October 21, 2016
NAAA eNewsletter

Prohibition on Aerial Spraying Makes Ballot in Oregon

Environmental activists in Lincoln, Ore., have garnered the signatures needed to place a ballot initiative on the November ballot to ban aerial spraying in Lincoln County.

 
These activists inaccurately claim that “a large number of pesticides being used; among them ... glyphosate (Roundup), and atrazine, have been proven harmful to both humans and the environment ... only a small fraction of the approximately 12,000 pesticides registered for use in Oregon ... have ever been tested for safety.”
 
The ballot measure, named the “Freedom from Aerially Sprayed Pesticides Ordinance of Lincoln County,” claims an unalienable “right to be free of aerially sprayed pesticides” and would prohibit “aerial spraying of pesticides within Lincoln County.” The ballot also states that “any municipality or designated jurisdiction adjacent to Lincoln County shall be strictly liable for damages caused by those pesticides to the residents and ecosystems within Lincoln County.” It would also grant individual citizens the ability to “enforce the ... prohibitions of this law through direct action” if that citizen believes the government isn't enforcing this law.
 
NAAA will continue to monitor this ballot measure and support Oregonians for Food and Shelter, which opposes this measure.

NAAA Chosen to Serve on Multiple UAS Policy Panels

NAAA was chosen to serve on two important government-industry advisory panels this week tasked with developing sound, safe unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) policy. The first panel in which NAAA was chosen to serve is as a member of the nominating committee of the Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team (UAST). The UAST was formed as a government/industry panel tasked with using use a data-driven, consensus-based approach to analyze safety data to develop specific interventions that will mitigate the root causes of accidents involving unmanned aircraft. The nominating committee is responsible for choosing a co-chair to the UAST that will serve with the FAA to achieve its mission above.
 
NAAA was also asked to serve on the Drone Advisory Committee Subcommittee (DACSC). The DACSC will support the Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) in its goal of providing an open venue for the FAA and key decision-makers supporting the safe introduction of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS). NAAA’s selection onto these two important government panels focusing on UAS safety is indicative of the association’s reputation and position in promoting a safe airspace for low-level manned aircraft to operate with the introduction of UAS into the NAS.

No Dowd About It!
Ag Pilot ‘Dusts’ the Competition at Reno Air Races

Flying “low and slow” has long been a hallmark of the agricultural aviation industry, but don’t tell that to Syracuse, Kan., aerial applicator Dusty Dowd. Dowd “dusted” the competition by taking first place in the Silver Unlimited class event at the 53rd annual Reno Air Races last month. Dowd flew low and fast, flying more than 376 mph for seven laps in his Yakovlev Yak-11, a trainer aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force until 1962. “No one has ever gone that fast in this airplane,” Dowd told his local newspaper, The Warwick Advertiser
 
In addition to being an accomplished air racer, a longtime ag pilot and the owner/operator of Syracuse Flying Service, Dowd is an aeronautical engineer. Footage of Dowd’s winning run at the Reno Air Races is available below. Way to go, Dusty!
 

Earn CEUs at the 2016 NAAA Convention

This year’s NAAA Convention Dec. 5–8 in Long Beach offers many opportunities for education, networking and professional growth. In regards to professional growth, many states are offering continuing education units (CEUs) that help commercial pesticide operators renew their operating licenses.  The CEUs will be offered for the Aerial Application Technology Research Session and other educational sessions. The Aerial Application Technology Research Session will take place Monday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. All NAAA Convention events are at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.
 
States are responding to NAAA and this list will continue to grow between now and the NAAA Convention!
 
Thus far, the following states will award CEUs:
  • Alabama
  • Colorado
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • Montana
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Wyoming
The Certified Crop Adviser program of the American Society of Agronomy has also approved CEUs.
 
Review your state’s offerings here. You are required to sign in on the sheets when you enter the room and don’t forget your license number!
 
Learn more about the Aerial Application Technology Research Session, the main session where many states are offering CEUs.
 
View the complete NAAA Convention schedule here.
 
Hotel Details
Hotel room blocks are now open in Long Beach, Calif. All events will take place at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. The Hyatt Regency is located directly next to the convention center. The Renaissance is across the street and the Westin is a two block walk to the convention center.
 

 
Hyatt Regency: $139/night (Standard Room) or $159/night (Deluxe Harbor View Room) + taxes
200 S Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802
Book Room: Click here or call (562) 491-1234
PLEASE NOTE: All nights are sold out except for Friday, 12/2, Thursday, 12/8, Friday, 12/9, and Saturday, 12/10. You can click here to enter your arrival and departure dates to see if rooms are available.  See below for our additional NAAA hotels. All NAAA Convention events will take place at the convention center. 
 
Renaissance: $ 139/night + taxes (across the street from the Convention Center)
111 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
Book Room: Click here or (562) 437-5900 
 
Westin: $139/night (Traditional Room) or $149/night (Deluxe Room) + taxes (two blocks from the Convention Center)
333 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
Book Room: Click here or call (562) 436-3000 
 
NOTE: No one from (or on behalf of) any of the hotels or NAAA, will contact you to book a hotel room. NAAA recommends that you make your own hotel reservations using the information that we are providing to you. Do not book a room with any company that calls you directly.

Are you a 2017 NAAA Member?

Thank you for supporting NAAA as a 2016 member. Renewing your 2017 membership online is quick, easy and you can save a stamp! 
 
Follow these directions to renew your NAAA membership online. If you have any questions or you’d prefer to renew your membership over the phone, please call (202) 546-5722.
  1. Visit AgAviation.org.
  2. In the upper right-hand corner, enter your username and password and click Enter. If you do not remember your password, click “Forgot Your Password” and follow the directions. 
  3. Click “Your Account” under your name in the upper right-hand corner.
  4. Click Membership Renewal (as seen in the graphic below)

  1. On the first membership screen, scroll to the bottom and renew with the existing membership type, unless you’re changing your membership type. Click Next.
  2. Follow the directions or make any changes on the second screen. Click Register Now.
  3. Please fill out the appropriate information on the payment screen and renew your membership.

Auto Renewal Information

You’ve asked and we’ve listened! NAAA now offers auto renewal for membership and NAAREF donations. When you sign up for auto-renewal, NAAA will automatically charge the credit card on file every Sept. 1. There are four ways to sign up for auto-renewal:
  1. When you receive your renewal statement in August, mark the box in the payment area for auto renewal. 
  2. Renew your membership online and you’ll be asked during the process if you’d like auto renewal.
  3. Call the NAAA office at 202-546-5722 and request auto renewal.
  4. Return the membership form from the Summer and Winter 2016 Agricultural Aviation magazine issues and mark the box in the payment area for auto renewal.

NAAA Membership Matters

NAAA membership is as important as ever as NAAA needs resources to continue pushing for stringent tower marking requirements and to promote the safe integration of UAVs into the national airspace system (NAS) to ensure the safety of ag pilots (click here to view NAAA’s UAV safety campaign video). Similarly, NAAA has worked hard to make sure costly National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticide General Permit (PGP) requirements don’t apply to agriculture, which NAAA members ranked as the second most important policy issue, just behind tower marking, in a recent survey.
 
You can read more about the benefits of NAAA Membership online. Your support of NAAA results in many significant benefits to the aerial application industry and you, such as advocacy and national representation, education and safety programs and the opportunity to network with fellow aerial applicators across the country. We are just a phone call or email away to answer your questions!  Contact the NAAA office at (202) 546-5722 or renew online today!
 
Thank you for your continued support.

Pre-Registration for NAAA Convention Ends on Nov. 7

We look forward to seeing you at the 50th Annual NAAA Convention & Exposition in Long Beach, Calif., Dec. 5–8 at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center! Join us and help us celebrate NAAA’s Golden Anniversary! You can register online for the NAAA Convention or you can print and mail a registration form.
 
We are continually updating the schedule of events for this year’s convention and are thrilled to announce a few of our exciting events scheduled for this December:

FAA Hosting Helicopter Safety Conference Oct. 25-27

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Rotorcraft Directorate will host its second International Rotorcraft Safety Conference Oct. 25–27 at the Hurst Conference Center in Hurst, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth. The conference’s goal is to reduce the national helicopter accident rate.
 
The conference is free to attend and will feature presentations, exhibits and speeches from major industry and FAA leaders, including FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. Topics include improving decisions, creating a culture of safety, performing autorotations, choosing the best protection equipment, basic helicopter safety and maintenance, how flight training schools promote safety, and a presentation by a pilot who safely landed his helicopter after the engine failed. In addition, the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute will bring its Helicopter Spatial Disorientation Demonstration exhibit. The interactive exhibit allows participants to experience various—including dangerous—flight scenarios.
 
The information gained at this conference could help pilots, mechanics and others prevent a catastrophic accident. To that end, rotorcraft pilots, mechanics, small company owners, industry executives, operators and government regulators are the conference’s target audience. Attendees will receive Inspection Authorization credits and WINGS pilot proficiency program credits.
 
For more information about the FAA’s 2016 Rotorcraft Safety Conference and to register, visit faahelisafety.org. For general questions, please contact Eugene Trainor at eugene.trainor@faa.gov.