Threat Against Earle, Ark., Ag Pilots Reported to Police

Arkansas ag pilots reported a potential threat against our industry on Monday to the local police department. A man in Earle, Ark., stated on his Facebook page that he would shoot at any crop dusters that flew near his house. It was reported to NAAA and the association sent the information to the Arkansas AAA executive director and ag pilot leaders on its board who reported that the situation was being dealt with. It was a textbook example of “notice something,  notify someone”—a lesson learned too well almost two decades ago as a result of the nefarious terrorist attacks against the nation on 9/11/2001. This week’s incident was another great example of the ag pilot community being active on Facebook and reporting potential threats as soon as they are seen. 

 

Authorities have removed all firearms from the suspect’s home and charges are pending. The suspect has severe physical health issues confining him to his home, requiring authorities to evaluate how to proceed.  

 

It is a federal crime to shoot at aircraft, including unmanned aircraft systems. Penalties can be as severe as 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Even the threat of shooting down an aircraft can result in a five-year prison sentence.

NAAA’s shooting-response checklist details actions operators and pilots can take in the event someone discharges a firearm at their aircraft. The checklist includes tips on how to report a shooting incident and spread the word to bring the perpetrator to justice.

NAAA’s shooting-response checklist is available here to print out. It contains the following steps along with NAAA’s advice.

Checklist for Pilots Subjected to Discharge of a Firearm Targeting an Ag Aircraft

• Inform Local Law Enforcement
• Contact the FBI
• Report it to the FAA National Safety Hotline
• Call your Local Flight Standards Office (FSO)
• File a NASA Aviation Safety Report
• Tell Other Pilots
• Notify Local News Media
• Contact Your Insurance Agent if Warranted

In addition to its shooting-response checklist, NAAA is available to offer additional assistance in the event of an ag aircraft shooting. Contact NAAA at (202) 546-5722 for further support.

NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Booth Sales Open Today

Attention NAAA Allied Members! Booth sales begin today, July 11 for the 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.

 

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.

Today at Noon ET / 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. PT, you will need to go to our NAAA Exhibitors webpage at http://www.agaviation.org/exhibitors and there will be a link at the top of the page that says NAAA Trade Show Booth Sales Now Open. Click that link and follow the directions to complete your booth purchase. NO log in is required to purchase your space. PLEASE NOTE: If you sit on this webpage prior 12 p.m. ET, you will need to continually refresh your page for the link to appear. Review the booth purchase directions before today’s booth sales begin.

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: Now open 
• Exhibitor Booth Sales: Open July 11
• 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

• Rate: $139/night + taxes (no resort fee and includes basic internet access in your room and complimentary fitness center access)
• Reservations: Book online here or call (866) 996-6338 and refer to NAAA convention. All reservations are two double beds. If you'd like a king room, please state that when calling or in the comments section when making the reservation online. 
• Hotel Block Cut-off Date: Thursday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. ET
• Hotel Address:  9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL 32819 | Hotel Phone: (866) 996-9939 | Reservations: (866) 996-6338
• Cancellation & One Night's Charge Policy: Cancellation required by 4 p.m. at least five (5) days prior to arrival to avoid a charge of one night’s room + tax. All reservations are required to be guaranteed with a valid credit card. Please be advised that five days prior to your arrival, an authorization equivalent to one night's room + tax charge will be processed on your card. Authorizations on a debit card will place a hold on funds within your bank account at the time of authorization. 
• Check In & Out: Check in is 3 p.m. and check out is 11 a.m.
• Parking: Daily self-parking is $18; valet is $26.
• Universal Orlando Hotel Partner, where guests enjoy complimentary scheduled daily transportation from the hotel to and from Universal Orlando Resort exciting theme parks and to SeaWorld® Orlando and Aquatica. Contact the hotel directly for further details at (866) 996-9939

NAAA Pilot Survey Report Released to Members

NAAA is excited to announce that its 2019 NAAA Pilots Survey Report is finished and now available for members to download. The survey revealed that the average age for a pilot is 47 years old. In the 2012 survey, the average age of a hired agricultural pilot was 50 years old. The reduction in age for pilots from the 2012 to the 2019 survey was also reflected in the percentage of pilots in the 20-29 year old age group. In the 2012 survey, 7 percent of pilots were 20-29 years old. In the 2019 survey, that had doubled to 14 percent of pilots. Pilots 30-39 years old increased from 19 percent of all pilots in the 2012 survey to 25 percent in the 2019 survey. The percentage of pilots in both the 50-59 and 60-69 year old age classes decreased between the 2012 and the 2019 surveys.

 

The 2019 NAAA Pilots Survey Report is a companion to the 2019 NAAA Operators Survey Report, which was released in May 2019. This second report is based on the responses collected from hired pilots, while the earlier Operators report is based on responses from operators.

 

To download a copy, login as a member on NAAA’s webpage (agaviation.org) and go to the Resource Center on the top menu bar. Just over half way down the page is the listing for “NAAA Industry Surveys”. Select the link just to the right that says “Publications (5).” The 2019 NAAA Aerial Application Industry Survey: Pilots is the second link on the next page. The 2019 NAAA Operators Survey Report as well as older industry surveys are also available on this page.

NAAA Comments to Ensure EPA’s Aerial Reregistration for Glyphosate

Last week NAAA submitted comments to the EPA on their proposed interim decision regarding the reregistration of Glyphosate to ensure its continued safe use via aerial application. The EPA is required by FIFRA to review the registrations for all crop protection products every 15 years. An Interim decision was used by the EPA instead of a full re-registration of Glyphosate because Endangered Species Act and pollinator protection assessments still need to be completed before full reregistration can occur.

 

NAAA agreed with some of the proposed requirements for aerial application in the interim decision. The drift mitigation language showed EPA has been listening to previous comments from NAAA. Prior proposed interim decisions for other products had capped wind speeds for aerial applications at 10 mph. The proposed drift mitigations strategies for Glyphosate increased the limit on wind speed to 15 mph. The only additional requirement for applying in wind speeds of 11 to 15 mph is that boom length be reduced to a maximum 65 percent of wingspan for fixed wing aircraft and a maximum of 75 percent of rotor diameter for helicopters. For applications at wind speeds at 10 mph or lower, maximum boom length would be 75 percent of wingspan for fixed wing aircraft or 90 percent of rotor diameter for helicopters.

 

Additional drift mitigation language included not making applications during an inversion and a half swath displacement would be required on the downwind edge of fields. NAAA suggested a medium droplet size, based on the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Standard S572.1 for droplet size classification, for aerial applications of Glyphosate. Maximum aircraft height would be limited to 10 feet unless safety required a greater height.

 

One item NAAA objected to in the proposed interim decision for glyphosate was the lower maximum single application rate for aerial applications compared to ground applications. This lower maximum single use rate would mean aerial applicators could not apply as much Glyphosate per acre as a ground applicator could in a single application. NAAA pointed out that this restriction was based on risk assessments completed using erroneous assumptions in the AgDRIFT Tier 1 model used to estimate drift from aerial applications. While the proposed maximum single use rate for aerial application was higher than commonly used single use rates, NAAA pointed out that higher use rates may be required for weed populations that begin developing resistance to Glyphosate. Restricting the maximum single use rate for aerial application compared to ground would eliminate the option to use aerial application to control resistant weeds, which could prove disastrous to growers if wet conditions prohibited the use of a ground sprayer.

 

NAAA recommended that aerial applications get the same maximum single use rate as ground applications. If additional drift mitigation strategies are needed in order to apply the higher single use rates using aerial application, NAAA suggested that boom length be reduced to a maximum 65 percent of wingspan for fixed wing aircraft and a maximum of 75 percent of rotor diameter for helicopters no matter what the wind speed. A coarse droplet size requirement for the higher single use rates of Glyphosate would also be acceptable.

 

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.

In Memoriam: Terry K. Pfeil, Sky-Tractor Supply Founder, 1937–2019

One of NAAA’s charter members and early officers has passed away. Terry K. Pfeil died June 12 in Chandler, Ariz., four days after his 82^nd birthday. Pfeil, who was known as T.K. to many of his peers, operated Sky-Farmers Aerial Sprayers Inc. in Waseca, Minn., and founded Sky-Tractor Supply, also in Waseca, before later selling the aerial ag equipment distributor business to Ron Deck.

 

Pfeil on the cover of NAAA’s May 1975 issue of The World of Agricultural Aviation.

 

Prior to retiring from the industry in the early 1980s, Pfeil had been extremely devoted to advancing the professionalism of the agricultural aviation industry and active at the state and national levels. He was a charter member of NAAA when the National Agricultural Aviation Association was formed in November 1966 and founded the Minnesota Agricultural Aircraft Association, serving as its president in 1968 and ’69. Pfeil was elected to NAAA’s Board of Directors in ’69 and served as NAAA’s treasurer in 1970 and vice president in ’71.

 

Pfeil got his start in agricultural aviation in 1958, after completing an aerial application course at Johnny Dorr’s Flying Service in Merigold, Miss. He married Gayle Gabriel that same year, and the couple remained married for 61 years until T.K.’s death.

 

Pfeil flew Piper J-3 Cubs for an operator in Ohio for a couple of seasons and then took the owner up on an offer to buy the operation. Pfeil briefly operated North Star Aerial Sprayers and would travel the country picking up odd jobs where he could, from spraying cotton in Mississippi to treating wheat in Montana. Perhaps realizing that relying on odd jobs around the country was not the most sustainable way to make a living, in the early ’60s the Pfeils moved back to Terry’s native state of Minnesota, where they built their own airport and started Sky-Farmer Aerial Sprayers Inc. in Waseca, Minn. There Pfeil transitioned to a much steadier customer base by doing mostly contract spraying for major canning companies.

 

Several years after they built up Sky-Farmer Aerial Sprayers’ business, Terry and Gayle started Sky-Tractor Supply to provide ag aircraft equipment, supplies and aircraft sales to other pilots in the industry. Sky-Tractor Supply became a fixture at NAAA’s annual convention and exposition and other state conventions. Pfeil also became a Grumman Ag-Cat distributor.

 

Wanting to do something special for NAAA’s 1976 convention to commemorate the United States’ bicentennial, Pfeil arranged to get a brand-new white Cessna Ag Truck from Cessna Aircraft Company. He spent months painting it red, white and blue until the aircraft looked like a flying American flag. Pfeil experienced one of the proudest moments of his career when he brought the U.S. flag-painted Cessna to NAAA’s ’76 convention and Neil Armstrong, the first astronaut to walk on the moon, walked up and stood on the airplane. “Terry thought that was the best thing that ever happened,” his wife Gayle says.

 

Terry and Gayle’s affinity for aviation was even reflected in the names of their two daughters. Their oldest daughter Piper was named after Pfeil’s first plane, the Piper J-3 Cub. Taylor was named after the precursor to the Piper J-3, the Taylor J-2 Cub. Continuing the tradition of aviation-inspired names, the Pfeils have a granddaughter named Cessna.

 

After selling Sky-Tractor Supply to Ron Deck in 1982, Deck moved the company to Hillsboro, N.D., and the Pfeils moved to Arizona. Unable to fly anymore after an illness cost Pfeil his medical certificate, Terry and Gayle got into a new line of work in Arizona, opening a pet boarding service for cats and dogs. Ever the entrepreneur, the boarding service later expanded, as the Pfeils branched out to dog training and breeding as well. “It wasn’t near as exciting as crop dusting,” Gayle told the NAAA eNewsletter, but it was in keeping with Pfeil’s philosophy for success. The formula is simple, Pfeil explained to NAAA’s The World of Agricultural Aviation (WAA) magazine in a 1975 profile, “Pick out a specialty, and be damn good at it!”

 

Throughout his career in agricultural aviation, Pfeil was a leader in the efforts to the improve the safety, professionalism and reputation of crop dusters. He worked hard to transform the image of the stereotypical barnstorming crop duster of yesteryear into an industry made up of highly skilled and dedicated professional agricultural aviators. “That was very, very important,” Gayle says. “He wanted to work away from the old barnstormer, barrel-rolling image of old … to have a much more professional image.”

 

Pfeil also was very committed to pilot safety and was outspoken about the subject of ag flying safety. As he explained to WAA magazine:

In his view, “On-board safety equipment for ag aircraft [in the early to mid-1970s] has not kept stride with other advancements, such as performance and payload capacity.” He is especially vocal on the issue of fire-on-impact accidents, the incidence of which has increased alarmingly. “The necessary hardware — on-board extinguishing systems and foam-filled tanks — exists, but we’re preoccupied with the technology which will turn out more work,” Pfeil comments.

Pfeil may not be well known to most current members, but the continued presence of Sky-Tractor LLC, which remains in the Deck family, means a part of Pfeil’s spirit is still with the agricultural aviation industry to this day. The many small but persistent steps Pfeil took to improve the industry and his fellow ag pilots helped spur a giant leap forward in the professionalism of the industry. NAAA celebrated his impressive accomplishments and career in the agricultural aviation industry by presenting Pfeil with its Outstanding Service Award in 1985.

 

Terry “T.K.” Pfeil was preceded in death by his daughter Taylor. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Gayle Pfeil, their eldest daughter, Piper, and five grandchildren. NAAA wishes to extend its sincere condolences to Gayle, Piper and the entire Pfeil family in their time of grief.

Farm Journal Magazine Plugs 2019 NAAA Industry Survey

Some impressive figures from the 2019 NAAA Aerial Application Industry Survey made it into the “Stat Rack” column in Farm Journal’s June 2019 issue. The most important stat Farm Journal highlighted is the fact that aerial applicators in the U.S. treat 127 million acres of cropland annually. Additional factoids the magazine picked up on are the five most treated crops by aerial applicators, the number of ag pilots in the industry (3,385), the percentage of fixed-wing and rotorcraft aircraft in the industry’s fleet (84% and 16%, respectively), and the percentage of operators engaged in aerial imaging (12%) or using unmanned aircraft systems (4%).

 

Farm Journal has 345,000 subscribers, including 330,000 owner/operators of a farm or ranch

 

Putter Over to NAAA Expo NAAREF Fundraiser, It’s a Hole Lot of Fun

Help us raise money for NAAREF and PAASS by wearing your loudest golf pants and participating in Putting for PAASS, a fundraiser for the ag aviation industry’s premier educational safety program. This fundraising bowling event will take place on Sunday, Nov. 17 from 6 - 9:30 p.m. at Rosen Shingle Creek.

 

Registration is now open and is required; the minimum donation is $110 per person. Each person must register separately and your team can have four people! Have fun with your friends during our nine-hole scramble. This event is fun no matter your skill set, whether you’re an avid golfer, a miniature-golfer or you’ve never held a putter! When registering, you’ll choose the tee time block of 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 or 8:30. We will open a 9 p.m. slot if the other time slots are full of golfers. During each tee time block, nine teams (four people each) will compete and you’ll have 30 minutes to finish the nine holes. If there are ties, there will be a sudden death hole(s) at the end of the tournament.

 

Each of the four people on the winning team will receive $100 gift certificates to purchase merchandise at the 2019 NAAA Support Fundraising booth on the NAAA Trade Show floor on Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

Help us raise funds to continue the highly regarded PAASS Program, working to reduce the number of aviation accidents and drift incidents each year.

We Love Our Members! Check Out All Your Support Has Helped Us Accomplish

Renewals are now open! You will soon receive your renewal form in the mail, but there is no need to wait! You can renew online today. As a member of NAAA, you associate with the best and brightest in the agricultural aviation industry and your support is imperative in helping us accomplish our initiatives. We’d like to remind you of just a few new offerings NAAA has recently released such as:

• NAAA is now offering legal services on Federal Transpiration Laws to Operator and Pilot Members
• Receive the 2019 NAAA Operator and Pilot Survey Report which is chockful of key statistics providing a healthy status of the U.S. aerial application industry. 
• The legendary Sean D. Tucker will be speaking at the Ag Aviation Expo in Orlando, Nov. 18-21, 2019. It's 4 days packed full of educational sessions where you can earn CEU's. Registration opens July1!
• Our 2019 NAAA Membership Directory has been mailed out. It’s your one-stop shop where you can find members and allied services in the industry.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest issues affecting your profession through the NAAA eNewsletter, Agricultural Aviation magazine and exclusive member resources online such as our Media Relations Kit.
• Don’t forget to take advantage of financial incentives such as our Operation S.A.F.E. Rebate Program and our Recruitment Rewards Program.
  

$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.

Summer Sale: Get Free Shipping on NAAA’s Online Store with Promo Code FREESHIP

Stay cool this summer with some NAAA gear. We’re sliding into summer with a bang and offering members FREE SHIPPING on every item online. Use promo code FREESHIP at checkout for summer savings. Sizes and quantities are limited so hurry and take advantage of this offer. Show your pride and support NAAA by going online today at Shop.AgAviation.org and purchase your NAAA merchandise.

 

 

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 its 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 Wittman 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 to 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 July 22, from 10 to 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 biofuel, 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 Relations 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.