June 7, 2018
NAAA eNewsletter

NAAA Reaches Out to Press on UAV Use this Growing Season

With over 1 million UAVs registered with the FAA and aerial applicators hard at work for the 2018 growing season, NAAA has reached out to local and national ag and aviation outlets reminding UAV users to be mindful of low-flying ag aircraft.

 

The press release reminded UAV users agricultural aviators fly as low as 10 feet off the ground, meaning they share airspace with UAVs that are limited to flying no more than 400 feet above ground level. For this reason, the NAAA asked UAV operators to do everything they can to avoid ag aircraft doing important, low-level work.

 

NAAA recommends that UAV operators:

  • Equip drones with tracking technology, such as ADS-B, so other aircraft similarly equipped know of their positions.
  • Get certified and well-trained in operating a UAV.
  • Contact local agricultural aviation operations before flying by consulting AgAviation.org/findapplicator.
  •  Equip UAVs with visible strobe lights.
  •  Give the right-of-way to a manned aircraft. It’s the law.
  •  Land your UAV immediately when a low-flying aircraft is nearby.
  •  Carry UAV liability insurance.

So far, the press release has been featured in AgAir Update, AgPro,Commercial Drone Professional, DroneBelow, PrecisionAg, Southeast AgNet, Unmanned Aerial Online, and Vertical Magazine.  NAAA also has television interviews scheduled with RFD-TV and radio.  RFD-TV is the nation’s first 24-hour television network focused on agribusiness.  It reaches more than 50 million homes on DISH Network, DIRECTV, Comcast, and many other rural cable systems. RFD-TV radio is also widely circulated throughout the U.S. and can be found on channel 147 of SiriusXM.

 


In Remembrance of Andy Deterding, Oklahoma Ag Operator

The NAAA family of members and staff are greatly saddened by the loss of long-time, professional operator-member Andy Deterding of Pond Creek, Okla. Our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time are with his wife Sue, their children Greg, Tommy and Nikki, grand-children, friends and co-workers. The Deterding’s were well known as ag operators in Oklahoma and North Dakota as well as flying in Kansas and Oregon.

 

Andy Deterding, 57, was fatally injured on Wed., May 30, 2018 when his Thrush aircraft impacted the ground after hitting a guy wire supporting a thousand-foot radio station tower near El Reno, Okla. The Deterdings operated Andy Deterding Ag Aviation in Pond Creek. His sons Greg and Tommy are following in their father’s foot-steps as ag pilots for the family-owned operation.

 

There will be a visitation Friday evening, June 8th, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home, 227 W. Aspen Ave., Pond Creek, Okla. The funeral service celebrating Andy’s life will be held on Sat., June 9th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1626 E. Broadway, Enid, Okla. 73701. Internment will follow the service at Pond Creek Cemetery.

 

For those wishing to donate to a memorial in lieu of flowers, the family is creating a scholarship fund to make sure Andy’s commitment to his community continues. Donations to the fund may be made to the “Andy Deterding Scholarship Fund” and sent to First State Bank, PO Box 58, Pond Creek, OK 73766.

 

Although we may never know the exact details related to Andy’s accident, it is important to remember to remain clear of the supporting structures of a tower.  Guy wires may not be marked making them difficult to see. The ground anchor end of the guy wire may be obscured by vegetation.  The wires attached to the tower involved in the Deterding accident were about 700 feet from the base of the 1,000 foot tower.

GAO Issues Report Saying FAA Must Improve Management of UAS Safety Risks

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report finding the FAA has limited information on the extent of dangerous unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations happening in the national airspace system. While the FAA collects reports of UAS operating in an unsafe manner, these reports are often incomplete and can be difficult to verify. The GAO interviewed 46 different aviation industry stakeholders to gather input on the report, including NAAA. Other entities interviewed include the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI), the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Amazon Prime Air, Boeing, and university experts from Embrey Riddle Aeronautical University, University of North Dakota and Virginia Tech.  

 

The GAO found the FAA’s inability to perform effective oversight is due to its lack of reliable data and deficiencies in its risk management approach. The GAO recommended the FAA establish a mechanism to ensure that the FAA’s management of UAS safety risks follows all applicable requirements in the agency’s policies. This means better analyzing UAV safety risks in terms of severity (minimal to catastrophic) and likelihood (once per week to less than once every 30 years). The report found the FAA to be inconsistently analyzing the safety risks posed by UAVs and does not have consistent methods for determining what safety controls to implement.  

 

The report states “Improved risk management practices would help FAA determine whether additional actions are needed to ensure the safety of the national airspace and provide FAA and other decision-makers with confidence that FAA is focusing on the most critical safety risks posed by small UAS.” 

 

There are currently over 1 million UAVs registered with the FAA and there have been over 6,100 reported sightings of UAVs operating in an unsafe manner near airports or manned aircraft since 2014. The number of reported sightings increased five-fold from 2014 to 2015. Sightings increased another 51 percent in 2016 and 19 percent in 2017. A majority of these reports are made by pilots who submit statements to FAA’s air traffic control facilities, while some come from the general public or law enforcement officials. 

 

The GAO report found the FAA is working on improving its collection of data on UAV operations in the following ways:

  • Identifying exactly what safety data needs to be collected on UAS accidents and incidents; 
  • Developing a web-based reporting system for the public to report any sightings of a UAS that are a safety or privacy concern; 
  • Developing a survey of UAS users to determine the number of UAS operations in the national airspace system and to obtain other information on UAS activity. 

The FAA does not have specific timeframes for completing these efforts but would only say that each of them are in varying stages of development and implementation.  

VIDEO: NAAA Co-Hosts Precision Nutrient Application Demo for EPA, USDA Officials

Last month, NAAA teamed with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) to cohost a field day to educate staff from the EPA’s Office of Water and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service about precision nutrient applications and the technologies aerial applicators use to make precise liquid and dry applications.

 

The video below shows Allen Chorman & Son pilot Mark Greenly making two seeding passes in a fixed-wing Thrush, followed by Brock Heffner of Helicopter Applicators Inc. (HAI) dispensing pelletized limestone from an Isolair spreader bucket while flying a Bell 206L3 LongRanger helicopter.

 

The video includes an interview with NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore as well as interviews with representatives from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, John Deere, the National Corn Growers Association and other participants from the agriculture industry.   

 

Ag Aviation Expo Sponsorships Available

Join us for the 2018 Ag Aviation Expo in Reno, Nev., Dec. 3–6. Take advantage of getting your company name in front of the expected 1,500+ operators, ag pilots and other attendees directly related to the agricultural aviation industry through an Ag Aviation Expo sponsorship.

Five reasons why you should be a sponsor at the 2018 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo: 

  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 through your sponsorship.

According to a post-convention survey, 75 percent of aerial applicators stated that they would be “very likely” to use the products and services of a company that sponsors an event at the Ag Aviation Expo. View sponsorship opportunities here.

By becoming a sponsor, attendees will:

  • Remember your company, services and products.
  • See you as a supporter of the ag aviation industry.
  • Recognize your brand.
  • See you as a partner and industry visionary.
  • Hold you above others in purchasing decisions.

Additional Details for 2018 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo

  • Dates: Dec. 3–6, 2018
  • Location: Atlantis Casino Resort Spa and Reno-Sparks Convention Center
  • Schedule of Events: Current schedule here. Subject to change.
  • Hotel: Hotel Details Below
  • Auction Donations: Thank you to Pratt & Whitney Canada for donating a PT6-34AG engine to this year’s NAAA Live Auction. While we’re still several months away from the Ag Aviation Expo, but it’s never too early to donate an item for the Live and Silent Auction. The earlier you inform us of your auction donation, the more advertising you’ll receive on the NAAA website and in NAAA publications. Support the aerial application industry by donating an item today. Email Lindsay with your donation details.
  • Attendee Registration: Will open July 1
  • Exhibitor Booth Sales: Will open July 12 for 10x10 and 10x20 spaces. Email Lindsay if you’d like a large booth space (aircraft, island or 10x30+) or plan to be a Diamond or Platinum sponsor.
  • Sponsorship Opportunities: Sponsorship opportunities here. Please email Lindsay to discuss your sponsorship! We offer sponsorships for all budget sizes.

Book Your Hotel Room

Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is a world-class, Four Diamond resort destination. A splendid oasis created for relaxation, celebration and rejuvenation, the Atlantis has always been a favorite resort destination for travelers near and far, recognized for luxurious accommodations, a world-class revitalizing spa and salon, award-winning dining and fun casino action.


Atlantis Casino Resort Spa

  • Rate: $109/night + taxes (NAAA has negotiated to waive the resort fee. Included in your room rate is complimentary in room Wi-Fi or wired internet, self-parking, use of fitness center, use of indoor pool, extended check out time of 12 p.m. and complimentary airport shuttle service)
  • Reservations: Book Online Here or call (800) 723-6500 and reference the NAAA Convention (SNAA18). Online reservations require a deposit of one night’s room charge + taxes. Call-in reservations will not be charged a deposit, but require a credit card to hold reservation.
  • Block Deadline: Monday, Nov. 12
  • Hotel Address: 3800 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89502
  • Airport Shuttle: Atlantis provides a free airport shuttle that runs at 15 and 45 minutes after the hour from 5:15 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. leaving the airport. The shuttle leaves the hotel on the hour and 30 minutes after the hour from 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

NOTE: No one from (or on behalf of) the Atlantis hotel or NAAA will contact you to book a hotel room. NAAA recommends that you make your own hotel reservations using the information on this page. Do not book a room with any company that calls you directly.

Deadline to Enter the 2018 Environmental Respect Awards Contest Extended to June 20!


 

Now in its 28th year, the Environmental Respect Awards is the agricultural industry’s premier stewardship program honoring outstanding work in preserving the environment through safe, responsible business practices. Interested aerial applicators have until June 20 to make a compelling case for their operation’s environmental stewardship program. The Environmental Respect Awards program is open to retail farm supply businesses that store, handle, sell, and/or apply crop nutrient and crop protection products.

 

Over the years, a number of NAAA members have been recognized for the environmental respect on display at their operations. In 2016, for example, Glenn and Scott Heinen of Heinen Brothers Agra Services in Seneca, Kan., won the Environmental Respect Award for the state of Kansas. Darrel Mertens, current NAAA vice president and owner/operator of Aero Applications in Sterling, Colo., has been a national finalist.

 

To compete for an Environmental Respect Award, you must submit a self-audit entry at environmentalrespect.com. Creating a self-audit entry has never been easier, thanks to the Environmental Respect Awards’ save-as-you-go entry process. Aerial applicators can save their entries and update them at a later time by logging in with their username and password.

 

The Environmental Respect Awards are sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, the new agriculture division of DowDupont, and presented by CropLife magazine and AgriBusiness Global. One business in each state and a sub-regional winner from each of three U.S regions (East, Central, West) plus Canada will be recognized as the best business in their respective areas. Regional Winners from each of three U.S. regions plus Canada are invited to Washington DC for a gala celebration October 1–4, 2018. A top regional award—named as “Ambassador of Respect”—is revealed only at the grand finale of the gala celebration.

 

Other NAAA members that have been past ERA winners include NAAA member Tim Tyree of Tyree Ag Inc. in Kinsley, Kan. Tyree received a Kansas state Environmental Respect Award in 2009 and was named a 2011 Environmental Respect Award regional winner. A decade earlier, Mertens’ operation, Aero Applicators Inc., received state honors in Colorado in 2001 and a regional Environmental Respect Award in 2002.

Contest Tips

Want to get a leg up on the competition? Here are some tips from past judges to make your self-audit entry stand out:

  1. Supply photos, such as pictures that pertain to your security, mixing and loading, storage and safety procedures. Pictures will bolster the claims you report in your self-audit booklet.

  2. Supply supporting materials. Consider newspaper and magazine articles about your business, community letters, marketing materials, copies of written emergency plans, facility maps, press materials, etc. The more information, the better.

  3. Include comments and explanations. Several areas throughout the self-audit online application request comments or explanations. Use those areas to explain your business procedures,

  4.  Provide background information and communicate your company policies. The selection panel refers to the comment sections to help make final decisions about winning entries.

  5. Make sure every question is answered in the self-audit. All unanswered questions count as a “No” response and can significantly affect your entry score.

Visit environmentalrespect.com for more information and to get started.