July 21, 2016

NAAA eNewsletter

Three ballot initiatives that would have restricted clear-cutting and aerial spraying in Oregon have failed to qualify for the November general election. As first reported in the Jan. 8, 2016 NAAA eNewsletter, one of the petitions, which would have imposed new limits on aerial pesticide applications, was able to obtain the Oregon Supreme Court’s approval for its ballot title language. Then, in March and June, NAAA reported that proponents of the ballot proposals were working to get the 88,184 requisite signatures while Oregon’s Department of Agriculture attempted to pre-empt the ballot initiatives through rulemaking. NAAA can now report that supporters were unable to collect enough valid signatures for their court-approved ballot before the July 8 deadline. 

 

The state’s highest court has yet to rule on the ballot title for another petition that would restrict aerial spraying and logging in landslide-prone areas.  A third petition to prohibit clear-cut timber harvests was withdrawn by supporters due to legal complications involving forestland property value laws.  Representatives for Oregonians for Food & Shelter, an agribusiness group in the state, expressed satisfaction that the initiatives won’t be on the November ballot, but assume state environmental groups will revive the effort as will state legislators during the Oregon legislature’s session next year.  Lawmakers rejected such proposals during the 2015 legislative session once they learned about the negative consequences of proposed legislation’s effects.  Oregon Wild—an environmental activist group—is taking a long-term interest in enacting timber reforms, possibly with initiatives on the 2018 or 2020 ballots, according to its representatives.   

 

Efforts remain afoot in Oregon to obtain signatures for ballots to ban aerial spraying in Lincoln and Lane counties in Oregon.  However, time is running short for the Lincoln County effort while the deadline has passed for the Lane County petition to qualify for the November ballot. Either petition could also qualify for the May 2017 election. The Oregon Forest & Industries Council is also working to quell these initiatives by promoting the great technical improvements made to prevent off-site spray drift by the timber industry.  Representatives there have stated that aside from a few incidents, pesticide spraying in forestry has proven to be safe. 

   

For more information visit: http://www.capitalpress.com/Oregon/20160719/time-runs-out-for-oregon-timber-ballot-initiatives.

After 12 years of NAAA advocating for tower marking requirements to the FAA and Congress, President Obama signed into law a bill making sub-200 foot tower marking requirements law on July 15.

 

Per last week’s eNewsletter and several others, the bill includes marking requirements for towers between 50 and 200 feet with an above-ground base of 10 feet or less in diameter and on undeveloped land, including land used for agricultural purposes. Marking includes aviation orange and white sequential painting of the towers, and fluorescent cable sleeves and balls on the guyed-wires. The law also requires the FAA to develop a database that is accessible to all aviators who require location information for sub-200 foot towers for safety purposes. You can read more about the bill here, or read the full bill here. The FAA has one year to promulgate the rules requiring tower marking, and NAAA is already working with them on its development .

 

Enactment of this federal legislation is due to a collective industry effort spanning a dozen years. Sadly, many ag pilots paid the ultimate price before this federal statute was agreed to. But their lives and the efforts of Karen Allen and others have led to a safer industry for ag pilots today. Ms. Allen led a successful legal charge in California holding companies erecting towers under 200 feet and their sponsors responsible for not marking these low-level obstacles. 

 

Others that NAAA would like to thank for helping develop this public law include Scott Schertz of Schertz Aerial Services for first bring this issue to the attention of NAAA in 2004; George Parker of Crop Jet Aviation in Gooding, Idaho for his efforts when acting as Idaho Ag Aviation Association’s president in enacting Idaho tower marking laws; Jessica Freeman, executive director, and the board and members of the Colorado Ag Aviation Association for passing legislation in that state; Chris Shields, executive director, Cricia Ryan and the board and members of the Texas Agricultural Aviation Association; the offices of Congressmen Sam Graves (Missouri), Rick Crawford (Arkansas), and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (Pennsylvania) as well as Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (South Dakota) for their support in Congress that ultimately made this legislative feat possible. There were many more involved in this endeavor—too many to keep track of and list— and we thank all involved. It takes such a collective effort to enact federal legislation. Sometimes it is a painstaking, time-consuming process but the process can work for those willing to commit to it.

Thrush Aircraft has launched a new marketing campaign aimed at building awareness about the benefits of agricultural aviation. The Albany, Ga.-based manufacturer created the “Ag Aviation – Feeding the World” campaign to share with growers, operators and prospective pilots the increasing importance of the ag aviation industry—not only in terms of improved crop performance, but also as a career opportunity for pilots.

 

 

The “Feeding the World” campaign will debut at EAA AirVenture 2016 in Oshkosh, Wis., next week at NAAA’s exhibit space. NAAA will be exhibiting at AirVenture July 25–31 and has partnered with Air Tractor, Thrush and Flying Tiger Aviation for this year’s exhibit. The purpose of the joint AirVenture exhibit is to bring more awareness to careers in the aerial application industry, a mission Thrush has embraced wholeheartedly.

 

 “Ag aviation will not continue to prosper as an industry, long-term, if we don’t get more people aware of its benefits—and of its importance to increasing crop yields for farmers around the world,” Thrush Aircraft President Payne Hughes said. “Population growth combined with economic challenges is putting tremendous pressure on farmers right now to produce more from the ground they have—and ag aviation can help. Coupled with this of course, is the clear fact that we need more pilots to join the industry and make it a career.” 

 

AirVenture is the world’s largest airshow and represents the first stop on Thrush’s Ag Aviation – Feeding the World Summer Tour. A new, dual-cockpit 510G will be used to give hands-on flight demonstrations in the U.S. as the campaign takes its message on tour this summer. Customers also will have the chance to fly the new H80-powered 510G during the tour. Stops are planned in multiple states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas, with open houses to be put on at Thrush Dealers and Service Centers in each region. The ag aviation awareness tour will conclude at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga., on Oct. 18.

 

In addition to the summer tour, the campaign will be supported through a variety of channels—from social media, to the web, to advertising, as well informational talks at selected events. 

 

Hughes added, “We’re looking forward to not only helping everyone who’s already in [the industry], but also to expanding the number of folks who realize what a great future it represents—both in the fields and in the cockpit.”

 

Stay tuned to the AirVenture excitement on NAAA’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/NationalAgriculturalAviationAssociation for updates and to view photos while NAAA staff are at AirVenture.

 

Although operators are not required to list their companies in NAAA’s public database, we encourage members to give it a chance. It’s important to understand that “Find an Aerial Applicator” is about as minimally public as a publicly searchable database can be. “Find an Aerial Applicator” is low frills for a reason. The goal is to steer legitimate business to NAAA members and avoid nuisance inquiries. So while NAAA’s new search tool will promote your business in the public sphere, it won’t put your “business” on the street. Here’s why: Search results from the public database will only return the name of the company, the business number on file, the operator’s city and state, and the aerial application operation’s website, if there is one. 

 

“Find an Aerial Applicator’s” public search results will not identify NAAA operator members by name or divulge their physical address, email address or cell phone number. The public database only provides enough information to give farmers, municipalities and others who may need the services of an aerial applicator a mechanism to locate and contact the NAAA operators nearest to them. Here is a sample search result: 

To ensure that enough operators are populated in the public database to deliver tangible search results, at the onset, NAAA has opted in all Operator, Lifetime Operator and Affiliated Operator into the “Find an Aerial Applicator” database. We realize, however, that not every operator will want to be listed in a publicly searchable database, which is why we are giving the membership plenty of advance notice before “Find an Aerial Applicator” goes live in early August. Operator members are free to opt-out or opt back in at any time. Here’s how:

How to Opt In or Out of NAAA’s
‘Find an Aerial Applicator’ Database

The following steps only apply to Operator, Affiliated Operator and Lifetime Operator members.

1. Log into AgAviation.org with your username and password.
2. Once you are logged in, click on “Your Account” in the upper right-hand corner.

3.  When your personal profile information pops up, scroll down to the Find an Aerial Applicator Public Search field, which is the fourth field from the bottom and right before the Home State Association field.
4. To opt out of the public database, change the setting in the dropdown menu from Opt-In to Opt-Out.

 

The opt-in/opt-out field for the “Find an Aerial Applicator” public search tool is only found on Operator, Affiliated Operator and Lifetime Operator Members’ accounts. 

5.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click SAVE CHANGES. Any changes made to your profile information or account settings will not be recorded unless you click SAVE.
6. Repeat these steps at any time to opt back in to the public database.

‘I’m Not an Operator, So What’s in It for Me?’

While Operator Members are the main beneficiaries, ultimately, the “Find an Aerial Applicator” database should be beneficial to all members, operator or not, because it will enhance NAAA’s ability to promote the advantages of aerial application and market member aerial applicators’ services via press releases and future image ads. It also provides NAAA with a sufficient call to action that was heretofore lacking for an agricultural aviation ad campaign: “Visit AgAviation.org to find a professional aerial applicator near you!” 

 

Furthermore, NAAA gets numerous requests from potential customers looking for aerial applicators in a particular state or area. Such requests have always been handled on a case-by-case basis. Now we will be able direct these seekers to the “Find an Aerial Applicator” search tool online. A public database of aerial applicators will also be a useful resource for extension agents and crop advisors to refer growers to when the need arises.

 

NAAA’s “Find an Aerial Applicator” public database is scheduled to be activated in early August. That gives Operator, Affiliated Operator and Lifetime Operator members a couple of more weeks prior to the launch to opt out if they do not want to be listed in the public database. If you need assistance with any of the steps outlined above, please contact the NAAA office at (202) 546-5722 or information@agaviation.org.

 

So what’s it going to be? Are you (opt-)in or (opt-)out? The choice is yours.

Help us make this year’s Golden Anniversary the best auction that we’ve had in decades! We’re more than halfway through 2016 and the 50th NAAA Annual Convention & Exposition taking place Dec. 5–8 in Long Beach will be here before you know it. Have you thought about donating an item to the NAAA Live or Silent Auction? Our auctions are successful because of the allied businesses and members who donate items, whether they’re brand new or gently used items. One man’s trash is another’s treasure! The Live and Silent auctions support NAAA programs and services to aerial applicators. 

 

Pratt and Whitney Canada has committed to provide another brand new PT6A-34AG turboprop engine to the NAAA for its Live Auction. This is the fourth year in a row and sixth engine in eleven years that the company has donated to the association for its auction. We are very grateful to Pratt & Whitney’s continued generosity that allows us to increase our resources to enhance the government relations, public relations, communications and educational services that keep the industry on a steady, safe and sustaining course.

 

Thank you to other companies and individuals who’ve made auction donations thus far. You can see a list of the current donations online. 

 

Click here to download a donation form or email all of your donation details to lbarber@agaviation.org. Big ticket items are reserved for the Live Auction, with smaller items are allocated for the Silent Auction, but final determinations are made onsite once all the offerings have been inventoried. Please include the value of your item.

Dates: Dec. 5-8, 2016

Location: Long Beach, Calif. at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center

Book Hotel Rooms 

Attention, higher-education students: Don’t miss out on the opportunity to vie for a combined $3,000 in educational scholarships. The deadline for the 2016 Support Scholarship Essay Contest is Aug. 15. The NAAA Support Committee will award a $2,000 scholarship as top prize and Covington Aircraft Engines has generously agreed to sponsor a $1,000 scholarship.

 

The theme for this year’s contest is “Today’s Debate: The Pros and Cons of ADS-B.” 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 online here.

Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla., will host the fall board and committee meetings of the NAAA and NAAREF Boards of Directors Oct. 7–8 (some meetings begin Oct. 5–6). All meetings are open to NAAA members. If you’re interested in attending, please email Lindsay Barber for a tentative schedule.

 

Board members and interested members should make their room reservations before Sept. 13 online or by calling (866) 337-6736. Refer to the NAAA Board Meeting to receive the $139/night room rate (single/double). Rate includes complimentary basic Wi-Fi in guest rooms; self-parking is $16 per day.

Orlando Activities

For those of you who are bringing your family to the Board Meeting, below is park information for your pre or post Board Meeting Vacation. If you’re looking for additional activities and restaurant recommendations, please visit the Visit Orlando website at www.visitorlando.com/. 

 

Sea World & Universal Studios

There is scheduled transportation to Universal Studios, SeaWorld Orlando, Wet ‘n Wild and Aquatica is available via the Super Star Shuttle provided by Universal Orlando. The schedule is based on regular park operating hours and does not run continuously, so please check with the desk on transportation times. Space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Boarding passes are required and can be obtained at the Universal Attraction Ticket Desk one day in advance and up to 30 minutes prior to departure. They also have a desk onsite that sells tickets for the parks listed above so that you don’t have to wait in line. The Universal Attraction Ticket Desk is located in the hotel lobby.

 

Disney

Unfortunately, Shingle Creek does not offer transportation or onsite ticket purchases for Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios – disneyworld.disney.go.com/tickets/. You can rent a car and drive to the park as many of them have parking lots. Transportation information is here: disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/transportation/. Disney has a great FAQ section of its website to answer all of your questions: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/