October 3, 2019
NAAA eNewsletter

Lincoln County Aerial Application Ban Overturned; Statewide Petitions Also Rejected by Oregon Secretary of State

Almost two years after oral arguments were made against the Lincoln County aerial herbicide ban, a circuit judge issued a decision invalidating the ban that was narrowly passed by Lincoln County voters in May 2017.

 

Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge Sheryl Bachart ruled that Oregon’s Pesticide Control Act prevents local government regulation of pesticides, including aerial application.

 

“Since the ordinance seeks by its very terms to regulate pesticide use, the county is completely pre-empted under state law from adopting any ordinance regarding pesticide use,” the judge said.

 

Judge Bachart rejected arguments by local activists who argued the ordinance’s legality was supported by the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Oregon Constitution, calling these claims “misplaced and without legal precedent.”

 

Local landowner Rex Capri filed the lawsuit shortly after the ban was passed because he relies on aerially applied herbicides to control weeds on his land.

 

Activists have vowed to appeal the ruling and said the judge “did not substantively consider” their argument that local self-government “must prevail against state pre-emption when exercised to protect health, safety and welfare.”

Statewide Initiative Petitions Also Rejected

Additionally, the Oregon Secretary of State rejected initiative petitions 35, 36 and 37. These potential state-wide ballot initiatives include arbitrary notification periods ranging from 14 to 21 days before an application can be made, and 500-foot buffer zones for aerial applications. The Oregon Secretary of State said the petitions did not meet the “single subject requirement” that ballot measures can only alter a single regulation at a time.   

 

The petitioners can now either redraft and submit new petitions, sue the Oregon Secretary of State to overturn the decision, or both. The petitioners have 60 days to decide if they will sue for the decision to be overturned.  If the petitioners choose to submit new petitions, they must collect an additional 1,000 signatures for to the Secretary of State to have a ballot title drafted and begin the full signature collection process. Next, 112,020 signatures are required to qualify for the November 2020 ballot. Signatures must be turned into the Secretary of State by July 2, 2020.

 

While both of these rulings are welcome news, NAAA will continue to work with Oregonians for Food and Shelter to monitor for state and local initiatives intended to curb the safe and judicious aerial use of crop protection products.

UPS Flight Forward Awarded Part 135 Operating Certificate to Conduct Unlimited Cargo Operations via UAS

This week, UPS Flight Forward (UPS FF) became the first UAS company to be awarded a Part 135 standard operating certificate by the FAA. This means UPS FF can now operate revenue-generating cargo flights via UAS anywhere in the county at any time, including at night and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

 

Prior to the approval of this certificate, UPS FF was already conducting operations 5 days a week under North Carolina’s UAS Integrated Pilot Program (IPP) delivering blood samples from WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh, NC to a laboratory on the WakeMed campus. UPS FF says it plans to expand its operations first to other hospital campuses and then to other industries.

 

NAAA commented on UPS FF’s exemption request that precipitated the approval of the Part 135 standard operating certificate. UPS FF says it plans to rapidly build-out ground-based, detect-and-avoid technologies to avoid manned aircraft. NAAA explained it is critical UAVs be equipped with both a FAA-approved sense and avoid system to automatically ground the UAV when a manned aircraft is in the vicinity and with ADS-B Out-like technology. ADS-B Out-like technology would allow a manned aircraft to track the vicinity of a UAV. That technology is not enough, however, due to the difficulty of manned aircraft seeing small UAVs. An automatic grounding mechanism would act as a failsafe against collisions.

 

UPS FF uses the Matternet M2 sUAS for package delivery. The M2 is approximately 50 x 50 x 10 inches in size, with a maximum gross takeoff weight of 29.1 pounds. The maximum payload capacity is 4.4 pounds.

 

If  UAS operations, such as UPS drone operation, are planned in your area, NAAA members can order free UAS Safety Stuffers. These UAS Safety Stuffers can be sent to the UAS operator to educate them about the safety concerns agricultural pilots have regarding hard-to-see UAVs, liability of UAS operations if safe drone operations are not followed and to share NAAA’s recommendations for safe and responsible UAS operations in rural areas. To order your UAS Safety Stuffers, contact NAAA at (202) 546-5722 or email information@agaviation.org with your mailing address and the number of stuffers your would like to receive.

 

Additionally, be sure to keep NAAA’s checklist handy for what to do after a UAS encounter with an Ag Aircraft. This checklist has eight steps on who to contact to ensure the encounter is properly documented and reduce that chances of it happening again. The full UAS encounter checklist available to print and display at your operation.

NAAA Submits Comments in Favor of Hours of Service Flexibility of Commercial Drivers

This week NAAA submitted comments to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in favor of a proposed rule that would provide greater flexibility in Hours of Service (HOS) regulations for holders of Commercial Driver Licenses (CDLs). NAAA commented mostly in favor of the proposed changes, informing the FMCSA greater HOS flexibility is needed because commercial drivers supporting aerial application operations operate in conditions much different from long-haul truck drivers. Furthermore, a pest will spread regardless of a drivers HOS status and a delay in the timely application of pesticides could result in the destruction of crops, or require more pesticides be used at a later time.

 

The proposed rule would provide greater HOS flexibility in many ways. First, it would alter the short-haul exception to the record of duty status (RODS) requirement by expanding the short-haul exemption from 100 to 150-air miles from the commercial driver’s home base. NAAA commented in favor of this change, noting many commercial drivers supporting aerial application operations are already allowed a 150 air-mile radius that applies to agricultural operations. However, this only applies to planting and harvesting seasons determined by each state, and this rule change would bring year-round, federal uniformity.

 

Second, once an on-duty period starts, a “split-duty” provision would allow one off-duty break of up to three hours that would pause the driver’s 14-hour driving window. NAAA commented that it would like to see this provision provide further flexibility by allowing the off-duty period to be broken up into multiple, non-consecutive off-duty rest breaks, not totaling more than three hours per workday. Allowing the three hour off-duty period to be non-consecutive more accurately reflects the reality of day-to-day operations for aerial application operators.

 

The proposed rule would also alter the adverse driving conditions exemption by allowing the extension of the maximum allowable 14-hour driving window by up to 2 hours during adverse weather conditions. NAAA explained that while aerial applications only take place in fair weather conditions, these applications will often take place after adverse weather conditions when fields are too wet for ground spraying. In this case, the timely application of products is critical and allowing the 14-hour driving window to be extended would ensure a commercial driver is available to assist in the application.

 

Lastly, the proposed rule would still require a mandatory 30-minute rest break after eight hours of on-duty time, however the off-duty time in the proposed split-duty provision would qualify as a rest break. NAAA reiterated commercial drivers supporting aerial application operations operate in extremely different conditions than typical long-haul truck drivers and get multiple breaks in driving throughout the day. Requiring a 30-minute break eight hours after the driver’s last break of 30 minutes, is well intentioned but does not improve safety for commercial drivers supporting aerial application operations.  

 

You can read NAAA’s full comments here.

Department of Labor Raises Salary Threshold for Overtime to $35,568

Last week the Department of Labor issued a final rule that will make overtime pay available to 1.3 million additional workers. The new rule, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2020, will raise the annual salary level at which companies will have to pay overtime from $23,660 to $35,568. Workers earning less than that amount annually must be paid time and a half for working over 40 hours per week.

 

The final rule makes no changes to the “primary duties” tests that determines if an employee qualifies for overtime. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most workers are subject to the FLSA rules requiring that they be paid overtime, except for certain employees, which may be paid a set annual salary. However, these employees must meet three tests to be considered what the FSLA determines as “exempt”. These rules are same as existing law, with the only change being the salary level threshold.  

 

  • Test 1: Salary Level
    • The employee must be paid at least $684 per week or $35,568 annually. These amounts are actual payments and salary cannot be pro-rated for part-time employees.
  • Test 2: Salary Basis
    • The Employee must receive a predetermined, fixed salary that is not subject to reduction due to variations in quality or quantity of work performed.
  • Test 3: Job Duties
    • The Employee must meet all of the criteria specified in one or more of the following exemptions:
      • Executive
      • Administrative
      • Education Establishments and Administrative
      • Professional – Learned
      • Professional – Artistic
      • Computer-Related

This means that in most ag operations, except for management (executive), office administrators (administrative) and pilots (professional-learned), all employees are considered non-exempt, hence subject to the FLSA’s minimum wage and overtime requirements.  More information on the executive, administrative and professional exemptions can be found on the Department of Labor’s website:

Originally, the Obama administration proposed raising the salary threshold for overtime eligibility to more than $47,000. The rule was challenged in court and eventually struck down. Unlike the Obama-era rule, the new salary level threshold would not be automatically indexed to inflation. The new rule calls for periodic reviews to update the salary minimum in order to keep up with inflation, but any increases still need to go through the federal notice-and-comment rulemaking process before they can go into effect.

 

You can read the final rule in its entirety here


Ag Aviation Expo General Session Features Aerial Imaging Diversification for your Business & Trends in Global Crop Protection Products

The 2019 Ag Aviation Expo Nov. 18-21 will feature the premiere trade show for agricultural aviation, great networking opportunities and a great lineup of speakers and events! One of the most educational and informational sessions taking place will be the NAAA General Session on Tuesday, Nov. 19, beginning at 9:45 a.m. The 2019 General Session will explore the future of the aerial application industry by examining trends in the global crop protection product industry and across agriculture. After that big-picture assessment of the global marketplace in the first half of the session, NAAA will take a closer look at aerial imaging as a diversification option for aerial applicators.

 

Dr. Matthew Phillips, a leading consultant and data analyst in the agrochemical and seeds industries, will lead off the General Session by providing his assessment of the global crop protection market and where companies are headed after a spate of mergers between the major crop protection product manufacturers has reshaped the industry.

 

Dr. Phillips earned a doctorate in animal metabolism and biochemistry from the University of Reading. At the outset of his career he worked on animal metabolism and residue studies for the registration of agrochemicals and veterinary products. Subsequently he became an analyst of agricultural input companies and markets for investment banks and agri-chemical companies. He co-founded Phillips McDougall, which became a leading consultancy and data analysis company in the agrochemical and seeds industries. Now Dr. Phillips is a consultant/advisor to AgbioInvestor providing news and analysis covering the global crop protection and seeds and traits industries.

 

Phillips is looking forward to sharing his research on the crop protection product industry and putting it into context for aerial applicators at the Ag Aviation Expo in Orlando.

 

Next during the 2019 Ag Aviation Expo General Session will be Ofir Schlam, co-founder & CEO of Taranis, an international agricultural remote sensing and imaging company. Similar to other ag imaging companies, Taranis utilizes satellites, manned aircraft, and UAVs to provide images of various resolutions. Satellite images provide lower-resolution images over a large area, while manned aircraft are used to collect higher-resolution images with more detail for smaller areas.

 

What makes Taranis unique, however, is its low-level scouting sampling. This imaging is conducted at low altitudes just above the crop. Rather than attempt to image the entire field at this level, images are instead taken systematically across the field. This is like any other type of IPM scouting program, except the Taranis method generates far more sampling points in much less time. The images from the satellites, higher-resolution imaging, and low-level scouting are used together to create a detailed image of field conditions and plant health.

 

The exciting part is that the low-level scouting imagery can be used to identify and map pests. These maps just don’t indicate a field has a pest problem—they identify exactly what that pest is, whether it be insects, weeds and diseases. All are identified by Taranis and they map it for the grower. A digital map showing pest type, location and density can be created and used to make informed decisions on when and where applications should be made. Prescription maps for variable rate applications can be easily developed from the images and data.

 

While that sounds amazing, the most exciting part is the potential for agricultural aircraft to be a part of this program. Currently GA aircraft and UAVs are being used to capture the scouting level images. The low-level nature of these images, however, is perfectly suited to being captured by agricultural aircraft. Taranis is currently developing a pod that can be mounted on agricultural aircraft for this very purpose.

 

This could lead to a new revenue source for aerial applicators where ag pilots would simply fly the field, take the images and send them to Taranis for processing. There is no need to learn how to operate complicated software for image processing or map creation. That is all handled by Taranis.

 

The potential also exists for an aerial operation to become more than just the source of the images. A precision application of a pesticide begins with scouting the field to identify the pest and determine the best option for control and ends when the application is made. Agricultural aircraft have traditionally and obviously played the end role. If they can be utilized at the beginning to scout the field, perhaps aerial applicators can become more involved in the entire pesticide application process and offer their customers a complete pest control solution. Come listen to Taranis at the 2019 General Session and see if its technology has a potential place in your operation.

 

Taranis CEO, Ofir Schlam is a fourth-generation farmer. Raised in Israel, he comes from a family of farmers who have grown cotton and wheat for the last four generations. His professional career started when he began his B.Sc. in Math & Computer Science at the age of 16 as part of a program for outstanding students at BIU and graduated Summa Cum Laude at the age of 19. For his military service, Ofir served in an elite technological unit of the Prime Minister's Office, where he was involved in developing and leading ground-breaking technology projects. During that time, he also earned his M.Sc in cryptography at age of  22. Ofir moved up in the organization and in his last position before starting Taranis he managed an R&D department of 15 software engineers on classified projects. Ofir and his three co-founders started Taranis in 2015 with a mission to help farmers protect their crops more efficiently.

Additional details for the 2019 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo

  • Dates: Nov. 18–21, 2019
  • Location: Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, FL
  • Schedule of Events: Current schedule here. Subject to change.
  • Attendee Registration: Now Open
  • Exhibitor Booth Sales: Now Open
  • Auction Donations: Thank you to Pratt & Whitney Canada for donating a PT6-34AG engine to this year’s NAAA Live Auction. Please consider donating 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 (room block is now 95% full
  • 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 and NAAREF Board Meetings Next Week

We look forward to seeing you in Denver for our October NAAA and NAAREF committee and board meetings. Most meetings take place Oct. 11–12 with a couple of meetings beginning on Oct. 10. PAASS Train the Trainer will take place Oct. 9–10. All meetings are open to NAAA members.

You can view a schedule here. Please email Lindsay Barber if you will plan to attend the meetings.

Location

Grand Hyatt Denver
1750 Welton Street
Denver, CO 80202
Local Phone: (303) 295-1234 

 

Reservations: The room block is closed; however the hotel may still have availability. Call: (800) 233-1234 (identify NAAA & NAAREF Board meetings). You can also provide your arrival and departure dates to Lindsay Barber for assistance.

It’s that Time Again: Renew Your Membership Today!

 

 

Renewals are now open! 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 Transportation 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.Register today!
  • Be listed in an receive the NAAA Membership Directory. 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.

 


NAAA is dedicated to protecting and advancing the needs of the industry by improving the public's perception of the aerial application industry and spearheading the industry's environmental stewardship and safety initiatives. If you haven’t reviewed all our accomplishments this past year in the 2019 NAAA Membership Directory, you can download our Annual Report here.

 

We appreciate your membership as it will help us continue to fight and win on important issues like unfair user fees and taxes; tower marking requirements; integration of drones into the national airspace; and ensuring EPA keeps a healthy inventory of crop protection products for aerial use without restrictions. Your membership helps us better represent your interests; renew your membership today!

Remotely Piloted Aerial Application Vehicles and Systems Workshop Conducted by ARS in Orlando Directly Prior to NAAA Expo

If you are interested in unmanned aircraft systems and the concept of unmanned aerial application systems, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in conjunction with USDA, will be holding a workshop that will focus on these new technologies.  This workshop, scheduled for Saturday, November 16, will be convened in Orlando, FL at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, and is being held in coordination with the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) Annual Ag Aviation Expo.

 

This upcoming workshop, tentatively entitled “Advancements in Remotely Piloted Aerial Application Vehicles and Systems”, is the second workshop to focus on these new technologies in the U.S., and is being planned and delivered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in partnership with the USDA ARS Aerial Application Technology Research Unit located in College Station, Texas.  The inaugural workshop on unmanned aerial application systems was held November 7-9, 2018 in College Station, and included experts from diverse backgrounds, with an agenda to inform advancement of unmanned aerial application systems from regulatory, legal, technical, standards, economic, research and education perspectives.

 

Attendees at this workshop will engage in an opportunity to learn about state-of-the-art RPAAVS systems and contribute to the continuing advancement of these emerging technologies.  In addition, those that elect to stay in Orlando for a few extra days for the National Agricultural Aviation Association Ag Aviation Expo, will learn about opportunities in manned aerial application, and the possible synergies between remotely piloted and manned aerial application systems.

 

If you have an interest in this topic from an agricultural, or public health perspective, please consider marking your calendar to attend the workshop.  Please visit the following link to register:  https://www.regonline.com/rpaas

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either Wayne Woldt (wwoldt1@unl.edu), or Dan Martin (Dan.Martin@usda.gov).


Beware of Fraudulent Company Trying to Sell you Ag Aviation Lists

NAAA received notification that an independent third party company is contacting our NAAA members to sell lists of attendees for the Ag Aviation Expo. This company is not affiliated with NAAA and this is a company that is scamming people.

 

Please remember that no one from (or on behalf of) NAAA, Rosen Shingle Creek or T3 Expo will contact you (phone, email, etc.) to purchase lists, book travel or hotel rooms or book exhibitor services. NAAA recommends that you only rely on information provided on the NAAA website or in NAAA publications to book anything related to the Ag Aviation Expo. If you’re unsure of an email or call that you receive, email naaaexpo@agaviation.org.

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 Pre-registration closes Oct. 18
  • Exhibitor Booth Sales: Now Open
  • Auction Donations: Thank you to Pratt & Whitney Canada for donating a PT6-34AG engine to this year’s NAAA Live Auction. Please consider donating 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 (room block is now 95% full
  • 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

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 putting 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 $125 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.

Attended an Operations S.A.F.E. Clinic This Year? Take Advantage of BASF’s Financial Incentives!

It’s not too late to take advantage of BASF’s financial incentives for participating in an Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-in clinic this year (2019).  This is a continuation of a program BASF initiated in 2010 in collaboration with NAAA to provide financial support for participating aerial applicators that can be used toward membership in NAAA or for new spray equipment. The eligibility period for BASF’s incentive program encompasses Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-Ins between Oct. 1, 2018, and Sept. 30, 2019. Submissions must be received by BASF no later than Oct. 15, 2019 and rebates will be issued around December 15.

 

Complete details are specified in the official program rules, but in essence, aerial application operators can earn a $225 incentive to be used to help subsidize either 2019 NAAA operator membership dues or up to $225 of the cost of purchasing new nozzles and/or tips for each eligible aircraft that they pattern test at an Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-In. Pilots participating in an Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-In may be eligible to receive a $170 rebate that would reimburse them for nearly the full cost of their NAAA membership dues.

 

The goals of the Aerial Application Equipment and NAAA Membership Program are to encourage operators and pilots to:

  • Pattern test their aircraft at an Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-In
  • Provide an incentive to equip eligible aircraft with new nozzles and/or tips
  • Encourage membership in NAAA
  • Promote aerial application optimization and stewardship

Terms and Conditions

To qualify for BASF’s Aerial Application Equipment and NAAA Membership Program, an operator or pilot must be an NAAA member and be the pilot flying the pattern evaluation. Although it is not necessary to be an NAAA member at the time of the Operation S.A.F.E. calibration clinic, the participant must become an NAAA member before applying for and being granted approval for the rebate. The operator or pilot must also be sure that the Operation S.A.F.E. analyst has the participant’s complete and correct information so that the analyst can provide that information to NAAA for submission to BASF. The operator or pilot must complete the application and send it to BASF to be reimbursed for a portion of the applicator’s 2019 membership dues or submit receipts to receive a rebate for nozzles and/or tips purchased for the aircraft. Submissions must be received by the rebate program’s auditor no later than Oct. 15. Payments will be made on or about Dec. 15, 2019.

 
The Aerial Application Equipment and NAAA Membership Program is part of BASF’s ongoing stewardship efforts for aerial applicators and the safe and proper application of its products. Visit www.plant-health-pilots.com for a variety of resources BASF provides aerial applicators.

 

You can see a list of Operation S.A.F.E. clinics near you here and here


Don’t PAASS Up Safety and Have and Accident – Attend the 2019-2020 PAASS Program

 

The 2019-2020 PAAAS Program is ready to help you and the agricultural aviation industry improve safety, application accuracy and professionalism. The following four modules will be given at state and regional agricultural aviation association meetings this fall and winter. Check the NAAA calendar and make sure you plan on attending. The core mission of PAASS is to reduce both ag aviation accidents and drift incidents, and PAASS has proven successful at this task. Accidents have been reduced by 23% since PAASS began. Studies conducted by the American Association of Pest Control Officials show a reduction in drift claims of nearly 26 percent since PAASS started. Many state departments of agriculture offer CEUs for PAASS attendance and many insurance providers offer discounts to PAASS attendees.

Agricultural Aviation’s Airfield Watch

For this year’s Airfield Watch module, an operator will describe a break-in that occurred at his facility. He will review how the perpetrators attempted to gain access to his buildings and equipment in an attempt to steal fuel. He also describes what he’s done since the incident in order to better secure his operation. This has included increasing the security lighting with motion detectors around the buildings with plans to install security cameras at the facility. It is critical to protect agricultural aviation operations from a variety of threats, including vandalism, theft, and the unlikely possibility of terrorist activity.

Human Factors in Agricultural Aviation – “Controlled Flight Into Terrain Accidents”

Controlled Flight Into Terrain, or CFIT, accidents continue to be a concern for agricultural aviation. Over the last 10 years, CFIT accidents have accounted for 29% of all agricultural aviation accidents. During this same time period, 49% of fatal Part 137 accidents have been CFIT accidents. In 2018, a staggering 75% of fatal accidents involved CFIT. CFIT accidents include collisions with the ground, wires, towers, and trees. Participants will hear from several pilots about their CFIT accidents and factors that led to the accident. These included failure to properly scout a field, allowing the pressures of running an operation to cause distraction, and trying to sometimes impress an employer or someone else but perhaps taking on additional risk. CFIT accidents obviously present a dangerous threat to pilots but can also cause harm to the environment as well with the accident potentially resulting in a pesticide spill. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss how to scout fields for obstacles and maintain vigilance throughout the application in order to avoid a CFIT accident.

Environmental Professionalism – “Operation S.A.F.E. Prep Work and Boom Update”

Operation S.A.F.E. fly-in clinics offer aerial applicators the opportunity to have their aircraft’s spray pattern and droplet size evaluated by a trained professional. Many S.A.F.E. fly-ins are quite busy, with multiple aircraft participating. In order to get the most out of attending a fly-in, it is important to prepare your aircraft ahead of time. The Environmental Professionalism module will discuss aircraft preparation, including checking for leaks and aligning nozzles, whether participating in an Operation S.A.F.E. or analyzing your system yourself.  The module will also provide an update on using a shortened boom to reduce drift and the impact of belly nozzles on spray pattern quality.

Hangar AG Flying – “Accident Review, Landing with a Load, and other Topics”

This module will include an analysis of ag accidents that occurred during the 2019 application season. Studying these accidents enables attendees to learn from other pilots’ experiences and increase flying safety. A segment on how to land with a load will review how to accomplish this task as well as how to train for it. Also covered will be an update on FieldWatch and discussion on the risks of pesticides.


2019 Ag Aviation Golf Tournament Oct. 19–20

NAAA members are invited to join your Arkansas brethren for a fun weekend of golf and fellowship Oct. 19–20. The Red Apple Inn and Country Club in Heber Springs, Ark., is hosting the 2019 Ag Aviation Golf Tournament. This year’s proceeds will benefit the Miracle League of Arkansas, a baseball league for children with intellectual and/or physical disabilities.

 

The $150 entry fee covers two rounds of golf, happy hour and dinner at the Red Apple Inn on Saturday evening and a complimentary T-shirt. The tournament starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, with a two-man scramble format. The final round tees off Sunday, Oct. 20, starting at 8:30 a.m. (A dinner-only fee of $35 is available for non-golfers.)


Inn rooms, two-bedroom condos and three-bedroom condos are available at the Red Apple Inn for $135, $215 and $260, respectively. Call the Red Apple Inn at 1-800-733-2775 and use the reservation code “AG AVIATION” to reserve your room.


To register for the Ag Aviation Golf Tournament, complete the registration form and mail a check to:

Brenda Watts

102 Norris Lane

Watson, AR 71674
(please include T-shirt size on the check)

 

The tournament organizers, a small group of Arkansas aerial applicators, decided to donate proceeds from this year’s golf tournament to the Miracle League of Arkansas to help the organization repair its flood-damaged ballfield. On June 7, the Miracle League’s specially equipped ballfield was flooded with water from the overflowing Arkansas River. More than 24,000 tiles were damaged in the flood that must be removed, cleaned, sanitized, repaired, reinstalled and repainted. The nonprofit organization launched the Flood the Field with Love campaign to raise funds to repair the field.

 

For more information, please contact the 2019 Ag Aviation Golf Tournament organizers. Contact information for members of the tournament committee is available here.