August 14, 2014
NAAA eNewsletter

Helicopter Ag Pilot Harassed by UAV in Illinois

Several weeks ago an Illinois helicopter ag pilot was circling at 300 feet above a field he was preparing to treat looking for obstructions, people or anything relevant to his application when all of a sudden, an unmanned aerial vehicle airplane made a climbing pass in close proximity directly in front of his helicopter. The pilot reported to NAAA that he was fortunate that he was only traveling at 50 mph instead of at a fixed-wing speed of 120 mph or higher. The UAV was an aerobatic Extra airplane with about a five- or six-foot wingspan. After the UAV flew by it then proceeded to do aerobatics around the helicopter, then within close proximity to the rotorcraft began formation flying. This created a hazardous and uncomfortable situation for the pilot.

 

The helicopter looked around until he spotted the “pilot” controlling the UAV and landed near his back yard. The model was landed only after the ag pilot insisted to the UAV operator that he do so for safety concerns.

 

The pilot then notified the FAA FSDO of the incident and they sent the local police to investigate. They located the UAV’s pilot and he readily admitted his activities. The pilot admitted he had flown the model above 400 feet which is the ceiling allowed for model aircraft. He said he didn’t like aircraft flying over his property so he used the model to scare them off.

 

When they learned the reason for the dangerous flying, the FSDO decided to seek prosecution of the individual. The helicopter pilot has been asked to submit a statement of the events that occurred. NAAA will keep a watch on the situation as it develops.

 

In a conversation with our contact at FAA Headquarters about the incident, he made it clear that the FAA needs to know when incidents with UAVs occur. Otherwise they are not able to determine the extent of the hazard to manned aircraft and do not have a case to require safety measures for UAVs such as onboard lighting and identification/tracking systems such as ADS-B Out. If you find yourself involved in a near miss with a UAV, please file a report with your local FSDO, local law enforcement and NAAA whenever an event occurs so it can be officially documented.

 

In cases where an intentional act is not involved, some pilots have been reluctant to report the incident to either the FAA or local law enforcement to prevent enforcement action taken in those cases. Although laws and procedures vary from state to state, NAAA contacted a sheriff to see if his office was required to seek prosecution whenever a report is filed. In his jurisdiction, an informational report can be filed with no follow-up action required. NAAA can then use this report to compile information on incidents that may occur. An additional benefit to filing the report is that if that person’s offenses continue to occur, a history has been created for possible prosecution should a subsequent incident occur. 

NAAA Grassroots ALERT: Submit Comments to the EPA on its Proposed Worker Protection Standard before Monday Closing

Comments are due Aug. 18 to the EPA on revisions proposed to its Worker Protection Standards (WPS).  NAAA has drafted comments on the proposal outlining concerns it has with the many  unnecessary and burdensome provisions EPA has proposed. Additionally, NAAA believes EPA's proposal does not take into account the current WPS ability to protect workers and commonplace aerial application industry technology, techniques and practices utilized to protect farm workers and handlers.

 

The biggest concern to NAAA proposed by EPA’s WPS revisions would require a 100-foot aerial entry restriction area around fields at the time of application regardless of wind direction.  Other concerns include stringent requirements for closed system loading equipment and federal requirements for exchanged communication by an applicator to the farmer within two hours of any programmatic changes to the application.  NAAA’s comments addressing its concerns with the proposal may be found by clicking here.

 

The Federal Register publication of the proposed rule can be found here.  A summary comparing the WPS proposals with existing standards may be found by clicking here.

 

NAAA urges aerial applicators to submit individual comments to the EPA expressing concern with the WPS proposal, particularly the 100-foot aerial entry restriction area (see pages 7-11 of NAAA’s draft comments).  To submit comments be sure it is on your company letterhead and identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0184 (see page one of NAAA’s comments). To send comments electronically visit the link: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0184-0180

 

If submitting comments by mail use the following address:

OPP Docket

Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/DC)

Mail code: 28221T

1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.

Washington, DC 20460

Sixth and Final UAS Test Site Opens in Virginia

The sixth and final unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test site hosted by Blacksburg-based Virginia Tech was declared operational by the FAA Aug. 13.

 

The FAA granted Virginia Tech seven Certificates of Waiver or Authorization (COAs) for two-years enabling UAS to operate within certain areas within the test site under certain parameters. UAS models that will be tested include the Smart Road Flyer, eSPAARO, Aeryon Sky Ranger, MANTRA2, Sig Rascal, and two AVID EDF-8 micro UASs.

 

UAS operations will occur at test areas in Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland, although the FAA has not released specific locations. Research in the three states will eventually include agricultural spray equipment testing, development of aeronautical procedures for integration of UAS flights in a towered airspace and developing training and operational procedures for aeronautical surveys of agriculture.

 

The FAA selected six congressionally-mandated test sites on December 30, 2013.  The agency is working with the test sites to guide their research programs to help the FAA safely integrate UAS into the national airspace over the next several years. The Agency plans to release a rule permitting operation of small UAS within the National Airspace System by November, 2014. 

Entries for WNAAA Scholarship Contest Due Tomorrow!

Attention, higher-education students: Don’t miss out on the opportunity to compete for a combined $3,000 in educational scholarships. The deadline for the 2014 WNAAA Scholarship Essay Contest is this Friday, Aug. 15. The WNAAA will award a $2,000 scholarship as top prize in the 32nd annual essay competition, and Covington Aircraft Engines has generously agreed to sponsor a $1,000 scholarship.

 

The theme for this year’s contest is “The Implications of UAVs in Ag Aviation.” The competition is open to all NAAA members and their family members. (Allied industry company members can only sponsor one eligible family member per contest.) The scholarship can be applied to any educational pursuit beyond high school; it is not restricted to a “flying career.” More information about eligibility requirements, contest guidelines and sample essays from past scholarship recipients is available in the WNAAA Scholarship section of the website. 

Hurry! Ag Aviation Scholarship Entries Due by Aug. 31!

From seeking a mentor to finding the funds for training, the road to becoming an ag pilot is fraught with obstacles, but having $5,000 in seed money certainly helps. That’s the top prize in the 2014 NAAA/BASF Agricultural Aviation Scholarship competition. Applications are due by Aug. 31, so if you have been thinking about applying or sponsoring an applicant now is the time to start preparing. NAAA handed out $31,000 worth of training money to nine aspiring ag pilots in the first four years of the scholarship’s existence, and up to $7,500 could be awarded this year.

 

The goal of the Agricultural Aviation Scholarship is to strengthen the aerial application industry by helping NAAA Operators bring new pilots into the profession. Each applicant must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator, and scholarship recipients must use the proceeds for flight training or agricultural coursework at a university, college, community college or other institution of higher learning. A stipend for a trainee in an NAAA Operator-sponsored apprentice program is also permissible.

 

To be considered for the 2014 scholarship applicants must submit:

  • A letter of recommendation from the NAAA Operator sponsoring the applicant.
  • An essay of 250 words or less written by the applicant explaining why you want to pursue a career in agricultural aviation and how you would use NAAA’s Agricultural Aviation Scholarship to further your education and training.
  • A one-page résumé or list of activities detailing all agricultural and aviation experiences, education and training.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria: need, prior experience, likelihood of retention in the aerial application industry, strength of the operator’s recommendation letter, and strength of the applicant’s essay. Click here to read the full instructions and print the scholarship application. If you have questions about any of the requirements, call NAAA at (202) 546-5722.

 

The Agricultural Aviation Scholarship is funded by an educational grant provided by BASF and administered by NAAA. This year’s winner, or winners, will be recognized at NAAA’s 48th Annual Convention & Exposition in Louisville, Ky. 

NAAA Launches New Website!


Last month, NAAA launched our new website featuring an updated look and user-friendly navigation. The new website has the same web address of www.agaviation.org.

   

In conjunction with the new website, is a new membership database that works hand-in-hand with the website, allowing you to have an “account” where you can:

  • Update your contact information,
  • Add a photo or company logo,
  • View the NAAA-NAAREF-WNAAA Committees that you’re a member of,
  • Choose the information that appears in your online directory listing, and
  • View and print receipts of past transactions with NAAA (as of July 1, 2014).

In the next several months we will have additional options in your account including a list of your PAASS and Operation S.A.F.E. attendance and a new Job Listings section.

 

If you have not yet logged in for the first time, please follow the steps below to receive your username and password enabling you to access members only content:

  1. Visit www.agaviation.org.
  2. In the upper right hand corner, click Forgot your Password.
  3. On the next screen, enter your email address and click Retrieve Username and Password.
  4. Go to your email inbox to retrieve your username and password. Please note that it may take a few minutes for this email to appear in your inbox. YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD ARE CASE SENSITIVE.
  5. Visit www.agaviation.org and enter your username and password in the upper right hand corner of the NAAA website. As a reminder, your username and password are case sensitive.
  6. Once you’re logged in, click My Account (at the top of the page) or My Profile (on the left hand toolbar) and change your username and password to a combination that you will easily remember.

As with all new technology, sometimes there are kinks in the system to work through. If you view the website on your tablet or smartphone, please note that we are still working on the look and functionality of the new website on these devices.

 

If you encounter an issue or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact NAAA at (202) 546-5722. We hope that you will enjoy browsing the new website, finding more information and options each time.

NAAA Convention 2014: Book Your Room at Host Hotel


After a day of meetings and the NAAA Trade Show, enjoy an evening beverage at The Galt House in the spacious Atrium Bar.

We look forward to seeing you at the 48th Annual NAAA Convention & Exposition in Louisville, Ky. Join us at the only host hotel, The Galt House. The Galt House sits along the banks of the Ohio River where you can see stunning views of the river and downtown Louisville. The hotel is full of history with notable visitors including Charles Dickens, P.T. Barnum and Presidents Lincoln, Grant, Taylor, Hayes, Buchanan, Roosevelt, Arthur, Fillmore and Taft at the original three Galt House buildings.


The current Galt House is the fourth edition of the hotel; the Rivue Tower opened in 1973 and the Suite Tower opened in 1985. The Suite Tower has one of the largest Geo Thermal heating and air conditioning systems in the world.

 

It’s not too early to book your hotel room! You can walk to and from the convention center and The Galt House via the Louie Link Skywalk; limited transportation will be provided.

 

There are two rooming options at The Galt House:

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

Book your hotel room onlineor call (800) The-Galt or (502) 589-5200. Reservation cutoff for NAAA block rate: November 13, 2014

Register for the NAAA Convention

  1. Download a registration form, fill it out and mail it to the NAAA office with your payment
  2. Call NAAA at (202) 546-5722 to register over the phone with your credit card
  3. Online Registration will be coming soon!