New York Governor Defers to Regulatory Process with Veto of Chlorpyrifos Ban Bill; EU Not Planning to Renew its Registration

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo this week vetoed a bill that would ban the use of chlorpyrifos in the state, while at the same time ordering the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to immediately start the regulatory process to revoke its aerial and other uses.

 

NAAA previously sent a letter to Gov. Cuomo, the New York Environmental Commissioner, and pesticide control officials explaining why it is imperative the governor veto the bill.  In his veto message Governor Cuomo said the bill “bypasses the rigorous process available to challenge an approved product and substitute the legislatures judgement for the expertise of chemists, health experts and other subject matter experts in the field.”

 

The governor’s directive to DEC orders the agency to “take immediate action to ban aerial use of chlorpyrifos. DEC will also have regulations in place to ban chlorpyrifos for all uses, except spraying apple tree trunks, by December 2020.” The time frame for this process is not set, but a public comment period is expected and NAAA will submit scientific data on the aerial safety of chlorpyrifos.  

 

At the same time, the European Union’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed voted last week to not renew the EU registration for chlorpyrifos, which is set to expire January 31, 2020. The European Commission is expected to finalize the regulation next month.

 

The vote comes after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which carries out pesticide risk assessments in the EU, said in August that no safe exposure levels exist for chlorpyrifos.

 

Corteva Agriscience, a major chlorpyrifos manufacturer, said in a statement, “We are disappointed by the decision of the European Union not to renew the authorization of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl. This decision denies EU growers access to yet another key tool to protect their crops. No active ingredient had been more thoroughly researched than chlorpyrifos and the EFSA conclusions do not match the conclusions of other major regulatory bodies.”

 

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide that is used in more than 50 fruit, nut, cereal and vegetable crops and has been the subject of activist group attacks and controversy for many years.

 

The EPA announced over the summer it will not ban the use of chlorpyrifos, instead it will expedite the registration review process under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) that requires pesticides to be reregistered with the EPA every 15 years.

 

California and Corteva Agriscience came to an agreement earlier this year to phase out chlorpyrifos use in the state by the end of 2020.

Satirical News Site (World News Daily Report) Story on Crop Duster Alarms Some—It’s Fake Folks, Satirical, Not True!

 

The World News Daily Report, a clearly satirical news site that attempts to be humorous, recently ran a fake news article about an inebriated crop duster. Again, the site is satirical, meaning it makes up stories to be funny.  The story is not true.  The article “reports” on a “crop duster” who accidentally dumped a load of manure over a town, covering cars, houses, and residents of the town. It even gives a name to the fake pilot: Barry Wood. According to the work of fiction, Barry was so intoxicated he made a wrong turn and covered the town of El Dorado, Kansas with manure instead of applying it to his employers’ fields.

 

The fake, untrue, and readily apparent farcical article further describes how drunk Barry was, how quickly he was arrested, and how he faces 1,235 years in prison and a $2 million fine. World News Daily Report describes itself as an “American Jewish Zionist newspaper based in Tel Aviv.” It is clear that they’re not a legitimate source of news: under their name is the statement “Where facts don’t matter.”. This appears to be the only factual item on their website.

 

NAAA received many inquiries about the World News Daily Report piece.  NAAA has informed those concerned that the piece was clearly satirical from a source that only published fiction.  Many in the industry, unfortunately, have been reposting it on social media thereby upsetting those that don’t check news sources’ legitimacy.  If you see a reference to this article in a social media thread, please don’t continue to spread it. Do offer comment to all posts of this or similar articles that is entirely fictional in nature, that aviation safety is no laughing matter, and that agricultural aviators are professionals who would never operate an agricultural or any other aircraft impaired. We can’t undo the article, but we can counter the message with the truth about the agricultural aviation industry.  Also, please check news sources before becoming alarmed.  There are many satirical news sites such as The Onion, World Daily News, Babylon Bee, etc.

Activists Petitions Move Forward in Oregon with Aerial Application Restrictions for State Ballot Measure

This year, there has been a flurry of initiative petition activity in Oregon.

 

In September, the Secretary of State Bev Clarno rejected three anti-forestry initiative petitions 35, 36, and 37 for violating the single subject rule of the Oregon Constitution. The Oregon Secretary of State is granted exclusive authority in determining whether initiative petitions have followed the required constitutional process. The petitioners challenged that decision in court. Right before Thanksgiving, a Marion County Circuit Court judge ruled in her favor. The activist groups have already filed to appeal the ruling.

 

Also, in response to the Secretary of State’s constitutional determination, the petitioners filed three additional measures with some minor revisions:

 

IP 45

• Establishes 100 ft harvest buffers on fishbearing streams and 50 ft buffers most other waterways.
• Notification of pesticide applications 14-21 days prior to an application to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). ODF shall send notice to any person who has requested notification and has a physical address within one mile of the proposed application.
• Establishes a 500 ft aerial application buffer for any water on forestland.
• Takes 2/3 of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute’s revenue and reallocates to enforcing the measure and fire suppression to protect forest waters.

IP 46

• Notification of pesticide applications 14-21 days prior to an application to ODF. ODF shall send notice to any person who has requested notification and has a physical address within one mile of the proposed application.
• Establishes a 500 ft aerial application buffer for any water on forestland.

IP 47

• Establishes 100 ft harvest buffers on fishbearing streams and 50 ft buffers most other waterways.

Each of these measures exempt federal and tribal lands.

 

Last week the Oregon Secretary of State approved these three proposed statewide ballot measures that would impose unreasonable restrictions on pesticide use, including aerial application, such as the 500 ft aerial application buffer for any water on forestland. The measures are currently going through the ballot drafting process, which will take a couple of months.

 

112,020 signatures will be required to qualify for the November 2020 ballot. Signatures must be turned into the Secretary of State by July 2, 2020.

 

Oregon’s forest industry has also filed three measures, none of which directly related to pesticides, to balance this statewide discussion.

 

NAAA will continue to work with various local, state and national stakeholders, including Oregonians for Food and Shelter, to ensure these unreasonable proposals do to not become public law.

NAAA Advocates for Strong Commercial UAV Training Standards on FAA Exemption Request

Last week NAAA submitted comments on an exemption request from Moog Inc. to the FAA detailing why commercial UAV users must hold commercial pilot certificates.  Moog Inc. is seeking permission to operate a UAV over 55 pounds for commercial purposes with only a Part 107 remote pilot certificate. NAAA commented that the additional hours required to earn an advanced pilot license required for commercial operations is justified since commercial operations are more complicated than pleasure flights. A higher class of license is justified because this requirement increases safety in the National Airspace System, and safety should not be compromised. UAV’s will be operating within airspace shared by manned aircraft, who need to be assured that UAV pilots are competent at operating their aircraft.

 

Furthermore, NAAA Moog Inc. does not describe what type of commercial activity it seeks to undertake with this exemption. “The public cannot fully evaluate the risk associated with this petition when it does not know what type of commercial activity will take place, or the specifications and operational limitations of the UAV itself. The petition only states operations will take place below 400 feet AGL in Class G airspace within visual line of sight,” the comments read.  

 

“The petitioner and the FAA must recognize agricultural aircraft primarily operate under 400 feet AGL, ferrying to and from the job site at 500 feet AGL. Every other phase of the flight is conducted below 400 feet AGL, with the aircraft as low as 10 feet off the ground at speeds of up to 140 mph during an application pass, making UAVs a collision risk, as previously stated in these comments.”

 

You can read NAAA’s full comments here.

2019 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Photos Available for Sale

 

Hundreds of photos from the 2019 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in Orlando are available for viewing and purchase from NAAA’s official convention photographer, Randy Thompson Photography. An online gallery has been set up at RandyThompsonPhotos.com where photos can be purchased individually as 5” x 7” prints ($5 per print) or you can get the entire collection on a commemorative convention CD for just $30.

 

Visit RandyThompsonPhotos.com and click on the “NAAA 2019 Orlando” photo gallery to view the photos and find your favorite keepsakes from the event-filled 2019 NAAA Expo. If you have trouble completing a purchase through the photographer’s online store or simply need further assistance, please contact Randy Thompson at (912) 398-2093 or randyphoto@att.net.

How Would You Rate the 2019 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo? Please Tell Us by Dec. 20!

Thank you to the attendees and exhibitors for joining us for the 2019 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in Orlando last week.

 

We are continually working to improve our education sessions, networking, trade show and the programs/services offered to attendees. Click the link below to complete the short survey so that we have substantive input to help us continue to improve future Ag Aviation Expos. Please complete the survey by Dec. 20, 2019.

Attendee survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019expoattendee

 

Exhibitor Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019naaaexhibitors

 

All responses are anonymous, but if you wish to share further details, please contact Lindsay Barber, NAAA’s Director of Meetings, Marketing & Special Projects. Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to complete this important survey and we look forward to seeing you Dec. 7‒10, 2020, in Savannah.

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. 
• 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.
  

Consider a Year-End Tax-Deductible NAAREF Donation

 

Thank you for being a 2019 NAAA member. We appreciate your support. As the year comes to an end, we hope you will consider a donation to support the National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation (NAAREF) programs, which include PAASS and Operation S.A.F.E., were designed and are succeeding in promoting safety and environmental professionalism to the aerial application industry.  Without successful NAAREF educational programs it's unquestionable that the regulatory requirements facing us would be more rigorous. Unfortunately, and ironically, due to a decrease in government support, NAAREF is behind on fund-raising goals and needs your support. 

 

NAAREF programs save lives, enhance our industry's reputation, enable insurance discounts and help us meet regulatory requirements for certification.  Since it first hit the stage in 1998, PAASS—the Professional Aerial Applicators' Support System—has reduced our accidents by 23% and drift complaints by 25.8%. It is also recognized by a number of government agencies, including the EPA, FAA, NTSB, and individual state lead pesticide agencies. You can make a donation by clicking here.

 

Compaass Rose provides professional support and direction to new agricultural aviation pilots and helps to recruit new blood into the industry. It was recently updated to provide a better forum for both new and experienced ag pilots. Operation S.A.F.E. (Self-regulating Application & Flight Efficiency) clinics ensure aircraft provide on-target applications and demonstrate our professionalism to our customers and the public. These are just a handful of the programs NAAREF offers the industry.  

 

But again, to ensure their high-quality and continuance, we need your help. With government support no longer available, we have lost 14 percent of the revenue needed to offer NAAREF programs. We need to increase the amount of charitable donations from individuals and companies such as yourself in order to make up for the loss. You can make a donation by clicking here.

 

Please donate now to help support NAAREF programs and cultivate education, safety, and technology advancements in the industry. They save lives, reduce drift incidents, demonstrate the professionalism of the aerial application industry, and can help stave off additional government regulations.

NAAA and NAAREF Board Meetings Feb. 13-15

We look forward to seeing you Feb. 13-15 at the NAAA and NAAREF Board Meetings. All meetings are open to NAAA members. The Westin Alexandria will host our February board meetings. Click here for a schedule of events.

 

Westin Old Town Alexandria

Address: 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314

 

Rate: $153/night plus tax

 

Reservations: Book your room online here.

Room Block Closes: Jan. 13, 2020. Room rates will be higher after block closes and we cannot guarantee rooms after this date.

 

The Westin Alexandria is a three block walk from the King Street Metro stop (take either Blue or Yellow Line), which is the second stop south of Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). You can view a map of the metro system here  

Air Tractor Continuing Aircraft Maintenance Courses with Several 2020 Dates

Air Tractor Inc. is continuing a series of training courses designed to enhance the knowledge of aircraft maintenance technicians working with Air Tractor airframes and powerplant systems equipped on their aircraft.

 

“Knowledge is power. The better a technician knows his or her aircraft, the more accurate, safe and economical their work will be,” said Brian Hahn, director of training and education at Air Tractor.

 

Air Tractor Director of Training and Education Brian Hahn

Air Tractor is offering four Aircraft Familiarization classes in 2020 at its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Olney, Texas. The dates are:

• January 20-24, 2020
• May 11-15, 2020
• July 13-17, 2020
• November 9-13, 2020

The course is designed to familiarize maintenance technicians with Air Tractor airframe characteristics, structures, flight controls and systems as well as Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 powerplant systems found on Air Tractor products. There will also be some hands-on time for processes that are commonly and repetitively performed on an Air Tractor aircraft.

 

The familiarization courses will allow attendees to address specific challenges they may have encountered and provide plenty of opportunities for one-on-one interaction with the instructors. Air Tractor would like to limit the class size to no more than 10 to 12 students at any one time.

 

The training program was designed by Hahn, an aviation industry veteran with an extensive training background. Air Tractor hired Hahn in late 2018 to develop maintenance training for its external customers. He also serves as the safety manager for Air Tractor and provides training to its internal workforce.

 

While the courses will be taught at its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Olney, Texas, classes can also be conducted at customer facilities upon request.

 

“Sometimes it makes better sense economically for an instructor to come to the customer instead of making customers come to Olney,” Hahn said. “We’ll go where we’re needed.”

 

Course schedule and enrollment information is available at AirTractor.com/training.

NAAA Holiday Office Hours

In preparation for the upcoming holiday, we would like to remind you our offices will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25. In celebration of New Year’s, our office will also be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 31, and Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. NAAA wishes all its members a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to continuing to serving you in 2020!

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.