FAA Won’t Enforce Medical Certificates Expiring Now Until June’s End; Check with Insurer First to Ensure Coverage; Regardless, Schedule Your Airman Medical Exam ASAP

The FAA has published a notice the agency will take no legal enforcement action against pilots or flight crew members with medical certificates expiring between March 31 and June 30, 2020. This is being done to reduce pressure on the medical system as the nation deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. The notice applies to 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd class medical certificates.

 

Ag aviators need to be mindful, however, that the FAA did not state that the duration of medical certificates will be extended. For that reason it is important for those with medical certificates expiring between March 31 and June 30 to check with your insurance broker and underwriter to verify you will still be insured if a situation occurs at this time resulting in having to file a claim. 

 

Aircraft insurance policies typically state, “The coverage afforded hereunder shall not apply unless the aircraft is operated in flight by the following pilots provided that they hold the proper and current medical and pilot certificates with the appropriate ratings and qualifications required under the current FAA regulations which apply to the flight involved.” Accordingly, while a pilot flying with an expired medical certificate may not be subject to an FAA enforcement action, they may indeed be in violation of the pilot warranty on their insurance policy. 

 

As such, if your insurance policy requires a “proper and current medical certificate” have your insurance broker contact your insurance company underwriter and request an endorsement to your policy, for some period of time, if you are unable to obtain a medical. NAAA also recommends ag aviators still renew their medical certificates if they are able make an appointment with an Aviation Medical Examiner.

You can read details of the announcement here. NAAA, along with other aviation organizations, urged the FAA to provide this extension due to medical facilities focusing on treating COVID-19 and inability to handle other medical related services at this time.

 

Additional resources for ag aviators regarding the COVID-19 pandemic can be found at www.agaviation.org/covidresources.

Get the Latest information on COVID-19 Public Policy and How it Effects the Aerial Application Industry

As we continue to experience the impact of the coronavirus on our lives, many aerial applicators have questions about the status of licensing, what is an essential service and other regulatory issues. NAAA has been successful working with government agencies in designating crop input services, such as aerial application, as an essential service and preventing enforcement actions and/or extending expiration dates for expired licenses.  We have prepared the following information to help sort through what’s happening:

 

1) FAA Medical Certification: The FAA issued a policy that suspends enforcement against individuals with 1st, 2nd or 3rd class medical certificates expiring between March 31 and June 30, 2020. Make sure to check with your insurance underwriter to ensure you are covered if your licensed expired during this timeframe and a situation occurs resulting in having to file a claim. More information can be found here.

 

2) Aerial Application Essential Services

a.Crop input services, such as aerial application, have been deemed critical infrastructure industries by the federal government, which means they shall continue without any disruption.

 

b. You should provide a document for everyone at your operation to carry on their person that clarifies you are an employee of a critical infrastructure industry; NAAA has prepared examples in Word and PDF that you can print on your company letterhead. This can be presented to law enforcement in the event an employee is stopped in a shelter in place or similar area.

 

c. Check TFRs. Air support may yet play a role in fighting the coronavirus and TFRs may be needed in the event of large-scale aerial supply operations.

 

d. At this time there are no plans by the FAA to shut down the national airspace.

3) Pesticide applicator licensing

a. NAAA is in communication with the EPA requesting they allow states to relax recertification guidelines until we move past coronavirus-related shutdowns.

 

b. Many states have already provided guidance on how they are dealing with pesticide recertification during the pandemic. The states are listed in no particular order; use your browsers “find” feature to locate your state on the page.

4) Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL)

a. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has suspended truckers’ service hours until April 12, 2020, or until the end of the emergency for drivers providing services related to the coronavirus response. NAAA has joined an industry letter asking this waiver be extended to all commercial drivers in the agricultural supply chain, including driver supporting aerial application operations.

 

b. FMCSA has issued a waiver until June 30, 2020, for States, CDL Holders, CLP Holders and Interstate Drivers Operating Commercial Motor Vehicles that covers multiple items including CDL renewals, CLP holders and medical examination and certification.

5)  Federal aid from Congress’ $2 Trillion Coronavirus Stimulus Package may help your operation.

a. It includes more than $350 billion to aid small businesses

 

b. It provides an unemployment insurance extension to four months, bolstered by $600 weekly.

7) If you need to contact your state government, NAAA has prepared a list of governors, chiefs of staff and legislative directors with contact information for all 50 states.

 

NAAA is here to answer any of your questions during these disruptive times. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for what you do to ensure a safe, affordable and abundant supply of food, fiber and biofuel for the world.

Spring 2020 Issue of Agricultural Aviation Now Online!

The Spring 2020 issue of Agricultural Aviation is now available online and in the Agricultural Aviation Magazine App. The new issue includes a cover story on ADS-B use by agricultural aviators, a comprehensive review of the 2019-20 PAASS Program, an analysis of NAAA’s ag aviation relationship survey exploring the role relationships play in pilot safety, a story of love, life and loss from a crop duster’s wife, a back-to-the-basics guide to understanding droplet size production, and much more!

 

Highlights of the Spring 2020 issue include:

• ADS-B for Ag Aviators: Are You In or Out?
• Don’t PAASS Up Safety in 2020: 2019–20 PAASS Review
• Safety Begins at Home: Ag Aviation Relationship Survey
• A Crop Duster’s Wife, Always
• Ag Aviation Insurance Market Update
• A Back-to-the-Basics Guide to Understanding Droplet Size Production
• FAA Issues List of Go/No Go Nonprescription Medications
• President’s Message: Be Careful What You Reveal
• CEO’s Message: Sustainability Gains Sustenance
• NAAREF President’s Message: Stay Sharp by Honing Your Flying Skills

How to get the Most from your Digital Edition

All online editions of Agricultural Aviation, starting with the Spring 2017 issue, are available in two reading formats: Replica and Mobile-optimized for easy reading on your phone. Use the buttons on the navigation bar to get the most from your digital edition.

 

Contents button: The Contents button or hamburger icon hides or displays the table of contents. Scroll through it to jump to the articles that interest you the most.

Reading/Page View: Smartphone readers, this feature is for you! Click on the Page View and Reading View (or Text) buttons to toggle between replica and mobile-optimized versions of an article.

Share: Click the Share button to share articles with friends and associates on Facebook, Twitter and via email.

Improved Search: NAAA’s digital edition now features additional search functionality. In Page View and Reading View, search will display two options: an easy-to-use search within the issue, and an option for a more in-depth search of all issues. To access the search box, open the contents tab by clicking on the hamburger icon. The search box is up top, below the masthead.

You can also access Agricultural Aviation’s library of back issues by clicking the Issue Library button.

Get the Free Agricultural Aviation App

If you haven’t installed the free Agricultural Aviation Magazine App on your smartphone or tablet, you are missing out on a great way to tap into a library’s worth of Agricultural Aviation issues in the palm of your hand. Download the Agricultural Aviation Magazine App and see how easy and enjoyable it is to use. The app is compatible with all Apple,Google and Amazon mobile devices and can be downloaded from their respective app stores by searching “Agricultural Aviation Magazine.” Enable push notifications to be alerted when new digital editions are published and to receive occasional notifications about pertinent articles.

FAA Releases Best Practices Safety Alert for 14 CFR Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operations

The FAA has released a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) for 14 CFR Part 137 Operations that provides information on the best practices for agricultural aircraft operations. SAFO 20004, dated March 20, 2020, is part of the FAA’s response to the NTSB’s Special Investigation Report (SIR) on the safety of agricultural aircraft operations. The SIR recommended that the FAA work with NAAA and NAAREF to reduce hazards associated with agricultural aviation. The SAFO covers fatigue recognition and prevention, pre-flight planning, and knowledge and skills. The SAFO highlights recommendations from two prior Advisory Circulars:

1. Advisory Circular 137-1B, Certification Process for Agricultural Aircraft Operators
2. Advisory Circular 120-100, Basics of Aviation Fatigue

To help deal with the fatigue associated with agricultural aviation, SAFO 20004 recommends establishing a bedtime routine and getting eight hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. It also advises ag aviators to take breaks and naps when possible. Recommendations related to pre-flight planning include conducting pre-flight and in-flight surveys, fuel management, flight and weather information, weight and balance, and flight maneuvers during application. The knowledge and skills portion of the SAFO provides a summary of all the requirements that pilots must satisfy for Part 137 operations.

 

NAAA and NAAREF have already successfully responded to NTSB’s SIR with multiple accomplishments. Many of the items listed in the SIR were addressed in NAAA/NAAREF’s Professional Operating Guidelines booklet that is available to NAAA member and non-member pilots and operators. A brochure titled “Combatting Fatigue in Ag Aviation” was distributed by NAAA and NAAREF to all pilots and operators, both member and non-member. The May/June 2015 issue of Agricultural Aviation was dedicated to fatigue in agricultural aviation. Three separate Human Factors modules in the PAASS Program have covered three of the SIR topics: fatigue, risk management in agricultural aviation and maintenance-related agricultural aviation accidents. NAAA and NAAREF will continue to work with the NTSB and FAA to reduce agricultural aviation accidents.

Final Call for Aircraft Exhibitors for 2020 Ag Aviation Expo

 Join us at the 2020 Ag Aviation Expo in Savannah Dec. 7–10 for the premier trade show for agricultural aviation, great networking opportunities and a terrific lineup of speakers and events! Exhibiting is a great opportunity to get your company in front of the agricultural aviation industry and reach a targeted and nationwide audience of aerial applicators in North America; an audience that is responsible for applying 28% of crop protection products to commercial cropland in the U.S.

 

Everyone loves Savannah and as an exhibitor, the Ag Aviation Expo offers you the opportunity to network with 1,600 operators, pilots and other attendees associated with the industry.

 

We are currently placing aircraft on the NAAA Trade Show floor. Savannah is a popular aircraft destination! Floor space for aircraft is first come, first served and any additional aircraft that don’t fit in the hall, can be placed outside in Bryan Square. Please contact Lindsay Barber if you plan to exhibit an aircraft at the Ag Aviation Expo, as well as the number of aircraft that you plan to exhibit.  

 

The aircraft exhibitor cost is $610 for each aircraft, plus the cost of the booth size of your choice (i.e. 10’x10’, 10’x20’ or an island attached or across from your aircraft space). All 2020 Exhibitor pricing is located here.

 

Aircraft Exhibitor Schedule:

• Saturday, Dec. 5 – Meeting at 4 p.m. for pilots who are flying aircraft in on Sunday.
• Sunday, Dec. 6 (early morning) – Aircraft land onto Westin property and move into convention center
• Monday, Dec. 7 – Exhibitor Setup 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 8 – Exhibitor Setup 8–11:30 a.m. and NAAA Trade Show Hours 12–5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 9 – Trade Show Hours 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and teardown 4–10 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 10 (early morning) – Aircraft out of Savannah Convention Center and fly out.

For more information, contact Lindsay Barber by email or phone at (202) 546-5722.

 

 

Save the Date for the 2020 Ag Aviation Expo

• Dates: Dec. 7–10, 2020
• Location: Savannah Convention Center. Some events will also take place at the Westin, which is located directly next to the convention center.
• Schedule of Events: Current schedule here. Subject to change.
• Hotel: Hotel Details Below
• Attendee Registration: Opens July 1
• Exhibitor Booth Sales: Large booth sales and Diamond sponsorship booth sales begin in March; this includes aircraft, islands and 10’x30'. 10'x10' and 10'x20' booth sales open on Thursday, July 9. Please email Lindsay if you’d like to be contacted regarding large booth space.
• Sponsorship Opportunities: Sponsorships are now available. View the opportunities online. Please email Lindsay if you would like to secure a sponsorship from last year or would like to be contacted about 2020 opportunities! We have sponsorships available for all budget sizes.
• 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, we are already accepting donations for the Live and Silent Auction. The earlier you inform us of your auction donation, the more advertising you’ll receive on the NAAA website and in NAAA publications. Support the aerial application industry by donating an item today. Email Lindsay with your donation details.

Book Your Hotel Room

The 2020 NAAA hotel room block is coordinated through Visit Savannah, which is the Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Housing office. Please do not call the hotels directly; use the link and/or phone number below to book your room. Rooms are available at the Westin Savannah Harbor (directly next to the convention center), Hyatt Regency Savannah and Savannah Marriott Riverfront hotels (across the river from the convention center and Westin – transportation provided). All room blocks close Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. ET.

• Westin Savannah Harbor: $150/night plus taxes
• Westin Cancellation: For each reservation cancelled after Oct. 30, 2020, a nonrefundable one night room + tax will be charged to the credit card on file. Guests who check out early (prior to the reserved check out date) will be assessed one full night’s room charge plus taxes.
• Hyatt Regency Savannah: $148/night plus taxes
• Savannah Marriott Riverfront: $142/night plus taxes

All room rates above are single/double occupancy and do not include taxes.

 

Book your room today by clicking here, call the housing bureau at (912) 644-6465 or email reservations@visitsavannah.com. Please note reservations are taken over the phone Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. If you cannot call during those hours, please email your reservations details or book your room online here.

Complimentary Transportation & River Taxis

Getting across the river is quick and easy thanks to the free ferry service that will shuttle attendees back and forth throughout the day and evening. The Savannah Belles Ferry provides water transportation from the Hyatt and the Marriott to the convention center and Westin hotel. The trip takes five to 10 minutes, and ferry service will be continual during convention hours; schedule will be available onsite. Free shuttle bus service is also available for those who are not comfortable on the water.

James Bradley to Speak at Kickoff Breakfast on Dec. 7

Author of Flags of Our Fathers and FLYBOYS,celebrated historian, inspiring storyteller, and New York Times best-selling author James Bradley will speak at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Kickoff Breakfast on Monday, Dec. 7 at the Westin Savannah Harbor. September 2, 2020 marks the 75th Commemoration of the End of World War II; a war that took the lives of over 405,000 U.S. military personnel. It is only fitting that we honor those brave men and women on this hallowed anniversary with James Bradley’s words of tribute to the Greatest Generation.  Bradley wrote the World War II book—Flags of Our Fathers—about the battle of Iwo Jima which became a worldwide bestseller and a movie produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Clint Eastwood. As a noted World War II scholar and expert on the war in the Pacific, Bradley's speech is a moving testament to the men and women who do the "impossible" every day.

 

Bradley’s other Pacific book, FLYBOYS, tells the stories of how nine American flyers-Navy and Marine pilots sent to bomb Japanese communications towers there were shot down. One of those nine was miraculously rescued by a U.S. Navy submarine. The others were captured by Japanese soldiers on Chichi Jima and held prisoner. Then they disappeared. The one rescued was George H.W. Bush the 43^rd President of the United States.

 

Today, in 2020, many Americans doubt the country’s ability to come together. Many believe we live in the “Divided States of America.” Bradley takes us back seventy-five years to when men like his father, George H.W. Bush and other heroes of that era epitomized courage, cooperation, sacrifice, and ultimately, victory.

 

Bradley began his love of history as a boy after reading an article by former president Harry Truman recommending that young readers start with historical biographies as a way to learn about people while absorbing the times of their journey. He’s been stuck on history ever since, which is what led him to write his first book about the unknown story behind the Marines who famously raised the flag on Iwo Jima.

 

Other spellbinding bestsellers by Bradley include  The China Mirage: The Hidden History of American Disaster in Asia; and The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War.

Save the Date for the 2020 Ag Aviation Expo

• Dates: Dec. 7-10, 2020
• Location: Savannah Convention Center. Some events will also take place at the Westin, which is located directly next to the convention center.
• Schedule of Events: Current schedule here. Subject to change.
• Hotel: Hotel Details Below
• Attendee Registration: Opens July 1
• Exhibitor Booth Sales: Large booth sales and Diamond sponsorship booth sales begin in March; this includes aircraft, islands and 10’x30'. 10'x10' and 10'x20' booth sales open on Thursday, July 9. Please email Lindsay if you’d like to be contacted regarding large booth space.
• Sponsorship Opportunities: Sponsorships are now available. View the opportunities online. Please email Lindsay if you would like to secure a sponsorship from last year or would like to be contacted about 2020 opportunities! We have sponsorships available for all budget sizes.
• 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, we are already accepting donations for the Live and Silent Auction. The earlier you inform us of your auction donation, the more advertising you’ll receive on the NAAA website and in NAAA publications. Support the aerial application industry by donating an item today. Email Lindsay with your donation details.

Book Your Hotel Room

The 2020 NAAA hotel room block is coordinated through Visit Savannah, which is the Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Housing office. Please do not call the hotels directly; use the link and/or phone number below to book your room. Rooms are available at the Westin Savannah Harbor (directly next to the convention center), Hyatt Regency Savannah and Savannah Marriott Riverfront hotels (across the river from the convention center and Westin – transportation provided). All room blocks close Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. ET.

• Westin Savannah Harbor: $150/night + taxes
• Westin Cancellation: For each reservation cancelled after Oct. 30, 2020, a nonrefundable one night room + tax will be charged to the credit card on file. Guests who check out early (prior to the reserved check out date) will be assessed one full night’s room charge + taxes.
• Hyatt Regency Savannah: $148/night + taxes
• Savannah Marriott Riverfront: $142/night + taxes

All room rates above are single/double occupancy and do not include taxes.

Book your room today by clicking here, call the housing bureau at (912) 644-6465 or email reservations@visitsavannah.com. Please note reservations are taken over the phone Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. If you cannot call during those hours, please email your reservations details or book your room online here.

Complimentary Transportation & River Taxis

Getting across the river is quick and easy thanks to the free ferry service that will shuttle attendees back and forth throughout the day and evening. The Savannah Belles Ferry provides water transportation from the Hyatt and the Marriott to the convention center and Westin hotel. The trip takes five to 10 minutes, and ferry service will be continual during convention hours; schedule will be available onsite. Free shuttle bus service is also available for those who are not comfortable on the water.

Request for Information: FAA Seeks Manned Aviator Input on UAS Remote Identification

The FAA has put out a Request for Information (RFI) to the manned aviation community regarding how they can potentially receive and use UAS remote tracking ID information to further enhance safety by reducing collision risks at low altitudes.  Responses to the RFI are due to the FAA on April 16. 

 

NAAA submitted comments to the FAA on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the tracking and ID of UAVs. This RFI is separate from the NPRM and responses will not be recorded in the NPRMs official docket.

 

We highly encourage NAAA members to participate in this RFI to ensure the FAA makes UAS tracking and ID regulations effective by fully understanding the cockpit workloads and work environment of ag aviators.

 

 If you chose to participate, please email your responses to the questions below to Kristin.T.Frantz@faa.gov by 3:00 p.m. ET on April 16, 2020. Responses are not to exceed five pages.

 

Here are additional resources to help you more fully answer the RFI:

• Additional details on the FAA’s RFI
• Tracking and ID NPRM
• Tracking and ID NPRM summery
• NAAA comments on Tracking and ID NPRM

RFI Topics and Questions

1. Describe your role in any recent aviation standards, policy, or demonstration activities within the commercial or government arena.

 

2. In consideration of the requirements of the NPRM (for standard and limited Remote ID UAS), describe your concept for how low level manned aircraft can receive or use UAS Remote ID information to increase safety, relative (but not limited) to the following:

 

a. minimize risk of collisions

 

b. verify UAS sightings

 

c. for Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA), verify that airspace is clear enroute and at possible landing zones 

 

d. for aerial applicators, verify that agriculture fields are clear of UAS activity

 

e. verify that airfields are clear of UAS activity

 

3. Describe your approach to the challenge of gaining widespread voluntary participation by manned aircraft.

 

4. How can government and industry work together with respect to the low altitude manned aviator needs associated with Remote ID?

 

5. What additional technical standards, procedures, avionics or other capabilities are needed to facilitate manned aircraft voluntary participation with Remote ID information?

 

6. From a performance perspective, what are the UAS Remote ID participation pros and cons?

 

7.  From a scalability perspective, what are the UAS Remote ID participation pros and cons? 

 

8. How might Remote ID data be integrated with ADS-B and other surveillance sources for greater air traffic awareness? 

 

9. How could Remote ID be used by low level manned aircraft to support public safety, law enforcement, and security related air operations?

 

10. What, if any, costs or cost savings do you foresee for the concept you describe?

FAA’s Annual General Aviation Survey is Underway

The Federal Aviation Administration’s 42nd annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (GA Survey) is now underway, reporting on calendar year 2019. The GA Survey is the only source of information on the general aviation fleet, the number of hours flown, and the ways people use general aviation aircraft. Please help our industry and aviation in general by providing accurate information to the FAA.

 

If you are selected to participate in this year’s survey, you will receive either an email or postcard invitation to complete the GA Survey soon. You may complete the survey online, or a survey form will be mailed to you along with a postage-paid envelope. Your participation is voluntary, but the aerial application industry needs your help. NAAA encourages everyone who is contacted to respond to the survey so that agricultural aviation activity is accurately represented. Please respond even if you did not fly your aircraft during 2019, sold it, or if the aircraft was damaged.

 

Data from this survey are used by governmental agencies and industry to:

• Compute safety metrics, such as fatal accidents rates
• Understand the impact of the GA industry on jobs, economic output, and investments in aviation infrastructure
• Track the success of safety initiatives, including avionics recommendations
• Determine funding for infrastructure and service needs
• Assess the impact of regulatory changes

Of particular importance to the aerial application industry is using the GA survey data to calculate an accurate accident rate for our industry, which is valuable for demonstrating the continuously improving safety of aerial application. To do that, the FAA needs an accurate tally of the hours flown in 2019. It only takes 10-15 minutes to complete the survey, which you can do online or on a survey form that will be mailed to you with a postage-paid envelope. Or, call Tetra Tech toll-free at 1-800-826-1797. The information is confidential and will only be used for statistical purposes and will not be published or released in any form that would reveal an individual participant.

NAAHOF Accepting Nominations for 2021 Induction into Hall of Fame

The National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame (NAAHOF) Nomination Board has changed its procedure for evaluating candidates for induction into the NAA Hall of Fame. Under the policy change, the Nominations Board will consider individuals one year before their induction to allow more time to deliberate on NAAHOF nominees’ credentials. NAAHOF has updated its nomination form accordingly and is accepting nominations for people who would be inducted in 2021. Nominations to be considered for induction into NAAHOF in 2021 are by due Sept. 1, 2020. The 2021 NAAHOF Candidate Nomination Form is available here.

 

The National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame is located in the National Agricultural Aviation (NAA) Museum in Jackson, Mississippi. The purpose of the NAA Museum is to educate the general public about the contributions of the agricultural aviation industry. Induction into the NAA Hall of Fame is the highest honor that can be paid to agricultural aviation achievers. The Hall of Fame honors agricultural aviation leaders, pilots, operators, scientists, engineers, inventors and other individuals who have helped promote the agricultural aviation industry with their outstanding contributions.

 

The National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame is not affiliated with NAAA, but new members are inducted at the Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet at NAAA’s convention. Previous inductees include such industry-shaping individuals as Lt. John A. Macready, Dick Reade, Fred Ayres and Leland Snow. A complete list of enshrined members into the NAA Hall of Fame is available on NAAA’s Industry Links webpage.

Eligibility for NAAHOF Enshrinement

1. All nominations must be documented. All information that has to do with the reasons/accomplishments of the nominee must accompany the written/typed nomination letter. The utmost attention should be paid to all accomplishments of the nominee.
2. A nominee must have made a significant contribution to the agricultural aviation industry in the United States. Accomplishments must be national in scope.
3. Any person currently sitting on this Nominations Board is automatically ineligible for consideration for enshrinement to the NAAHOF until such time as they are no longer an active part of the governing process of this institution.
4. Any person nominated for enshrinement must not have anything in their past which will reflect in a negative manner upon the agricultural aviation industry.

The NAAHOF Nomination Board is chaired by Brian Rau. NAAHOF nominations may be sent directly to the chairman at:

Brian Rau

4142 57th Avenue SE

Medina, ND 58467

medinaflying@aol.com

For more information, please contact Brian Rau at (701) 486-3414 or medinaflying@aol.com.

Want to Win Thousands in Educational Scholarships? Enter Our Support Scholarship Contest!

Attention, higher-education students: Don’t miss out on the opportunity to compete for a combined $3,000 in educational scholarships. The deadline for the 2020 Support Scholarship Essay Contest is Sept. 15. The NAAA Support Committee will award a $2,000 scholarship as top prize and Covington Aircraft Engines has generously agreed to sponsor a $1,000 scholarship.

 

The theme for this year’s contest is “Why is Agricultural Aviation Important?”  The scholarship is not restricted to pursuing a “flying career.” Any educational pursuit beyond high school (at any age) is eligible. The competition is open to all NAAA members and their family members.

 

Entrants must be a senior in high school or be registered in higher education by the fall semester of 2020.  Previous winners are not eligible to compete. Submissions must be an essay of at least 1,500 words or a 5-minute multi-media presentation. Submissions should be sent as an email attachment by Sept. 15 to information@agaviation.org. More information about eligibility requirements, contest guidelines and sample essays from past scholarship recipients are available online here.

NAAA’s ‘Ag Wings of Tomorrow’ Scholarship is Back with $20K Available in ’20

Attention, operators and aspiring ag pilots: The NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship is back! Thanks to the generous support of BASF and Thrush Aircraft, $20,000 in aid is available via the 2020 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program to assist four aspiring ag pilots in their journey.

 

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.

 

NAAA awarded $5,000 scholarships to four aspiring ag pilots at the 2019 Ag Aviation Expo. From L–R, NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship recipients Caleb Swanson, Raudel Mendoza, Liam Zahm and Jacob Radermacher.

How to Apply

To be considered for the 2020 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 2020 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarships in December at the Ag Aviation Expo in Savannah. Last year NAAA awarded $5,000 scholarships to four young individuals who represent the future of ag aviation: Raudel Mendoza of Sunray, Texas, Jacob Radermacher of Shipshewana, Indiana, Caleb Swanson of Canton, South Dakota, and Liam Zahm of Marne, Michigan.

 

To learn more about the 2020 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship, please review the instructions included with the 2020 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 the 2020 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship is Aug. 31.