FAA Approves 218-Pound Yamaha RMAX UAS for Aerial Application

On Friday the FAA approved the Section 333 petition for the 218-pound Yamaha RMAX UAS for aerial application, marking the largest (by weight) UAS approval by the agency to date. The petition, filed by Yamaha, permits 4-gallon aircraft to spray crops and fertilizer in the national airspace system. The FAA also chose for the first time to allow users with as few qualifications as a sport pilot certificate (requiring 20 hours of flight time) and a driver’s license to commercially spray pesticides.

 

 

 

In its exemption grant the FAA chose to cherry-pick the sections of Part 137 that it felt are applicable to UAS and exempt Yamaha from those it felt were not applicable. The 137 exemptions granted were the following:

• § 137.19(c) – Exemption from the requirement that a commercial ag operation applying for a 137 certificate have the services of a commercial pilot. Like other exemptions the FAA is permitting the exempted UAS operations with only a sport pilot certificate and driver’s license. The petitioner is still required to comply with other Part 137 requirements.
• § 137.41(c) – Related to the above exemption, allowing sport pilots to operate the RMAX UAS commercially under 137.
• § 137.19(d), 137.31(a) – Requires a 137 applicant to have an aircraft with an airworthiness certificate; because the FAA is exempting the RMAX from airworthiness requirements, the agency is exempting them from this section as well.
• § 137.19(e)(2)(ii), (iii), and (v) – Demonstration of skill  of approaches to the working area, flare-outs, and pullups and turnarounds. The pilot must still demonstrate satisfactory swath run procedures. If the operating manual (which is of course confidential) ever changes then Yamaha will need to petition for an amendment to this exemption.
• § 137.31(b), § 137.42 – exemption from the requirement and use of safety belts and harnesses.
• § 137.33(a) – exemption from the requirement of carrying a facsimile of the operating certificate on the aircraft, but the operator must have the certificate available at the operating station.

The exemption is granted for operation of the Yamaha RMAX Type II G UAS with a maximum takeoff weight of 218 pounds. The UAS may operate up to 45 mph and at an altitude of no more than 400 feet AGL. A visual observer is required, and the UAS can only operate within line of sight of the pilot in command (PIC). The PIC must be designated before the flight, and the PIC cannot transfer that designation. Other requirements are the same as previously approved petitions (preflight inspection, compliance with manufacturer instructions, daytime-only operations, etc.). Like past exemptions, the UAS is required to give right-of-way to manned aircraft. The FAA chose to waive all airworthiness requirements, only requiring a preflight inspection.

 

The UAS is not allowed to operate within 5 NM of airports; however, unlike past grants where the FAA simply indicated “airports,” the agency now specifies within 5 NM of the airport reference point (ARP) as denoted in the current airport/facility directory (AFD). If there is no ARP in the AFD, then it’s within 5 NM of the airport symbol on the current aeronautical chart unless an agreement is signed with the exemption holder and the airport. Thus, like many ag operations, if your operating field is not published on a chart or in the AFD, UAS are not required to remain greater than 5 NM from your facility.

 

The FAA notes in the exemption grant that the RMAX is larger and heavier than UAS previously approved, but after looking at engineering data supplied by Yamaha, it has determined that the 200+ pound weight of the aircraft would not adversely impact aviation safety.

 

NAAA voraciously voiced its concerns in its comments last fall on Yamaha’s petition, including asking that the agency require a commercial pilot certificate, ADS-B Out, strobe lighting, an airworthiness certificate, and for the FAA to uphold the integrity of Part 137 by not granting Yamaha’s original request for a blanket exemption from Part 137.

 

In view of the increased publicity for the just granted exemption to Yamaha, you may be confronted by people that feel they can now spray their own crops if they hire someone using the RMAX. Remind them that this exemption only authorizes Yamaha to conduct operations within the limits of a certificate of waiver or authorization issued by the FAA. Furthermore, these UAS operators must have an FAA Part 137 certificate and comply with its requirements. Among the requirements are that the applications be made according to the chemical’s label including such restrictions as carrier rate, nozzle use and application pressure to obtain the proper droplet characteristics.  

 

The full Yamaha exemption request can be read here. NAAA’s November 2014 comments are available here.

FAA Administrator Unveils UAS Pathfinder Project, Smartphone App

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta unveiled the agency’s new UAS Pathfinder project, a mission to test various UAS uses, at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s (AUVSI) annual trade show in Atlanta, GA today;  as well as the B4UFLY app, a smartphone app designed for model aircraft and UAS operators.

 

With the Pathfinder project, the FAA is working with industry partners on three focus areas, including:

• Visual line-of-sight operations in urban areas - CNN will look at how UAS might be safely used for newsgathering in populated areas.
• Extended visual line-of-sight operations in rural areas - This concept involves UAS flights outside the pilot’s direct vision. UAS manufacturer PrecisionHawk will explore how this might allow greater UAS use for crop monitoring in precision agriculture operations.
• Beyond visual line-of-sight in rural/isolated areas - BNSF Railroad will explore command-and-control challenges of using UAS to inspect rail system infrastructure.

The three companies reached out to the FAA to work on research continuing to expand use of UAS in the nation’s airspace. CNN and the FAA already have been working together through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA). BNSF has a draft CRDA that is nearly complete and PrecisionHawk has been working with the FAA on a possible research partnership.

 

The FAA also unveiled its B4UFLY app at the trade show, designed to help model aircraft and UAS users know where it is safe and legal to fly in their current location and other planned locations.

 

Key features of the B4UFLY app include:

• A clear “status” indicator that immediately informs operators about their current or planned location.
• Information on the parameters that drive the status indicator.
• A “Planner Mode” for future flights in different locations.
• Informative, interactive maps with filtering options.
• Contact information for nearby airports.
• Links to other FAA UAS resources and regulatory information.

The app is currently in the beta testing stage, and will initially be for the iPhone only with Android support to come later. NAAA has been urging that UAS safety campaigns, such as the Know Before You Fly campaign, include language to UAS users operating in rural/agricultural areas be aware of low-flying manned agricultural aircraft and to avoid and ground UAS use when in the vicinity of such agricultural aircraft.

How to Get Through to Moms, Millennials and Foodies

Cracking the consumer code to provide technical and scientific information in a manner that supports informed decision making is not easy, but it can be done. That’s the conclusion from new consumer trust research from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI). CFI’s report, “Cracking the Code on Food Issues: Insights from Moms, Millennials and Foodies,” offers a blueprint for aerial applicators to follow when you engage with neighbors, citizens and the media about agricultural aviation’s contributions to modern agricultural production.  

 

The 2014 CFI web-based survey was completed by 2,005 respondents who reflect the general U.S. consumer population. To provide deeper insights into moms, millennials and foodies, the results were segmented to highlight those influential constituencies. Through scenarios about genetically modified ingredients in food and antibiotic use in animal agriculture, the survey also tested three voices: a Mom Scientist, a Federal Government Scientist and a Peer “who shares my interest about food.”

 

The 2014 results show positive trends when it comes to attitudes about the food system. When asked if the food system was headed in the right direction, 42 percent of respondents said yes, an 8 percent increase from 2013. Only 33 percent of women believe the food system is on the wrong track compared with 42 percent from last year. Nearly half of men, 48 percent, believe the food system is headed in the right direction. CFI posed the same question to Moms, Millennials and Foodies, specifically. Nearly half of the Foodies believe the food system is headed in the right direction, followed by Millennials and then Moms.

 

Other interesting findings include where Moms, Millennials and Foodies go for food system information:

• Websites are the top-ranked source of information for food system issues for all three segments. Moms ranked Family (not online) second, while Millennials and Foodies prefer Friends (not online) as their second choice.
• Moms also rely on Local TV Stations, while Millennials rely on Online Friends as additional sources of information.
• Food-specific TV Program/Networks are important sources of information about food system issues for Foodies (less so for Moms and Millennials).

Like Moms, Millennials and Foodies, the top food system source for the general population is Websites, followed by Local TV Stations, Friends (not online), Family (not online) and Google.

How to Get Through to Consumers on Food Matters

The 2014 CFI research provides a model that can help in creating and sharing information that fosters informed decision making. Here are suggestions from the Center for Food Integrity on how to apply the findings.

1. Believability is a key driver in creating information that is trusted.
2. Identify the groups you would like to engage. Who are the Early Adopters—or opinion leaders—within those groups? What are their values and concerns? Who are the likely sources they view as credible? Listen to the concerns and understand their values before developing your strategy.
3. Meet them where they are. Today’s monitoring technology allows you to identify the digital and physical communities where conversations about food and agriculture are taking place. Select those communities that are important to you and develop engagement strategies. Be a good neighbor when you “move in” to the community [or new residents move into your work territory] and remember that how you choose to engage will determine how your new neighbors respond.
4. Develop a values-based engagement strategy that starts with listening and embracing skepticism. Engage with the groups you’ve identified and focus on building relationships before sharing information. Understand and appreciate the group expectations and cultural norms as they will influence how to best share information.
5. Commit to engaging over time. Building trust is a process, not an event. Authentic transparency and continued engagement using the models developed through CFI’s research will encourage objective evaluation of information that supports informed decision making.

“Our goal should not be to win a scientific or social argument, but to find more meaningful and relevant methods to introduce science and technology in a way that encourages thoughtful consideration and informed decision making,” the Center for Food Integrity stated in its 2014 Consumer Trust Research. For more information, please visit CFI’s website.

NAAA Convention General Session: Succession Planning for your Business

We look forward to seeing you at the 49th Annual NAAA Convention & Exposition in Savannah, Ga., Dec. 7–10 at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center! Join us for the NAAA General Session, which is the educational anchor on the second day of the convention and this year’s session is one that every applicator ought to attend. 

 

As Baby Boomer owner/operators prepare for retirement, the question of how to transition their businesses looms large. Challenges include planning for retirement, identifying a potential successor, deciding whether and how to sell the business and handling an array of financial and legal considerations. Generation X and Millennial successors, meanwhile, face questions around whether and how to buy the business, as well as a potentially long transition period. Mark your calendars for the 2015 NAAA Convention in Savannah, Ga. At the Dec. 8 General Session, a team of experts will explore the myriad facets of succession planning and take an in-depth look at the circumstances facing the agricultural aviation industry. 

Award Nominations Open

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. 10 starting at 5:45 p.m. in Savannah. There are nine 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 PDF. To make a nomination, email or fax completed entries to NAAA at information@agaviation.org or (202) 546-5726. For typed submissions, please use the fillable form. Call (202) 546-5722 with any questions.

 

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. 

Let us Know About Your Summer Fly-Ins and Fall Events!

If you have a Fly-In this summer, send NAAA your event details and let us help you advertise your state and regional agricultural aviation events on the NAAA website and in the NAAA eNewsletter. We will post your state and regional convention, annual meetings, PAASS Program, Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-In and pattern testing clinics and other pertinent industry events in the calendar section of www.agaviation.org. Send the following information to Lindsay Barber for inclusion in the above NAAA communications:

• Event Name 
• Event Date(s) 
• Location (include location name, city and state) 
• Contact Information (include phone and/or email address)