky. Monday, Dec. 9, you’ll hear from Trent Loos at the NAAA Kickoff Breakfast. 

 

Loos connects rural and urban America by sharing the positive story of production agriculture. He is a sixth generation farmer and agricultural activist and he launched his radio program “Loos Tales” on January 8, 2001 when it aired for the first time on radio station KMZU in Missouri. Today, 3 million listeners on nearly 100 radio stations in 19 states hear the show every day, along with many who listen online worldwide. In addition to “Loos Tales”, Loos now hosts and produces a daily, one-hour radio program entitled “Rural Route,”  “Illinois Truth Be Told”, “Dakota Trails and Tales” and “Colorado Trails and Tales,” which are available at his website www.LoosTales.com. Loos and his wife Kelli enjoy living on the ranch in central Nebraska with their daughters. The breakfast is sponsored by BASF.

 

We are continually updating the schedule of events for this year’s convention. 

Thank You to NAAA Sponsors

NAAA has begun selling sponsorships for the NAAA Convention and we sincerely appreciate the companies that support NAAA and the agricultural aviation industry with a sponsorship for the 48th Annual NAAA Convention & Exposition. Sponsoring companies help ensure the success of our annual convention. Contact Lindsay Barber at 202-546-5722 today to discuss sponsorship opportunities!

Current sponsors:

  • Diamond Sponsors: Pratt & Whitney and Syngenta
  • Platinum Sponsors: BASF and Satloc
  • Gold Sponsors: Air Tractor, AgriSmart, DuPont Crop Protection
  • Silver Sponsors: Covington Aircraft, FMC, Tulsa Aircraft Engines
  • Bronze Sponsors: AgAir Update and Iowa Agricultural Aviation Association

Exhibitors: Please note that booth sales will begin on July 22!

 

Book Your Hotel Room

It’s not too early to book your hotel room at the only head quarter’s hotel; The Galt House! You can walk to and from the convention center and The Galt House via the Louie Link Skywalk; limited transportation will be provided. Book your hotel room online or call (800) The-Galt or (502) 589-5200.

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.

NPRM Proposes AD Affecting Honeywell TPE331 Engines

On May 12, 2014, the FAA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing an Airworthiness Directive (AD) affecting certain Honeywell International Inc. turboprop engines. This proposal would require replacement of affected propeller shaft couplings and insertion of a copy of Honeywell Operating Letter into the FAA-Approved Flight Manual. This proposed AD would affect TPE331-5, -5A, -5AB, -5B, -10, -10R, -10U, -10UF, -10UG,-10UGR, and -10UR model turboprop engines, with a propeller shaft coupling, part number (P/N) 3107065-1, 865888-3, 865888-6 or 865888-8, installed.
 
This AD was prompted by engine propeller shaft coupling failures leading to unexpected propeller pitch changes resulting in high aerodynamic and asymmetric drag on the airplanes upon failure. The condition could be critical to maintaining control on twin-engine airplanes. The FAA is proposing this AD to prevent loss of airplane control, leading to an accident. 
 
The proposed AD would require, removing the shaft coupling from service by the earliest of the following:
  • Next piece-part exposure; or
  • Next turbine (hot) section inspection (HSI); or
  • Before accumulating an additional 3,600 cycles after the effective date of this AD. Exceptions are engines installed on Mitsubishi MU-2 series which must be replaced before accumulating 1,200 cycles; CASA C-212 series and Twin Commander 690 and 695 series which must be replaced before accumulating 2,400 cycles. Certain other listed aircraft and all others not listed, including ag aircraft, fall into the 3,600 cycle limit. 
Additionally, within 60 days, applicable aircraft must insert a copy of Honeywell Operating Limitation Letter OI331-26, dated March 2, 2010, into the FAA-Approved Flight Manual. 
 
We recommend that you read the NPRM and service information carefully and make any comments regarding overall regulatory, economic, environmental and energy aspects of this proposed AD. Comments are due by July 11, 2014. They should be sent by one of the methods explained to the address given in the NPRM and include “Docket No. FAA-2012-0913; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-23-AD” at the beginning of the comments.