May 12, 2022
NAAA eNewsletter

NAAA Sends Preventative Letter to FAA Administrator Nolen to Defang Aviation Safety Compromises Recommended by Drone BVLOS ARC

In March, the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) studying ways to allow for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)—where a drone operator cannot see the drone with the naked eye—submitted its report with recommendations to the agency. NAAA has digested the report and sent a letter this week to FAA Administrator Billy Nolen pointing out the serious aviation safety concerns the ARC’s recommendations would have to manned pilots flying in low-altitude airspace.


In the letter, NAAA included statistics on the great value aerial application provides to agriculture, forestry and public health. It also explained the severe aviation risks that UAS flying BVLOS in the 10- to 500-foot AGL airspace pose to manned, low-altitude aircraft flying in the same airspace, particularly when the UAS may weigh up to 1,320 pounds (about the size and speed of a Piper J3 Cub), no longer be required to provide right of way if manned aircraft are not equipped with ADS-B technology, and be permitted to fly BVLOS without giving right of way or being ADS-B technology equipped when operating in “Shielded Areas.”

 

The ARC’s definition of a shielded area is a “volume of airspace that includes 100 feet above the vertical extent of an obstacle or critical infrastructure and is within 100 feet of the lateral extent of the same obstacle or critical infrastructure…” The ARC defined an obstacle as “any object of natural growth, terrain, or permanent or temporary construction or alteration, including equipment or materials used and any permanent or temporary apparatus.” In this volume of airspace, UAS do not need to have ADS-B or other means to detect manned aircraft (MA) because, according to the ARC report, manned aircraft do not operate in this airspace. NAAA responded in the letter stating, “This claim is dumbfoundingly inaccurate … it is the exact space that aerial applicators operate in when performing their mission treating cropland bordered by trees, utility poles, within 100 feet AGL and the like.” Included in the letter was a GPS printout satellite map of manned aircraft swaths to cropland surrounded by obstacles (see illustration below).

 


The figure above shows the proximity of ag aircraft working next to obstacles. The color lines represent the flight tracks of ag aircraft while making applications, including the individual spray passes and turns. The lines extending off the image to the left are ferry flights to and from the application sites. The blue circles indicate the location of obstacles taken from the FAA’s DOF (Digital Obstacle File) database and clearly demonstrate the proximity to obstacles within which ag aircraft operate.


NAAA also stated that other manned aircraft besides agricultural aircraft also operate in the 500-foot AGL airspace or below to properly perform their missions, such as emergency medical services, law enforcement, fire suppression, wildlife surveys, powerline patrol and others. These operations occur in a task-saturated environment for pilots due to the numerous existing obstructions, including wires, towers and terrain. BVLOS operations would add to the saturation by concentrating more aircraft in that airspace.

 

NAAA also stated that the current relatively small size of UAS makes visual detection nearly impossible and referenced the 2015 Colorado Agricultural Aviation Association tests conducted to see if manned agricultural aircraft, both fixed-wing and rotor, could locate a drone over a field. The results were that of four fixed-wing aircraft pilots, only one could locate the UAS and could only do so for a few seconds. The only helicopter, which included a pilot and a visual observer, found the UAS but reported that it was extremely difficult to maintain visual contact. NAAA followed up the point to make the case that it would be perilous for drones not to always be mandated to give way to manned aircraft by stating that for “a low-altitude manned aircraft to visually track a darting … [UAS] while also avoiding ground affixed objects and performing either a policing, application, search, and rescue, etc. task is impossible and a safety hazard.”

An FAA ARC makes recommendations, not policy. The agency takes into account ARC reports and recommendations before proceeding with draft policy. The recommendations from this FAA UAS BVLOS ARC were not unanimously supported. Helicopter Association International, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association and Air Line Pilots Association voted against the ARC’s recommendations and were just a few of the manned aircraft organizations asked to serve on the FAA UAS BVLOS ARC. NAAA served on the FAA UAS Remote ID ARC in 2017 and co-signed a minority report that urged the agency to require drones from 0.5 pounds or greater to be equipped with remote ID (RID) technology. That requirement was ultimately included in the final RID rule. To read the full NAAA letter to FAA Administrator Nolen, click here.

NAAA Member Doug Thiel Discuses Ag Aviation on ‘Pilots, Props and Planes’

NAAA member Doug Thiel discussed his career as an agricultural aviator on Pilots, Props and Planes, a show airing on public television in the San Joaquin Valley of central California. The agricultural aviation segment also highlighted the significance of the century-old industry to farmers and consumers.



Thiel owns Thiel Air Care in Chowchilla, California. During a sit-down interview with host Bill Vasilovich, Thiel discussed how he got into the agricultural aviation profession, why making aerial applications at night is common in central California, the advantages of aerial application, particularly for tree crops like almonds and pistachios grown in San Joaquin Valley—“With 80% of their crop being in the top 25% of the canopy of the tree, that’s where we are most effective,” he explained—the G-forces ag pilots experience, how the hands-on, stick-and-rudder nature of flying an ag aircraft is aided by technology in the cockpit, how one might become an ag pilot, and finally how his Air Tractor AT-802 came to supply the sound of Dusty Crophopper’s engine in the Disney films Planes and Planes: Fire & Rescue.


“That was really a fun experience,” Thiel told Vasilovich. “My grandkids have a little Dusty Crophopper toy that is sold around the world [where] the sound is my engine. That’s kind of cool.”

The episode of Pilots, Props and Planes is available for viewing here (enter password PPPEp4 to access it).

 

From start to finish, the segment is arguably one of the best media pieces on ag aviation you will ever see. NAAA commends Thiel for a job well done promoting the aerial application profession!


Pilots, Props and Planes informs and educates viewers about different aviation sectors. It only airs in the San Joaquin Valley/central California area at present, but the show’s executive producer informs NAAA that the program will soon be streaming across the country, and it will have national distribution by late fall. Another episode on agricultural aviation is planned for Pilots, Props and Planes’ second season in 2023. Underwriting opportunities are also available for season 2.

Ag Aviation Expo Sponsorships Available—Boost Your Company’s Brand!

Join us for the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee, Dec. 5-8. Sponsorship sales are open for this year’s convention, where we’re expecting a large crowd at this new Ag Aviation Expo location. Branding at the Ag Aviation Expo is a great opportunity to get your message in front of the agricultural aviation industry and reach a targeted and nationwide audience of aerial applicators in North America—an audience responsible for applying 28% of crop protection products to commercial cropland in the U.S.
 
Take advantage of getting your company name in front of the expected 1,500+ operators, ag pilots and other attendees directly related to the agricultural aviation industry through an Ag Aviation Expo sponsorship.

Six reasons why you should be a sponsor at the 2022 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo:

    1. A targeted audience will see your company’s name and/or logo.
    2. Sponsorship enhances your company’s credibility and rapport.
    3. You will gain brand awareness and recognition.
    4. You will generate new sales and/or leads and potential business partnerships.
    5. You can drive attendees to your booth and message through your sponsorship.
    6. According to a post-convention survey, 75% of aerial applicators stated that they would be “very likely” to use the products and services of a company that sponsors an event at the Ag Aviation Expo. View sponsorship opportunities here.

    By becoming a sponsor, attendees will:

    • Remember your company, services and products.
    • See you as a supporter of the ag aviation industry.
    • Recognize your brand.
    • See you as a partner and industry visionary.
    • Hold you above others in purchasing decisions.

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

    Details for the 2022 Ag Aviation Expo

    • Dates: Dec. 5-8, 2022
    • Location: Knoxville Convention Center
    • Kickoff Breakfast Speaker: Captain Scott Kelly, first astronaut to complete year-in-space mission.
    • General Session Speakers: Dr. Stan Musick & Michelle Miller
    • Schedule of Events: See the current, tentative schedule here.
    • Hotel: Details here.
    • Attendee Registration: Opens July 1.
    • Exhibitor Booth Sales: Large booth sales open. 10’x10’ and 10’x20’ booth sales open July 14. Please email Lindsay Barber if you would like to secure a 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 2022 opportunities! We have sponsorships available for all budget sizes.
    • Auction Donations: Thank you to Pratt & Whitney Canada for donating a PT6-34AG to this year’s NAAA Live Auction. While we are 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 will 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.

    NAAA Submits Augmented Tower Marking Proposal to Congressional Transportation Committees as 2023 FAA Reauthorization Process Begins

    Earlier this spring, the two congressional transportation committees requested legislative proposals directly from NAAA for the upcoming 2023 FAA Reauthorization. The FAA functions under a five-year congressional reauthorization that provides the agency with a host of new authorities and responsibilities on a broad range of aviation issues. Congress last authorized it in 2018 through 2023.

    Last week NAAA submitted a proposal for the upcoming reauthorization that would strengthen a tower marking statute that it successfully had included in the 2018 bill by requiring all towers between 50 and 200 feet in rural areas meeting certain physical standards to be marked and logged into an FAA database. Already staff for the chair and ranking members of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and ranking member staff of the Senate Commerce Science & Transportation Committee have acknowledged receipt and appreciation of NAAA’s proposal.

    Unfortunately, due to pressure from the Goliath communications industry, language was added to the 2018 reauthorization bill that allowed communications towers to only be marked or logged, but not both, while all other towers would be required to both mark and log—even if they had identical physical characteristics and dimensions.

    NAAA informed the two transportation committees in its letter this week about the importance of the aerial application industry—that it treats approximately one-third of our nation’s commercial cropland (127 million acres of a total of roughly 347 million acres); that it is the most economical method for timely pesticide applications to be made due to its speed and ability to treat rolling hills and wet land that terrestrial equipment is unable to work; and that the industry’s value to farmers, input suppliers, processors and agricultural transportation and storage industries for just corn, wheat, cotton, soybeans and rice production in the U.S. is estimated to be about $37 billion annually. NAAA added that aerial application’s importance is expected to grow substantially as food prices increase and food production becomes an issue of growing importance due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply and demand issues, and a growing global population, hence, assuring aerial applicators’ safety is paramount.

    NAAA included statistics in its proposal to both committees that due to the industry treating at 120 mph just 10 feet off the ground, from 2008 to 2018, there were 22 agricultural aviation accidents from collisions with METs, communication towers, towers supporting powerlines and wind turbines that resulted in nine fatalities. For all general aviation, there were 40 tower-related accidents and incidents, resulting in 36 fatalities over the same 11-year period. NAAA also mentioned that the National Transportation Safety Board recommended guidance for marking certain towers below 200 feet. These recommendations included creating and maintaining a database for the required registration of certain towers and a requirement to mark and light (where feasible) certain towers.

    NAAA also stated that the number of wind energy, meteorological evaluation towers and communication towers to broadcast broadband and the like is expected to grow significantly in the next decade and beyond. In 2000 there were 60,000 towers for wireless communication in the U.S. Today there are 150,000 such towers; by 2025, 200,000 are expected. Renewable energy policies in the early 2000s led to extensive growth of wind turbines and METs being erected in rural areas, causing more and more accidents for low-altitude ag aircraft. Furthermore, last year’s infrastructure law funds a huge expansion for rural broadband. NAAA concluded that this exacerbates the risks for aerial applicators and towers that fit certain physical and dimension specifications, regardless of their use, must be both marked and logged.

    To read NAAA’s legislative proposal letter to the Senate, click here. To read NAAA’s legislative proposal letter to the House, click here.

    NAAA Attends Energy Conference Trade Show to Promote Better Wire Marking

    NAAA recently spent two days at the IEEE PES (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power & Energy Society) T&D Conference and Exposition in New Orleans. IEEE PES is the world’s largest convention for the electrical power industry. NAAA member Tom Wolf from JBI Helicopter Services and NAAA staff member Scott Bretthauer were there to promote the use of Balmoral Engineering’s rotating wire marker, the RotaMarka, on power lines in rural areas in order to reduce the number of wire strike agricultural aviation accidents.


    The RotaMarka is designed to increase visibility compared to standard wire marker balls. This increased visibility is because of its spinning movement combined with contrasting blade colors. RotaMarkas are also cheaper and easier to install than other wire marking products on the market. Balmoral Engineering is from Australia, where the RotaMarka is already being used to reduce agricultural aviation wire strikes. RotaMarkas are distributed in the U.S. by Sicame Corp., and NAAA spent two days at Sicame’s trade show display talking with other convention participants about how RotaMarkas would decrease accidents in the agricultural aviation industry and save rural electrical companies the cost of having to repair wires downed by agricultural aircraft.

    Attending the IEEE PES conference was part of NAAA’s initial efforts to promote the use of better wire marking on power lines in the U.S. that are most likely to be struck by agricultural aircraft. NAAA has been in communication with representatives from Balmoral and Sicame to work on a strategy toward achieving this goal. Balmoral gave a presentation at the 2021 Ag Aviation Expo in Savannah, Georgia, to start the process of coordinating the effort. The task is more daunting in the U.S., where there are more than 3,300 electrical companies, compared to just 12 companies in Australia.


    While talking with attendees at the conference, NAAA also had numerous discussions with Balmoral and Sicame representatives to refine the plan for promoting the RotaMarka. A presentation developed by NAAA will be updated and used at conferences where rural electrical cooperatives can be reached. A one-page handout will be developed for NAAA members to give to personnel from local electrical companies to explain the benefits of marking wires with the RotaMarka. NAAA will continue efforts to reduce the number of wire strike accidents and save lives.

    NAAA Spearheads Ag Aviation Association Effort to Protect GPS

    In April, NAAA and 27 state and regional agricultural aviation associations joined with 61 other organizations in letters written to President Joe Biden and the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The letters were sent on the second anniversary of the FCC’s approval of Ligado Networks’ application to operate a 5G network in the L-band radio spectrum, the band adjacent to the one used for GPS.


    The letter reminds elected officials of the harm Ligado’s proposed network presents to GPS, satellite communications, and weather forecasting services. It asks them to work with the FCC to stay the order and allow congressionally mandated studies currently being conducted sufficient time to conclude and be analyzed. The letter to President Biden can be read here.


    NAAA continues to work with a coalition of organizations across numerous industries, including aviation, agriculture, meteorological and marine, seeking to overturn the Ligado decision and protect GPS. Furthermore, NAAA is extremely grateful to our brethren state and regional ag aviation associations for their support on this and multiple issues affecting the well-being of the aerial application industry.

    Spring 2022 Issue of Agricultural Aviation Now Online!

    The Spring 2022 issue of Agricultural Aviation is available online and in the Agricultural Aviation Magazine App. Branded as “The Safety Issue,” the focus of this special issue is all about safety—from aviation to environmental safety to ensure ag pilots’, farmers’ and planet Earth’s well-being.

    Featured content in the Spring 2022 issue includes:

    Back issues are available in Agricultural Aviation’s Issue Library.

    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 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.

    Special Conditions Issued for Pressure Refueling of Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66 Helicopter

    On April 27, the FAA published the following special conditions as part of the type certification basis for Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66 helicopters. The pressure refueling system must be designed and installed as follows:

    1. Each fueling connection below the fuel level in each tank must have the means to prevent the escape of hazardous quantities of fuel from that tank in case of malfunction of the fuel entry valve.
    2. For systems intended for pressure refueling, a means in addition to the normal means for limiting the tank content must be installed to prevent damage to the fuel tank in case of failure of the normal means.
    3. The rotorcraft pressure fueling system (not fuel tanks and fuel tank vents) must withstand an ultimate load that is two (2.0) times the load arising from maximum pressure, including a surge, that is likely to occur during fueling. The maximum surge pressure must be established with any combination of tank valves being either intentionally or inadvertently closed.

    The complete issuance is available here. Contact your Robinson maintenance facility for more information.

    Shine a Light on the Industry’s Unsung Heroes!


    Eight recipients received NAAA Awards in 2021. Who will be among this year’s awardees? Nominations are due by Sept. 9.

     

    One of the highlights of each NAAA convention is the chance to honor a distinct group of the committed individuals and companies for their service to the agricultural aviation industry. The aerial application industry is filled with exceptional people who go above and beyond the call of duty, often with little fanfare. Make someone’s day, year or career by nominating him or her for a 2022 NAAA Award!

     

    NAAA’s online submission form is the fastest and simplest way to nominate someone in just a few clicks, but the traditional PDF-based awards forms are also available options. The following submission methods are available at AgAviation.org/awards.

    Completed entries using the traditional PDF forms may be emailed or faxed to NAAA at information@agaviation.org or (202) 546-5726 (fax).

     

    There are nine NAAA Award categories and one NAAREF Award. The nomination deadline is Sept. 9, but early nominations are encouraged. The longer you wait, the busier you’ll be as the summer season approaches.

    NAAA Award Categories

    Agrinaut Award: Honors an agricultural aircraft operator, operating organization or allied member company that has made an outstanding contribution in the field of ag aircraft operations. The achievement cited shall have contributed to the “state-of-the-art” for the benefit of the agricultural aircraft industry as a whole.

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

    John Robert Horne Memorial Award: Honors a pilot with five or fewer years of experience in the agricultural aviation industry who has an exemplary safety record and has contributed to safety in ag aviation. This award no longer has carryover nominations from year to year; a new nomination must be submitted every year.

     

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

     

    Opal and Bill Binnion Memorial Award: Acknowledges those who contribute to NAAA in its efforts to educate the public about aerial application.

     

    Richard “Dick” Reade Memorial Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions by an allied industry member and their company.

     

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

     

    Zoren and Joan O’Brien Memorial Outstanding Service Award: Awards outstanding service to the commercial agricultural aviation industry or to its association.

     

    The 2022 NAAA Award recipients will be announced in the fall and honored at the Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet Dec. 8 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

    NAAA Leaders Discuss Drone Safety on ‘Farm Life Live’


    2022 NAAA President Jim Perrin and CEO Andrew Moore discussed drone safety issues April 21 on Farm Life Live, an online program hosted by Farm Life Media President Brannon Deal. Deal invited Moore and Perrin on after receiving the unmanned aircraft advisory news release NAAA issued last week.

    Moore and Perrin were the show’s sole guests and had a terrific conversation with Deal. The full episode is available for viewing here.

    Here are some excerpts from the episode.

    Perrin (03:40): “Just to highlight a couple of the issues, once we’re in the air, the drones are almost impossible to see. Add to that that our attention is pretty well focused on a lot of other issues, it’s pretty easy for us as pilots to not see it. … So, No. 1, it’s hard to see; No. 2, there’s a lot going on inside the airplane; and No. 3, Captain Sully can certainly attest to what a small bird can do to a big airplane.”

    Deal (04:57): “And so many of the drones today are either white or gray, which makes them completely invisible [to a manned aircraft].”

    Moore (05:40): “I think that, Brannon, you mentioned that your drone is equipped with ADS-B technology, which allows the drone operator to see manned aircraft or any aircraft—another drone even—that’s equipped with ADS-B Out technology. So, we definitely would encourage both our members to equip with ADS-B technology, but also all drone operators.”

    Moore (06:17): “But first and foremost, and it’s the law that they give right of way to the manned aircraft. That they land really when they’re operating, because they won’t be seen, as Jim just said.” 

     

    Moore (07:35): “As the numbers of drones increase, and it’s used more and more in ag, we just need to make sure that this message is getting out.” 

     

    Perrin (08:30): “The interesting thing with the drone is that really in agriculture we’re seeing it used in two significantly different realms. One is the ag spray drone and the other one is the imaging drones. So obviously two different altitudes, two different risks, and essentially manned aircraft is doing the same. We’re ferrying to and from the fields, and then once we get to the field then we drop down to low-level operations. I’m not as concerned from a collision standpoint with the drone that’s in the field actually spraying, because it’s going to be low and it’s going to be a field, and I would certainly think that we wouldn’t be tasked with spraying the same field at the same time. … But my primary concern and the issues that we have had have been with the imaging drones operating at 400 feet or maybe even a little bit higher. … Between myself and my competitor, we’ve had four close calls with the imaging drones.” 

     

    Moore (12:30): “The other thing that’s in our release to emphasize is to get certified. Get certified and be well trained [as an unmanned aircraft operator]. That way you’re going to know the rules. … Really we would hope that everybody would do that—to be well-trained. Because the greater the professionalism, the safer you are.”

     

    Perrin (15:42): “There is a time and a place, and I don’t want to sound like we’re anti-drone because I’m certainly not anti-drone. I just feel like there’s really four facets that potential drone operators or new drone operators really need to consider. One is the legalities of Part 107, FAA Part 107; if they’re spraying, the legalities of Part 137; the state licensing requirements to be a licensed applicator with the aerial subcategory; and the insurance. And then finally I’ll just say if all four of those criteria are met and the drone is operated within the law and within the regulation, there’s really not much hazard here. Frankly, one of my largest concerns is not seeing the drone operator standing next to the field that I’m treating. I would hate to potentially have a problem with a human exposure situation where somebody might be out there and I don’t even see him when I’m working. So that’s really one of my primary concerns, but again, if the regulations are followed, I think we can all do this without hurting one another.” 

     

    As of April 27, the Farm Life Live episode featuring Moore and Perrin and had been viewed 2,100 times on Farm Life Media’s Facebook page. Farm Life Media has more than 200,000 followers on Facebook.

    AD Issued on Specific CT Vanes and Blades for PT6A-34, -34B, -34AG, -114 and -114A Turboprop Engines

    In April the FAA issued an awaited airworthiness directive (AD) on Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. PT6A-34, -34B, -34AG, -114 and -114A model turboprop engines. The AD requires the following actions to be taken within 250 flight hours or 270 days after the effective date of May 27, 2022, whichever occurs first:

    • Remove from service any CT vane, part number (P/N) 3029051, 3032151 or 3123001, repaired in accordance with Southwest Turbine Inc. (STI) Repair Specification STI 72-50-254 (STI 72-50-254) and replace with a non-STI 72-50-254 repaired CT vane.
    • Remove from service any CMSX-6 CT blade that has been operated on an affected engine with any CT vane repaired in accordance with STI 72-50-254.

    The FAA first proposed this AD in August of 2020. To read the complete AD, click here. The FAA estimates that this AD affects 907 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that 63 engines will need to replace the CT vanes and CT blades. The FAA received comments from 13 commenters. The comments and the FAA’s responses may be viewed at the previous link.

    The following information is from:
    Robert Craymer
    robertc@covingtonaircraft.com
    (662) 910-9899
    and
    Fletcher Sharp
    fletchers@covingtonaircraft.com
    (214) 766-1212

    Compressor Turbine Vane Rings (CTVR) that are affected by the AD: Part numbers 3029051, 3032151 and 3123001 that have been repaired in accordance with repair process STI 72-50-254. This is a specific repair process performed by Southwest Turbine Inc. Part number vanes repaired by specific repair STI 72-50-254 are the only ones affected by this AD.

    How to determine if your engine is affected:

    Review your engine logbooks. There should be entries for hot section inspections and/or CT vane replacement. One may also have 8130-3 forms from the CTVRs that have been installed. If you find any of the above-mentioned CTVR part numbers that have been repaired in accordance with the referenced repair process, then your engine is affected. In addition, if your engine has CMSX-6 blades (single crystal blades), then the blades will require replacement.

    If you know a vane replacement has occurred but the logbook doesn’t contain complete data or an 8130-3 to identify the CTVR or how it was repaired, the only way to verify if your CTVR is affected is to split the engine and complete a review of the CTVR. You can also contact your local mechanic who performed your last hot section, as they may have records from their work order.

    Keep in mind that when a CTVR is changed, it must be done in accordance with information in the engine maintenance manual. One must replace the CTVR with a like flow class CTVR to avoid having performance issues upon reassembly.

    There is no Alternate Means of Compliance (AMOC). The only “fix” is to remove any CTVRs that were repaired to the process mentioned in the AD note by STI and install a compliant CTVR.

    FBI Warns Food and Agriculture Sector Partners of Potential Ransomware Attacks


    Last month the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) informed food and agriculture sector businesses that ransomware actors may be more likely to attack agricultural cooperatives during critical planting and harvest seasons, disrupting operations, causing financial loss and negatively impacting the food supply chain.


    The FBI noted ransomware attacks against six grain cooperatives during the fall 2021 harvest and two attacks in early 2022 that could impact the planting season by disrupting the supply of seeds and fertilizer. Cyber actors may perceive cooperatives as lucrative targets with a willingness to pay due to the time-sensitive role they play in agricultural production. Although ransomware attacks against the entire farm-to-table spectrum of the food and agriculture sector occur on a regular basis, the number of cyberattacks against agricultural cooperatives during key seasons is notable, the FBI advisory stated.

    Since 2021, multiple agricultural cooperatives have been impacted by a variety of ransomware variants. Initial intrusion vectors included known but unpatched common vulnerabilities and exploits, as well as secondary infections from the exploitation of shared network resources. Production was impacted for some of the targeted entities, resulting in slower processing due to manual operations, while other targeted entities lost access to administrative functions such as websites and email but did not have production impacted.

    A significant disruption of grain production could impact the entire food chain since grain is consumed by humans and used for animal feed. In addition, a significant disruption of grain and corn production could impact commodities trading and stocks. An attack that disrupts processing at a protein or dairy facility can quickly result in spoiled products and have cascading effects down to the farm level as animals cannot be processed.

    Recommendations

    Cyber threat actors will continue to exploit network, system and application vulnerabilities within the food and agriculture sector, the FBI’s Cyber Division warns. The bureau recommends implementing the following steps to mitigate the threat and protect against ransomware attacks.
    • Regularly back up data and password-protect backup copies offline. Ensure backups of critical data are stored on a separate drive that is not on the same network.
    • Implement a recovery plan that includes maintaining and retaining multiple copies of sensitive or proprietary data and servers in a physically separate, segmented, secure location (i.e., hard drive, storage device, the cloud).
    • Identify critical functions and develop an operations plan in the event that systems go offline. Think about ways to operate manually if it becomes necessary.
    • Install updates/patch operating systems, software, and firmware as soon as they are released.
    • Use multifactor authentication where possible.
    • Use strong passwords and regularly change passwords to network systems and accounts, implementing the shortest acceptable timeframe for password changes. Avoid reusing passwords for multiple accounts and use strong passphrases where possible.
    • Require administrator credentials to install software.
    • Install and regularly update antivirus and anti-malware software on all hosts.
    • Only use secure networks and avoid using public Wi-Fi networks. Consider installing and using a virtual private network (VPN).
    • Consider adding an email banner to messages coming from outside your organization.
    • Disable hyperlinks in received emails.
    • Focus on cybersecurity awareness and training. Regularly provide users with training on information security principles and techniques as well as overall emerging cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities (i.e., ransomware and phishing scams).
    Please review the cybersecurity information in the Airfield Watch segment of the 2018-19 PAASS Program for more cybersecurity tips.

    NAAA Comments Against Drone Petition Requesting Exemptions Compromising Airspace Safety

    Last month NAAA submitted comments on Airobotics Inc.’s petition seeking relief from specified safety requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. Airobotics is seeking relief to operate a small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) inspection operations. Because of the BVLOS request, the operation does not fall under part 107, which prohibits BVLOS.

    The petitioner requested relief from airworthiness certification requirements, maintenance requirements and pilot certifications. No adequate mitigating safety equipment or procedures are mentioned in the request for relief. In the description of relief and supporting documents, Airobotics stated that its operations would occur only over private property with permission from the property owner/controller or public property with permission from local authorities. None of these conditions preclude the possibility of other aircraft operating in the National Airspace (NAS), which is not privately owned and is accessible and necessary for agricultural operations. NAAA, in its response to the Airobotics petition, reminded the FAA that short of TFRs, NAS is open to the public.

    While it has become routine for UAS operators to request relief from the FARs, NAAA continues to comment against changes that make the airspace less safe for agricultural operations. To view the petition for relief or submit your own comments, click here. NAAA’s comments are available here. Comments are due by May 10.

    We All Have a Telling History: Use Yours and NAAA’s Materials to Broadly Communicate Agricultural Aviation’s

    By Andrew Moore, NAAA CEO

    If you are an active citizen in the world of aerial application, don’t be a static audience member during this epic centennial event. Take the stage with us and bring out your inner thespian as we enunciate the gospel of agricultural aviation to the public. 

     

    History is not just documenting famous or infamous people, times and events. We all have a history—a story to tell about ourselves that can contribute to the next and future generations’ betterment. One could also believe that sharing our history is one of the meanings of life—to improve and evolve our world by sharing the key to living a good life and sharing the hazards and obstacles that may hinder such living.

     

    NAAA has reached the climax in the centennial epic of sharing our industry’s history to the public, which of course was Aug. 3, 2021. But just because the official centennial anniversary date is behind us doesn’t mean all efforts to share the importance of our industry to the public have passed you by. We will be celebrating the centennial of agricultural aviation for an entire year. We continue to reach out to policymakers, our brethren in the fields of agriculture and aviation, to the trade press, to the public and to the national news media. We continue to share our history of improving the cultivation of food, fiber and bioenergy consumed globally and how we’ve learned from harrowing experiences and evolved technologically to fine-tune our craft, use less product to cover more acres and better care for Mother Earth. We are continuing to use all types of media to educate the public—three different length video documentaries, a comprehensive book of our history, social, print, trade and news media releases and a special website, AgAviation100.com, to share the 10-decade story of ag aviation and we will continue to due so through July of 2022.

     

    If you are an active citizen in the world of aerial application—whether an operator, pilot, crew member, service-parts-equipment provider or related tangentially to the industry in another way—don’t be a static audience member during this epic, year-long centennial event. Take the stage with us as we enunciate the gospel of agricultural aviation to the public. Inform your local television stations, newspapers and radio stations about the industry’s 100th anniversary, even if it is by simply directing them to AgAviation100.com. On that site, there is a “Get Involved” tab with a draft press release about the 100th that discusses the importance of the industry, its progressive evolution, and directs readers to AgAviation100.com to learn more. Feel free to cater that press release to your own operation and experience and send it to your local news outlets.

     

    You can also brush up on the ag aviation script about the importance of ag aviation, environmental safeguards that are common practice today and other industry talking points on NAAA’s media relations kit webpage that may be found here.

     

    The media relations kit also includes suggestions on how to best communicate to the media and public when espousing ag aviation’s significance. If you don’t feel comfortable communicating directly, no worries. NAAA staff and an assortment of ag aviation ambassadors can be used as understudies and take over that role, but do make sure the public and news media in your area are informed of our centennial milestone to maximize the value of this pivotal once-in-a-lifetime event. 


    Don’t forget, we all have a great story to tell about this industry. Whether it is how one got into the industry; the training to fine-tune ag aircraft and the application equipment; how ag aviation provides to local employment and the local economy; or how after five generations, our technology and experience are such that we produce more per acre, showing that our care for the environment continues to progress—all of these anecdotes are both important and fascinating to public audiences.

    It’s up to us all to tell the story to continue this industry’s remarkable legacy. And again, just because the official anniversary date has occurred, our centennial lasts a year and you can still contribute plenty. Please join the ag aviation cast for this once-in-a-100-year performance that is leading to glowing public reviews and will continue to do so throughout the year.

    NAAA Releases Book of the Century! Buy It Today

    NAAA has released the book of the century—a century of agricultural aviation, that is.

    One hundred years ago, an aerial crop dusting experiment spawned the birth of the agricultural aviation industry. To commemorate agricultural aviation’s 100th anniversary, NAAA is pleased to present Agriculture’s Air Force: 100 Years of Aerial Application.


    Agriculture’s Air Force provides a new, updated account of aerial application’s history, 35 years after Mabry Anderson’s masterpiece, Low & Slow: An Insider’s History of Agricultural Aviation, was published. NAAA’s meticulously sourced book is based on a collective history of the agricultural aviation industry based on material from Agricultural Aviation magazine, AgAir Update, Low & Slow and other resources.


    Beginning with Agricultural Aviation’s Spring 2021 issue, NAAA has been publishing excerpts from Agriculture’s Air Force and will continue to do so through the Fall 2021 issue. Those stories are just a small slice of what’s in the 268-page hardback edition, however. The complete book contains so much more.


    Agriculture’s Air Force delves into the intersection of agriculture and aviation. It chronicles the agricultural aviation industry’s growth from its infancy in 1921 through the boom times after World War II and on to today’s modern era of high-tech aerial application.


    The finished hardback book has been years in the making but well worth the effort. “This is a significant piece of work covering not just the industry’s history, but its essence,” NAAA CEO Andrew Moore said. “We are proud of it and believe it will make a lasting contribution to the industry.”

    The story of agricultural aviation is much like the broader story of aviation: It is mostly punctuated with interesting smaller moments sandwiched between milestone developments. Aerial application is also the story of technological leaps and bounds.

    Agriculture’s Air Force covers five eras spanning more than 10 decades. In addition, it features 34 Spotlight pieces focused on significant individuals, organizations, trends, technologies and topics related to aerial application.


    Agriculture’s Air Force: 100 Years of Aerial Application may well be NAAA’s most enduring 100th anniversary initiative. One thing’s for sure: It is no textbook. The commemorative book is written from a fresh perspective that is entertaining and enlightening. Readers will come away with a new appreciation for agricultural aviation as a profession and the dedicated individuals who propel it forward.

    Order Your Copy of Agriculture’s Air Force Today!

    Agriculture’s Air Force retails for $45, excluding shipping. Order it from AgAir Update’s Online Store.