April 3, 2015
NAAA eNewsletter

GRASSROOTS ALERT: NAAA Releases Draft Small UAS Rule Comments, Prepare Yours Today!

NAAA is making available a draft version of its comments to the FAA on the agency’s proposed small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) rulemaking. As reported in the Feb. 15 edition of NAAA’s eNewsletter, the FAA has given interested parties until April 24 to share their concerns on the NAAA’s proposed rule regarding small UAS. NAAA has a number of concerns with the rule including the following;

  • No ADS-B Out requirement
  • No Strobe lighting requirement
  • No medical requirements – while the rule relies on line-of-sight, the operator is required to self-certify they can physically meet this requirement.  
  • No airframe certification – operator just needs to perform a preflight inspection
  • No pilots license or UAV experience necessary – written test only
  • No aviation orange and white painting

NAAA urges all members to comment and share your safety concerns with the FAA related to this proposal. To submit comments be sure it is on your company letterhead and identified by docket identification (ID) number FAA-2015-0150 (see page one of NAAA’s comments). To send comments electronically visit the link: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=FAA-2015-0150-0017

 

If submitting comments by mail use the following address:

Docket ID FAA-2015-0150

Docket Operations, M-30

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140,

West Building Ground Floor,

Washington, DC 20590-0001

 

Comments can also be faxed to 202-493-2251, be sure to include the docket ID FAA-2015-0150.  NAAA will also be urging numerous national aviation groups and agricultural groups submit comments ensuring low-level aviation safety is addressed in FAA sUAS regulations.

 

NAAA’s draft comments can be found here. Once again, comments are due April 24th. 

Texas Legislature Moves Forward with Tower Marking Legislation

The Texas legislature is poised to make Texas the 14th state with meteorological evaluation tower (MET) marking requirements, as the state Senate’s Committee on Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs unanimously approved Senate Bill 505 March 23 thanks in no small part to the efforts of the Texas Agricultural Aviation Association (TAAA). The measure now heads to the full Senate for a vote.

 

Thanks to TAAA’s collaborative efforts, the Wind Coalition, a group representing Texas wind energy companies, withdrew their objection to the bill, clearing the path to the Senate floor.

 

Existing Texas law require wireless communications facilities that are between 100 feet and 200 feet AGL are to be marked with two warning spheres each on the highest guy wires. Existing Texas law also requires a notice to be given to certain airports and aerial applicators of the construction of a wireless communication facility for those facilities taller than 100 feet AGL. Both laws were adopted in 1995, but are largely ineffective due to a number of exemptions and a lack of enforcement.

 

SB 505 along with its companion bill House Bill 946 rewrite Texas’ existing regulations to make them more effective and comprehensive. Modeled after the Colorado tower law, the Texas bill does the following:

  • Defines “tower” as a self-sustaining or guy wired structure not more than 6 feet in diameter, and is capable of mounting sensors and cameras. Extends marking requirements to towers over 50 feet (rather than 100 feet in existing law). Towers must be painted in equal, alternating bands of aviation orange and white, beginning with orange at the top of the tower;
  • States that high visibility spherical marker balls of aviation orange color should be installed and displayed in accordance with the standards contained in FAA advisory circular on Marking Meteorological Evaluation Towers (FR-2011-06-24) and the additional standards found in FAA Advisory Circular AC 70/7460-1;
  • Guy wires must have a seven foot safety sleeve at each anchor point;
  • Towers erected prior to the effective date must be marked as required by the legislation within one year of the effective date of the legislation;
  • Contains a Penalty provision for non-compliance with different penalties for violations resulting in death or injury versus those that do not result in death or injury: Class B misdemeanor for the former and Class C misdemeanor for the latter; and
  • Adds a reporting and registration requirement to be administered by the Texas Department of Transportation.

The bill also exempts FCC communications towers, towers adjacent to buildings, as well as utility and transmission towers.

 

NAAA congratulates TAAA on their progress with this legislation so far, and urges Texas members to contact their state legislators and urge them to support SB 505 and HB 946. Texas members can find their Texas state representative and senators here, and here, respectively. HB 946 and SB 505 can be read here, and here, respectively. 

NAAA Executive Director Discusses UAVs on NYC’s Airwaves

NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore discussed the safety concerns that ag pilots and other low-level aviators have about hard-to-see UAVs operating in the same airspace as them with the Columbia Radio News (CRN) network. The radio segment originally aired on CRN’s UptownRadio webcast last Friday and re-aired Monday on WBAI-FM in New York City.

 

UptownRadio is produced by the students of the Columbia University Journalism School and is similar in format to NPR’s All Things Considered. Moore’s views were one of a host of opinions heard during a 4:27 piece that examined the difficult task of balancing the advantages of commercial drone use and aviation safety concerns. It’s an interesting report that allowed NAAA to share the agricultural aviation industry’s perspective on UAVs with a big city audience. Give it a listen. 

 

SAIB Issued on R44 and R66 Main Rotor Blades

The FAA issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) Number SW-15-08R1 alerting owners and operators of Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R44 and R44 II which have main rotor blades (MRBs) with part number C016-7 installed and Robinson Model R66 helicopters which have MRBs with part number F016-2 installed, of a fatigue crack occurrence on an R44. The SAIB recommends inspection for signs of a fatigue crack on the trailing edge of the blade and modification of R44, R44 II and R66 MRBs.

 

The FAA issued SAIB SW-15-08 on Feb. 23, 2015 that recommended daily pre-flight visual checks of the MRBs on R44 and R44 II helicopters at the trailing edge at the corner where the blade chord begins to increase. This action was prompted after a New Zealand R44 II experienced an in-flight failure of the MRB which caused severe vibration and difficulty in control during an emergency landing. There have be no reports of cracks being found as a result of these inspections.

 

Since the SAIB was issued, Robinson has issued Service Bulletin SB-89 on the R44 dated Mar. 30, 2015 and R66 Service Bulletin SB-13, dated Mar. 30, 2015 recommending a stress concentration reduction modification of the MRB including a visual inspection for cracks. The abrupt change of shape where the blade chord begins to increase can cause a corner where stress is concentrated. Accomplishing this modification will not change the safe life limit of the blades.

 

FAA recommends that operators inspect the blades in accordance with instructions in the SAIB and if no damage or cracks are found, incorporate the modifications outlined in the service bulletin. The SAIB recommends reporting any positive findings to Robinson Helicopter Company. Click here to read or download the SAIB.

NAAA Convention Sponsorships Available; Book Your Hotel Room in Savannah

Join us in Savannah for the 49th Annual NAAA Convention & Exposition this Dec. 7-10. Are you interested in getting your company name in front of the expected 1,500+ operators, ag pilots and other attendees directly related to the agricultural aviation industry? Besides exhibiting, another opportunity to reach operators and pilots is through an NAAA Convention Sponsorship.

 

Five reasons why you should be a sponsor at the 2015 NAAA Convention & Exposition:

  1. A targeted audience will see your company’s name and/or logo.
  2. Sponsorship enhances your company’s credibility and rapport.
  3. You will gain brand awareness and recognition.
  4. You will generate new sales and/or leads and potential business partnerships.
  5. You can drive attendees to your booth and message.

We sincerely appreciate the companies that support NAAA and the agricultural aviation industry with a sponsorship. Sponsoring companies help ensure the success of our annual convention. Click here for sponsorship opportunities; contact Lindsay Barber for further information.

 

Exhibitors: Please note that booth sales will begin in mid-July! Further information is available here.

Book Your Hotel Room

2015 NAAA Convention housing is coordinated through the Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Housing office. Please do not call the hotels directly; use the link and/or phone number below to book your room.

 

Rooms are available at the Westin Savannah Harbor (directly next to the convention center), Hyatt Regency Savannah and Savannah Marriott Riverfront hotels. Book your room today by clicking here or calling the housing bureau at (912) 644-6465.


PLEASE NOTE THE CANCELATION POLICY FOR THE WESTIN FOR 2015. For each reservation canceled after October 30, 2015, a non-refundable one night room and tax will be charged to the credit card on file. Guests who check out early (prior to the reserved check-out date) will be assessed one full night's room charge, plus applicable taxes.

Complimentary Transportation & River Taxis

Complimentary river taxis and bus transportation will be provided between the hotels, convention center and the downtown Savannah entertainment district for all exhibitors and attendees.

Schedule of Events

Click here to see the schedule of events. Attendee registration and booth sales will begin in July.