Tragic Midair in California Kills Two

NAAA is deeply saddened to have to report on yet two more fatalities for the 2019 season. On May 15 at just before noon, Brian Van Dyke and Burton “Burt” Haughey were fatally injured when their Ag-Cats collided in a midair accident in Sutter County, Calif., about 20 miles north of Sacramento.

 

Both pilots were seeding rice at the time of the accident. Friends and family of both pilots described their love of flying and said the two pilots were friends. The aircraft were discovered in a rice field about 200 yards apart from each other. The FAA and NTSB will be investigating the accident. According to Sutter County Sheriff officials, the FAA will be looking into the possibility that high winds and visibility may have been factors in the accident.

 

Brian Van Dyke, 62, grew up in Pleasant Grove, Calif., and had a love of farming. He graduated from Sierra Academy of Aeronautics in Oakland and spent 20 years farming with his family before starting his own farm. Visitation took place on May 21 at Twin Cities Mortuary in Yuba City, Calif. Funeral services were held the following day at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wheatland, Calif., followed by graveside services at Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

 

Donations in Van Dyke’s memory may be made to the East Nicolaus High School Alumni Association at East Nicolaus High School Alumni, P.O. Box 673, Pleasant Grove, CA 95668.

 

Burt Haughey was from Wheatland, Calif., and was 58 years old at the time of the accident. There will be a celebration of Burt’s life June 5 at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm at 1415 Pumpkin Lane, Wheatland, CA 95692. In lieu of flowers or gifts, those wishing to make a donation are asked to donate to the Burt Haughey Memorial Ag Aviation Scholarship Fund at Bank of Feather River, 1280 Bridge Street, Yuba City, CA 95991.

Drone Maker DJI Steps Up Its Game to Safely Integrate Drones Into the Airspace

Drone maker DJI released an impressive plan Wednesday, pushing the envelope to more safely integrate drones into the national airspace. DJI announced, in a press conference attended by NAAA on May 22, that it would install ADS-B tracking mechanisms in all of its drones weighing 250 grams (0.551 pound) or less beginning in 2020 at the same time manned aircraft traveling in controlled airspace must be equipped with ADS-B transmissions. Drones are not required to be equipped with ADS-B technology by 2020 or even thereafter. The Chinese-owned drone manufacturer controls 70% of the global drone market.

 

In addition to the ADS-B 2020 installation in its drones, known as AirSense, DJI released a 10-point safety guide suggesting ways to better ensure safety of drones in the airspace. This includes calling on all drone manufacturers to install geofencing and remote identification on their drones; requiring the government to require remote identification and a written knowledge test before all users may operate a drone; better drone incident reporting from the government and all aviation groups; all drones be equipped with flight distance warning technology; government designation of sensitive areas, such as prisons, power plants, military bases, etc. that should be geofenced; and authority be granted to local governments to respond to serious threats and be able to enforce drone safety policies.

 

NAAA has been working with DJI over the past several months on the drone manufacturer’s safety policy. NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore stated, ”The aerial application industry has over 3,500 agricultural pilots that help farmers grow over 28% of our nation’s commercial cropland. They are flying 10 feet off the ground at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. As such, they must have great focus and precision with the important job they are performing. Studies show that small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (sUAS), or drones, are nearly impossible for our pilots to see, let alone track. An ideal sUAS system for manned ag pilots is one that has an ADS-B  tracking system that can sense and avoid agricultural and other manned aircraft. DJI has taken the first step towards this by now planning to equip all of their drones with ADS-B tracking so their drone operators will be aware of other aircraft equipped with ADS-B tracking technology. They deserve real credit for this safety initiative. DJI’s safety policy is beyond what we have been urging the FAA and other drone manufacturers to require for multiple years. We appreciate DJI’s commitment to all airspace users’ well-being and look forward to working with them on equipping sense and avoid technology to their drones to complement the ADS-B system.”

 

NAAA strongly urges all ag aircraft be equipped with ADS-B technology before the 2020 deadline so that other manned aircraft and drones equipped with the technology can sense their nearby presence and avoid them.

NAAA Submits Comments to EPA Supporting Critical AvGas Chemical

NAAA this week submitted comments to the EPA on ethylene dibromide (EDB) and its use in AvGas/100LL. The EPA included EDB on its list of the first 20 “high-priority” chemicals for risk evaluation. The EPA is required by law to designate 20 chemicals as high priority and 20 chemicals as low priority by December 2019. Those chemicals designated as high priority are required by law to receive a completed risk evaluation within 3.5 years. If the evaluation finds an unreasonable risk for EDB then EPA must develop risk management requirements, which could include limitations on the use of EDB or a ban.

 

NAAA’s comments explained EDB is almost exclusively used in tetraethyl lead (TEL). TEL in turn is used in AvGas, or 100LL, the only available fuel for piston-engine aircraft. TEL is the only effective octane-booster for “high-performance piston-powered aircraft.”  To date, there is no known substitute for TEL in this use.  EDB in the TEL functions as a lead “scavenger” to avoid a buildup of lead deposits within the engine. A buildup of lead deposits can affect the performance and reliability of the engine. The lead is required in AvGas to prevent engine knock which can cause sudden engine failure, a catastrophic and likely fatal occurrence for an aircraft.

 

The comments went on to explain that while aviation gasoline comprises a small percentage of the fuel market, all piston aircraft engines will run on (leaded) aviation gasoline (100LL or AvGas); 100LL remains a “single fuel” solution for piston-engine aircraft. While AvGas is the only remaining transportation fuel that contains lead, the FAA and aviation industry are working extensively to find a suitable alternative for the 167,000 piston-engine aircraft in the U.S. that can only be fueled with AvGas. This is primarily being done through the FAA-established Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which in turn recommended creating the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI).

 

If AvGas were not available, aircraft that require TEL would be left without any approved fuel, resulting in those aircraft being grounded until such time as an alternative fuel could be developed or the engine manufacturers develop a procedure for de-rating the engines (operating them at reduced power). This is not an option for the nearly 20 percent of the agricultural aviation fleet that needs this fuel to perform its necessary role for agricultural production.

 

The comments concluded by summarizing that EDB is not a good chemical for an EPA risk assessment because there is currently no alternative and the FAA and aviation industry are working vigorously to find a solution. 

 

You can read the full comments here.

NAAA Comments to EPA to Support the Reregistration of Aerial Use for Seven Active Ingredients.

Last week NAAA submitted comments to the EPA as part of the re-registration review process of pesticide active ingredients. The EPA is required by FIFRA to review the registrations for all crop protection products every 15 years. All the comments submitted were on proposed interim decisions. Interim decisions are being used by the EPA instead of a full re-registration of a product because Endangered Species Act and pollinator protection assessments still need to be completed for most products.

 

The active ingredients commented on were Buprofezin, Diflubenzuron, Oxytetracycline, Prohexadione calcium, Pymetrozine, Streptomycin, Tebuthiuron, and Thiobencarb. The focus of the comments varied depending on the proposed interim decisions. For Buprofezin NAAA suggested a medium droplet size requirement instead of coarse because this active ingredient is a contact insecticide which would work better with a slightly smaller droplet size. Also suggested was a 15 mph wind speed limit instead of 10 mph. Most of the recent interim decisions have used the 15 mph limit, which NAAA pointed out. The proposed interim decision for Thiobencarb also recommended a 10 mph wind speed limit for applications, so NAAA made the same argument in favor of a 15 mph limit instead.

 

The proposed interim decision for Pymetrozine was more troubling in that the EPA recommended a ban on aerial application because of exposure risk to mixers and loaders. NAAA pointed out flaws in the logic used to model the exposure risks and recommended additional PPE be required instead of banning aerial. The proposed interim decision itself stated that the use of a respirator would reduce exposure risks to an acceptable level, so NAAA recommended they require respirators instead of banning aerial application of the product.

 

For Tebuthiuron, EPA proposed to eliminate the use of dry flowable and water dispersible granules for aerial application, again because of exposure risk to mixers and loaders. Comments focused again on flaws in the logic used to estimate risk and suggestions for additional PPE. The proposed interim decision for Diflubenzuron included all of the label suggestions made by NAAA in previous communications so comments were limited to a suggestion to improve the language about avoiding applications during temperature inversions.

 

The final two comments were on products that have not been applied by air: Oxytetracycline and Streptomycin. The proposed interim decisions recommended label language to specifically prohibit the use of aerial application. Even though these products have not been applied by air before, air blast sprayers have been used as an application method. NAAA commented that aerial applications should be on the label as it is a superior application method compared to air blast.

 

NAAA will continue to monitor the pesticide registration review process and comment accordingly to the EPA. We will fight to make sure aerial applicators have access to the pesticides their customers need in order to control insects, diseases, weeds, and other pests.

NAAA Pushes Back Against False UAV Application Claims

PrecisionAg, an online publication devoted to reporting on the latest agricultural technologies, recently published a three-part series titled “Three Agricultural Spray Drone Models That Promise to Be Breakthroughs.” NAAA felt compelled to respond to the article series to set some facts straight about the capabilities of manned aerial applicators.

 

Several quotes in the article cast doubt on the precision and efficacy of manned aerial application methods and questioned the safety of the industry. Individuals interviewed also branded technologies on their UAV products as “unique” when the same technologies have been available on manned aircraft for multiple years. The claim was also made that aerial applicators cannot operate at night because it is too dark. In an op-ed sent to PrecisionAg NAAA debunked these and other myths.

 

One of the most often repeated claims about UAVs and aerial application is that UAVs create less unintentional drift. NAAA explained why that claim not only cannot be verified, but also may be incorrect writing in part:

 

“… thanks to extensive research done by the USDA’s Aerial Application Technology Research Unit and the EPA, manned aircraft have sophisticated spray nozzle models showing how products applied aerially are dispersed based on aircraft size, aircraft speed, wake vortices, windspeed, temperature, boom length, droplet size and many other factors. However, these models only apply to traditional manned aircraft that are either single-rotor helicopters or single prop airplanes moving at high speeds. The models are not applicable to multi-rotor drones moving much slower and weighing much less. New spray models applicable to unmanned aircraft with two, three, four or even eight rotors need to be developed before anyone can confidently state the efficaciousness of UAVs.”

 

Additionally, NAAA explained the downwash effect is greater with manned aircraft because manned aircraft are generally larger than UAVs, causing more air to be displaced moving the applied products deep into crop canopy for excellent coverage.

 

The article makes clear NAAA views UAVs as a complementary tool to manned aerial application methods, not a wholesale replacement. NAAA welcomes the use of UAVs in agriculture and other industries, but also wants to see them meet the high standard already applied to manned aerial applicators. Additionally, NAAA believes these aircraft must be equipped with certain safety equipment to ensure they do not collide with manned aircraft. Under the right conditions NAAA believes UAVs can be a valuable tool for growers, not just with aerial application but with aerial imaging as well.

 

The full op-ed here.

NAAA Ag Aviation Industry Survey Results Garner Media Coverage

Agricultural Aviation reported extensively on the 2019 NAAA operator survey’s findings in its last issue (Spring 2019), and the agricultural trade press has taken notice, too. AgPro magazine produced a spiffy infographic for its May/June issue on the survey’s findings, highlighting the aerial application industry’s impressive gains in numbers and environmental stewardship.

 

The “Aerial Application By the Numbers” infographic also appeared on AgProfessional.com and was promoted in AgPro’s newsletter and another Farm Journal Media newsletter, AgWeb Daily. AgPro delivers a monthly print magazine to more than 23,000 readers and two weekly e-newsletters that reach more than 25,000 critical grower influencers and large equipment/service purchasers in the agricultural sector.

 

One of the many infographics created by AgProfessional.com. You can see more of the graphics here.

2019 NAAA Membership Directory & Annual Report Drops

The 2019 NAAA Membership Directory & Annual Report has mailed. Most members should receive their copy within the next week.

 

The NAAA Membership Directory & Annual Report is an indispensable asset, and as the title suggests, it is only available to our valued members. At 226 pages, this year’s directory is filled with valuable information. As always, it loaded operator and pilot contacts, as well as contact information for the premier suppliers of parts and services to the industry.

 

Other items of interest in the 2019 directory include NAAA’s annual report; details about NAAA’s second-to-none NPDES pesticide general permit compliance resources; NAAA’s issue brief on unmanned aircraft systems; checklists for how to respond in the event of a UAV encounter with an ag aircraft or if fired upon while operating an ag aircraft; updated tower safety resources; and details on numerous education, training and outreach resources available to NAAA members at little to no cost. The directory also contains several useful forms, including the NAAA Membership Application, NAAREF Donation Form, BASF Operation S.A.F.E. Incentive Program/NAAA Member Rebate Application, NAAA Awards Nomination Form, and the 2019 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Application.

 

We have gone to great lengths to ensure the accuracy of our membership listings, but recognize that perfection is a moving target. If your contact information has changed, you can update it at any time by logging into your member account at AgAviation.org. Enter your username and password in the upper right corner and then click on “Your Account” to get started. Hint: Don’t forget to click SAVE CHANGES at the bottom of the page to record your changes. Those changes will sync in real time with NAAA’s Online Member Directory.

 

While you’re at it, add a headshot or company logo to your profile and become one of the faces of the aerial application industry. If you have any problems logging into NAAA’s website, call (202) 546-5722 and we will be glad to help.

7,000 Thumbs Up: NAAA Reaches New Facebook/Social Media Milestone!

NAAA’s popular Facebook page, hit 7,000 “Likes” last week. This is after crossing the 6,000 “Likes” threshold in August of 2018 and 5,000 “Likes” in August of 2017. The exceptional thing is that our “Likes” have grown by 1,000 people each year for the past two years and 7,000 “Likes” exceeds the number of operators, pilots and allied companies in the industry, so we are reaching individuals outside of our trade.

 

NAAA posts substantive messages on Facebook that underscore the importance and professionalism of aerial application to U.S. agriculture, forestry and public health. The NAAA Facebook page has become a great resource for ag pilots, farmers, supporting industries and friends of aerial applicators to keep up to date with information regarding aerial application, modern agricultural production, the farming community and on NAAA events and legislation. Our followers have rated NAAA’s Facebook page 4.8 out of 5 stars and our social media presence continues to grow with every “Like” we get.

Liking NAAA’s Facebook page is an easy way for you to share the benefits of agricultural aviation with your Facebook friends. If you haven’t “liked” us already, visit NAAA’s Facebook page and give us the thumbs up. You can also ask your friends to “Like” the National Agricultural Aviation Association Facebook page. By doing so, they will receive ongoing updates in their news feed on what ag pilots do to put food on the table. Instructions on how to invite friends to “Like” NAAA are available here. Also, be sure to “Like” NAAA’s posts on Facebook that promote the professionalism and importance of the agricultural aviation industry. When you do so, your friends see our posts and they can like them and so on, and so on. This can cause our messaging promoting the importance of the agricultural aviation industry to go viral.

You can also “follow” NAAA on Twitter @AgAviationNAAA. NAAA launched its twitter account in November 2017 and has since gained over 440 followers. The account has experience 130% year-to-date growth when compared to the 190 followers the account had this time last year.

 

Exhibitor Details for the 2019 Ag Aviation Expo

The 2019 Ag Aviation Expo is still several months away, but we’re already deep into planning for this year’s NAAA Trade Show. Join us Nov. 18-21 in Orlando at Rosen Shingle Creek, a full-service, luxury hotel with impeccable customer service and top-notch amenities. The location is prime—on Universal Boulevard and 10 minutes from the Orlando International Airport. Besides networking, learning and having fun at the 2019 Ag Aviation Expo, enjoy your beautiful sleeping rooms, amazing restaurants, including everything from fun bars to casual dining to fine-dining, relaxing spa and the fun and competitive golf course. Learn more about this great resort at rosenshinglecreek.com.

 

The NAAA Trade Show will take place Nov. 19 from 12 p.m.–5:30 p.m. (Live Auction will begin on the trade show floor at 5:30 p.m.) and Nov. 20 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The booth and aircraft fees for this year’s Ag Aviation Expo will remain the same as last year’s rates. Review the NAAA Exhibitor Prospectus and exhibitor webpage for further details.

Booth Sales for Aircraft & Large Booth Space Now Open: If you plan to bring an aircraft, need a 20x20 island booth or larger, need a 10x30 inline booth or larger or plan to be a Diamond Sponsor, please contact Lindsay Barber ASAP. To ensure the best placement on the trade show floor, we appreciate knowing about aircraft and large booth spaces by mid-April.

2019 NAAA Booth Sales Process

• Review NAAA Exhibitor Terms and Conditions.
• Island sales are now open.
  
• 10x30 and larger inline booth sales will begin in June.
• 10x10 and 10x20 booth sales will begin on Thursday, July 11 at 12 p.m. ET | 11 a.m. CT | 9 a.m. PT.
  

Additional details for the 2019 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo

• Dates: Nov. 18–21, 2019 (NOTE THE NOVEMBER DATES)
• Location: Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, FL
• Schedule of Events: Current schedule here. Subject to change.
• Attendee Registration: Opens July 1 
• Exhibitor Booth Sales: Aircraft, Diamond sponsors and large booth space requests (island or 10x30+)  are now open. Booth sales open July 11 for 10x10 and 10x20 spaces. Email Lindsay if you’d like a large booth space.
• 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. Click here for donation details.
  
• Sponsorship Opportunities: View sponsorship opportunities here.

Hotel Details

NAAA to Exhibit at AirVenture 2019 with Air Tractor, Thrush, AgAir Update & AG-NAV

After three successful appearances at EAA’s AirVenture in 2016, 2017 and 2018, NAAA will once again exhibit at AirVenture this year in Oshkosh, Wis., July 22–28. NAAA has partnered with Air Tractor, Thrush Aircraft, AG-NAV and AgAir Update for this year’s exhibit. Both Air Tractor and Thrush will be providing aircraft for the booth and AG-NAV will exhibit their navigation system and accessories. NAAA staff and volunteers will be on hand throughout the week to speak with attendees who want to learn more about ag aviation.  

AirVenture Oshkosh, which is organized by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) each summer at Wittnam Regional Airport is a weeklong celebration of aviation. Nearly 10,000 aircraft will be on display while more than 800 exhibitors, 1,000 forums and workshops, 4,800 volunteers and more than 600,000 visitors are expected this year.

 

NAAA exhibits at AirVenture bring more awareness to careers in the aerial application industry because the weeklong show is flooded with aviation enthusiasts, military personnel and young aviators looking for new opportunities. AirVenture is one of the largest airshows in the United States and NAAA’s presence will help our industry recruit potential ag pilots. NAAA is also adding awareness by hosting an AirVenture Forum on Mon., July 22 from 10 – 11:15 a.m. in Workshop Classroom A, where we’ll be discussing the industry and how to become an ag pilot in further detail.

Moreover, it’s a wonderful way to educate adults and children about the importance of our industry in producing a safe, affordable and abundant supply of food, fiber and bio-fuel, in addition to protecting forestry and controlling health-threatening pests. The representation by our industry at AirVenture is a move in the right direction to bring positive awareness about aerial application to the general public.

July is a very busy time of year for ag pilots; however, we know some operators and pilots visit AirVenture and some even exhibit their own aircraft. There are also many NAAA Allied members who exhibit each year, and we encourage you to visit with them if you are onsite. If you’ll be at AirVenture, visit us in Booths 446, 457, and 458 in the main aircraft display area near the traffic control tower. If you’ll be exhibiting your aircraft, let us know where you’ll be!
 

Are you looking for a way to spread the good word of aerial application and share our industry with your community? Check out NAAA’s brochure that talks about the positives of aerial application, “Flying for Your Food,”. And don’t forget to use NAAA’s Media Kit when speaking on behalf of the industry.

 

Stay tuned to the AirVenture excitement on NAAA’s Facebook and Twitter pages for updates and to view photos while NAAA staff are onsite at AirVenture.

2019 Award Nominations Deadline July 10

The NAAA Awards Committee has moved the 2019 awards nomination deadline up to July 10 to adjust for the 2019 Ag Aviation Expo’s earlier pre-Thanksgiving dates this year. The 2019 NAAA Award recipients will be honored Nov. 21 at the Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet, but the committee depends on readers like you to nominate worthwhile candidates.

 

The aerial application industry is filled with exceptional people who go above and beyond the call of duty, often with little fanfare. Please help us identify these unsung heroes, and do it before you get into the thick of your season. There are nine NAAA Award categories and one NAAREF Award. Anyone can submit a nomination, but nominees must be members of NAAA.

 

The 2019 Awards Nomination Form is available as print-only and fillable PDFs at AgAviation.org/awards.

NAAA Award Categories

Agrinaut Award: Honors an agricultural aircraft operator or operating organization that has made an outstanding contribution in the field of ag aircraft operations. The recipient for the award must be or have been actively engaged in commercial agricultural application with an agricultural aircraft and the achievement cited should be a “state of the art” contribution for the benefit of the agricultural aircraft industry as a whole.

 

Allied Industry Individual Award: Recognizes an NAAA member or staff and/or an allied industry individual who has significantly contributed their efforts for the benefit of the allied industry and the aerial application industry. (Presented by the NAAA Allied Industry Committee)

 

Delta Air Lines “Puffer” Award: Recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the design of agricultural aircraft and/or related equipment.

 

Evans-Christopher Operation S.A.F.E. Award: Recognizes individuals or entities that have made outstanding contributions to the Operation S.A.F.E. program. (Presented by NAAREF)

 

John Robert Horne Memorial Award: Honors a pilot with five or fewer years of experience in the agricultural aviation industry who has an exemplary safety record and/or has contributed to safety in ag aviation.

 

Larsen-Miller Community Service Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions by a member to his community.

 

Opal & Bill Binnion Memorial Award: Acknowledges those who contribute to NAAA in its efforts to educate the public about aerial application. (Presented by the NAAA Support Committee)

 

Outstanding Service Award: Awards outstanding service to the commercial agricultural aviation industry or to its association.

 

Related Industry Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions by an allied industry member and his or her company.

 

William O. Marsh Safety Award: Recognizes significant achievements in safety, safety education or an outstanding operational safety program.

 

To make a nomination, send completed entries by July 10 to NAAA at (202) 546-5726 (fax) or information@agaviation.org.

Enter the 2019 Environmental Respect Awards Contest

 

Now in its 29th year, the Environmental Respect Awardsis 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 7 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.

 

New in 2019, the Environmental Respect Awards have broadened the awards to include not only crop protection and seed retailers/agents/agencies, but also service providers, integrated producers and public agencies.

 

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.  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, Darrel Mertens, 2018 NAAA vice president 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 that will take place in October 2019. A top regional award – named as “Ambassador of Respect” –  is revealed only at the grand finale of the gala celebration.

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:

• 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.
• 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.
• Include comments and explanations. Several areas throughout the self-audit online application request comments or explanations. Use those areas to explain your business procedures,
• Provide background information and communicate your company policies. The selection panel refers to the comment sections to help make final decisions about winning entries.
• 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.

$20K in Scholarship Aid Available for Aspiring Ag Pilots

How does $5,000 sound to help someone pursue their dream of becoming a professional ag pilot? Thanks to the generous support of BASF and Thrush Aircraft, $20,000 in aid is available under the 2019 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program to assist four aspiring ag pilots in their journey.

 

NAAA awarded $5,000 scholarships to four aspiring ag pilots at the 2018 Ag Aviation Expo. From L–R, NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship recipients Parker Gore, Walter Meise, Will Souther and Emory Lobley, with Thrush Aircraft VP of Sales Eric Rojek and BASF’s John Sabatka, respectively. BASF and Thrush co-sponsor NAAA’s pilot training scholarship.

The goal of NAAA’s “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program is to strengthen the aerial application industry by helping operator members bring new pilots into the profession and help fund their training. Applicants must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator member, and scholarship recipients may use the proceeds for flight training or aviation or ag-related coursework at a university, college, community college or other institution of higher learning. A stipend for a trainee in an NAAA Operator-sponsored apprentice program is also permissible. The scholarship program is administered by NAAA and funded by educational grants provided by BASF and Thrush.

 

This year, NAAA will award up to four scholarships valued at $5,000 each. This is a win-win for NAAA Operator members and individuals seeking training funds to support their pursuit of becoming a professional ag pilot.

How to Apply

To be considered for the 2019 scholarship, along with completing the two-part application, every applicant must submit:

• A letter of recommendation from the NAAA Operator member sponsoring the applicant.
• An essay of 250 words or less explaining why you want to pursue a career in agricultural aviation and how you would use NAAA’s “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship to further your education and training.
• A one-page résumé or list of activities detailing all agricultural and aviation experiences, education and training.

NAAA will award the recipients of the 2019 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarships in November at the Ag Aviation Expo in Orlando. Last year NAAA awarded $5,000 scholarships to four young individuals who represent the future of ag aviation: Parker Gore of Cleveland, Miss.; Emory Lobley of Dalhart, Texas; Walter Meise of Moses Lake, Wash.; and Will Souther of Douglas, Ga.

 

To learn more about the 2019 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship, please review the instructions included with the 2019 application. Please contact NAAA at (202) 546-5722 or information@agaviation.org for clarification about any of the application requirements.

 

While the applicant must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator member, NAAA membership is not a prerequisite for the person applying for the scholarship. Becoming an NAAA Associate member, however, is a great way for candidates to learn more about the industry and augment their training.

 

The deadline to apply for a 2019 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship is Aug. 31.

We’ve Added New Items to the NAAA Online Store: Shop NAAA Merchandise Today!

If you missed out on merchandise at the 2018 Ag Aviation Expo in Reno, NV, we’ve added some of that merchandise to the online store. NAAA’s eCommerce site is your one-stop shop for NAAA branded merchandise to show your pride for the association and we’ve got something for everyone. 

 

 

NAAA's online store gives members access to a wide range of NAAA branded clothing and accessories including jackets, t-shirts, hats, jewelry, drinkware, and much, much more. Members can also be able to purchase gift certificates for birthdays, holidays and special occasions. 

 

The NAAA Support Fundraising Committee will continue to provide brand-new items for sale at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in Orlando in November, which will later be available online beginning in the new year.

 

Show your pride and support NAAA by going online today at Shop.AgAviation.org and purchase your NAAA merchandise. 

If you have any questions regarding the items, you can email shop@agaviation.org or call us at 202.546.5722

NAAA Now Offering Legal Services on Federal Transportation Laws to Operator and Pilot Members

To continuously improve upon its service to the aerial application industry, NAAA has entered into an agreement to provide legal-consulting services to its aerial application operator and pilot members on federal transportation issues. The agreement is with the Law Office of John L. Wright, PC, out of Broomfield, Colo., and NAAA will provide up to one hour of legal consultation to an operator and/or pilot member of the association on federal aviation laws, including federal aviation taxation issues and federal transportation laws. The agreement will last at least through 2019. Members in this category seeking these legal services should first contact NAAA’s main office (202-546-5722, information@agaviation.org) and NAAA will serve as the bridge connecting members in need of legal consultation with Mr. Wright.

 

Mr. Wright has received some fame in the agricultural aviation industry as of late by successfully representing several Colorado aerial application operators that were facing off-target application charges filed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The case was dismissed by an administrative law judge due to evidence showing the professionalism of each operation involved, such as participation in Operation S.A.F.E. fly-ins, keeping application and weather site records, circling the field prior to application, checking wind direction, and EPA testing for safety of the products used.

 

The Colorado Agricultural Aviation Association and several Colorado aerial application operators that use the legal services of Mr. Wright have attested to his legal abilities. NAAA may also seek Mr. Wright’s services and interpretation of certain federal transportation laws and regulations to better serve NAAA members.