October 12, 2023
NAAA eNewsletter

In Dayton, Four Days, Tons Accomplished by NAAA/NAAREF Boards

The boards and committees of the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) and the National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation (NAAREF) met in Dayton, Ohio from October 4-7 and accomplished a multitude of benefits for the agricultural aviation industry. The meetings were preceded by the PAASS presenters training on the new aviation, environmental professionalism, and security curriculum for the 2023-2024 (26th season) PAASS program that will be presented at the state and regional agricultural aviation conventions this upcoming fall and winter of 2024. The meetings were led by 2023 NAAA President Craig Craft from North Carolina and on the NAAREF side, its president, Perry Hofer from South Dakota. 
 
 
2023-2024 PAASS Presenters learned new material to share with ag pilots attending state/regional conventions.
 
The paragraphs below summarize the current state of the associations and industry and a number of action items taken to benefit the industry. 
 
CEO Report
Following precedent NAAA’s CEO Andrew Moore provided an overview of the industry and association starting with an economic overview of U.S. agriculture for 2023 based on USDA statistics. This year’s farm income is forecast to drop $41.7 billion from 2022 to $141.3 billion; a 22.8% drop. Yield declines due to drought conditions in the Midwest, particularly for corn and soybeans, are one factor attributed to this decline. Also, U.S. farm production expenses, which include aerial application services to farmers, are forecast to increase by $29.5 billion to $458 billion, or 6.9%, in 2023 compared to 2022. U.S. ag exports are forecast to decline in 2023 to $181 billion from $196 billion in 2022, a 7.7% decrease. This is due to the high price of the dollar versus other global currencies, and an anemic Biden administration trade policy that has not opened any new markets for agricultural trade.  
 
He then shifted gears to NAAA’s 2023 industry economic survey that is conducted each fall to gauge the industry’s health.  The results show that the number of hours flown per aircraft this year was 324.5—a 1% decrease from the 327.6 hours flown in 2022, but a 3% increase from the ten-year average of 318 hours per aircraft.  The average number of aircraft in use per operation decreased 4% from 2.51 aircraft per operation in 2022 to 2.39 aircraft per operation in 2023; however, that is 2.6% greater than the 2.32 aircraft per operation ten-year average.  In terms of hours flown in 2023, of the 18% of U.S. agricultural aviation operators surveyed, 39% flew either significantly greater (8%), or somewhat greater (31%) ag hours in 2023 vs. 2022; whereas 28% flew about the same number of hours and 33% flew either somewhat fewer (22%) or significantly fewer (11%) hours in 2023 compared to 2022. Those California operators surveyed indicated that 88% treated significantly or somewhat greater acres in 2023 versus 2022, whereas in the Midwest where the drought dealt a blow to corn and soybean growers, 47% of operators surveyed treated somewhat fewer acres and 27% treated significantly fewer acres.
 
In terms of those surveyed and their outlook for the upcoming aerial application season, 43% of 2023 operators were optimistic about the 2024 season, compared to 49% polled in 2022 about 2023’s prospects. The remaining 2023 operators were uncertain or shaky about 2024’s prospects. 
 
Moore then moved to policy issues focusing on (re)registering and labeling pesticide products for aerial use—NAAA’s biggest issue in terms of time and resources spent.  Part of that is due to the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requiring that pesticides be retested for environmental, occupational, and dietary safety every 15 years.  To ensure that aerial applications are labeled for use on pesticides and without unnecessary and burdensome restrictions NAAA continues to push that the agency use the more sophisticated version of the atmospheric drift model AgDRIFT, Tier 3, that includes consideration and calculation of additional drift reduction technologies, and techniques. NAAA is also having success in its efforts pushing wind directional buffer language, not just flat buffer zones. Since 2017 NAAA has commented on 267 EPA pesticide active ingredient and pesticide use policies.
 

2023 NAAA President Craig Craft leads the NAAA Board General Session as CEO Andrew Moore provides an overview of the industry and association.
 
Moore also mentioned that NAAA has had success working with EPA, USDA, the Unmanned Aerial Pesticide Application System Task Force (UAPASTF) and other government agencies for support to modernize the AGDISP atmospheric model with a new version of computer coding.  Updating the coding will help to augment the robustness of the atmospheric model to add additional drift reduction technologies from onboard meteorological systems and much more with the goal that down the road it could lead to real-time, site-specific risk assessments to calculate for each unique, individual application and not a one-size fits all approach.  It also will aid in drift modeling for different drones that currently fall under an aerial label but aren’t evaluated for atmospheric drift.
 
Moore then discussed the continued dialogue NAAA has been having with major pesticide manufacturers again this year, including Bayer, FMC and Corteva, to keep them abreast of NAAA’s use of the AgDRIFT Tier 3 model and its calculations showing mitigated aerial drift for them to use when negotiating registration of pesticides. NAAA also solicited the companies to continue to support NAAA’s advocacy, education, and safety programs. He also brought up field days NAAA has participated in to educate EPA, pesticide enforcement state lead agencies, national grower groups and major pesticide manufactures on the benefits and professionalism of the aerial application industry. Two sites in particular were at Justin and Ashley Houston’s operation, AirWorks, in Hall, Tennessee, accompanied by pilots and senior staff at JBI Helicopters, Louisiana branch, where NAAA demonstrated a swath analysis clinic to ensure an efficacious set up of the aircraft for JBI’s Jet Ranger helicopter and AirWorks’s AT 802.  NAAA also participated in a field day with pesticide manufacturers and grower groups at a farm in Rock Hall, Maryland, educating EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs staff with the help of a helicopter aerial application by Rasmus Hansen of Helicopter Applicators Incorporated in Gettysburg, Penn.
 
Transportation policy in which NAAA is working, such as the safe integration of drones into the airspace was raised by Moore. The NAAA submitted comments per the FAA’s request determining aviation stakeholders’ thoughts about a recent aviation rulemaking committee’s (ARC) recommendation allowing drones to operating beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) without giving right-of way to manned aircraft and without detect and avoid technology. NAAA’s comments adamantly opposed this proposal. NAAA has also successfully worked to include language in the House of Representatives version of the FAA reauthorization bill on statutory language for protections to manned aircraft from UAS that are 55 pounds or greater and for drones operating BVLOS. The Senate has yet to pass their bill, but key Senators have shown support of this House language. In terms of tower marking/logging policy, NAAA was not successful in securing language in the FAA reauthorization that communications towers both mark and log towers in rural areas between 50-200 feet, both chambers of Congress require the FAA within a year to submit a report as to the reason for the delay, and to list the fatal aircraft accidents due to unmarked towers over past five years.
 
Moore also reported some potential good news—that being that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is expected to release this fall its notice of proposed rulemaking to allow states to approve the transportation of up to 1,000 gallons of Jet A without a CDL HazMat endorsement.
 
Moore concluded the policy discussion by urging members to contribute to the AgAv PAC by visiting the website.  The PAC is NAAA’s vehicle to contribute to the campaigns of candidates running for federal office that are supportive of the agricultural aviation industry’s policy issues. With the Farm Bill, FAA Reauthorization, federal aerial application research funding at ARS and other legislative issues that have come up this year, NAAA has been depleting the PAC and is in need of raising its funding levels.
 
Moore then shifted gears to communication issues and discussed the positive ads that NAAA arranged in Farm Journal publications this year with the “Above All Forms of Crop Care” campaign that lists the benefits of aerial application and the link to our website’s search function that allows a prospective applicator to find an NAAA aerial applicator near them.  The ads were in The Scoop magazine (circulation: 20,000 U.S. ag retailers and crop consultants); Top Producer (circulation: 100,000 U.S. farmers growing 1,000 acres or more); and AgWeb (circulation: 201,000 to mostly U.S. farmers). For seven years, including this year, NAAA sent out a press release to aviation, agricultural and news media sites at the season’s start informing drone operators that manned aircraft would be starting its season and to give right of way to them. Coverage was picked up by ag communication network RFD-TV’s Market Day Report that has an average viewership of 500,000 people per week and is one of RFD-TV’s top watched shows.  It was also in multiple other ag and aviation sources. NAAA followed up with a press release in September informing about the environmental benefits and soil health attributes of aerial applied cover crops.  The release expounded on aerial’s benefits due to the seeds ability to be applied pre-harvest for a longer growing period and due to aerial application not compacting the soil. The press release was picked up by CropLife magazine (circulation: 40,000 U.S. ag retailers), RFD-TV, and the American Ag Network that has nearly 1.65 million listeners tune in monthly and is heard on 40 U.S. radio stations including SiriusXM.
 
Moore also stated that on numerous occasions this year NAAA has worked to set the record straight about either cynical or biased environmental or drone media coverage, such as responding to a distorted column in The Gazette of Cedar Rapids, Iowa that unfairly suggested the costs of aerial application outweigh its benefits to agriculture and society. NAAA’s biting response received its own column in the paper.  NAAA also must play damage control to the media and policymakers in the rare occasion of an industry actor’s impropriety as was the case this summer of a reckless flying incident in the Midwest.
 
NAAA takes its message directly to the people too via a robust social media campaign.  This year it added a LinkedIn social media page to its pages on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook of which it now has 12,000+ followers, or nearly 3.5 times as many U.S. ag pilots and operators. NAAA’s communications received national recognition in 2023 as well.  The National Agri-Marketing Association was awarded a “Best of NAMA” regional merit award in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast region its 100th anniversary website in 2021 due to its mass circulation.  It was a finalist for the national award in “Website Directed to Consumers” category up against large agri-marketing agencies and companies.
 
Moore continued that NAAA communications are constantly evolving to better serve the public and the membership. This year it revamped its website, AgAviation.org, with a fresher, simpler look without compromising substantive content. It will also add a new membership database component to its website making it easier for members to access its proprietary content. NAAA will also be back on the National Mall in May of 2024 with at least one ag rotorcraft provided by Glenn Martin and his team with Helicopter Applicators Inc. in Gettysburg, Penn. for “Ag on the Mall.”  NAAA displayed at the event in 2022 and over that three-day period of time over 270,000 people visited the Mall and saw ag aviation equipment and NAAA’s promotional materials about the industry.  The event also saw a large contingent of agricultural trade press, federal officials, congresspersons, and Senators visit NAAA’s booth. 
 
Due to the success of NAAA’s external communications and the results of last year’s communications audit where members polled wanted more resources devoted to external communications, in 2024 NAAA will go from publishing four to three magazines a year (winter, spring, fall).  The time and monetary resources saved will go towards an agreement with Farm Journal publications for four one-page articles on aerial application content and four half page ads a year in The Scoop magazine (circulation: 20,000 U.S. ag retailers, crop consultants) with the content also shared in their AgWeb eNewsletter (circulation: 200,000 U.S. farmers) and possibly other Farm Journal publications.
 
Moore switched gears to safety and stewardship issues and reported on multiple communications NAAA received from aerial applicators throughout the country about illegal drone operations. NAAA initiated an awareness campaign to report illegal drone use by directing observers witnessing such activity to a list of U.S. FAA Flight Standards District Offices and state commercial pesticide application enforcement offices to report drone operations that don’t have all licenses to commercially operate drones for either imaging or application purposes. He also discussed NAAA’s aerial application professional certification program, C-PAASS, which certified 26 different ag pilots this inaugural year. The ag pilots participated in the PAASS program the past three years, an Operation S.A.F.E pattern testing clinic one of the past two years and were both NAAA and state and regional ag aviation association members. In 2024 more robust training and testing will be added to the current C-PAASS requirements, including on-line coursework that can be taken from NAAA’s website—AgAviation.org—about flying safely around wires and understanding droplet size and the best aerial spray system setup to mitigate drift.  For the 2023-2024 PAASS season—its 26th year of original ag aviation safety and environmental professional curriculum—the training will focus on turning an ag aircraft safety, reiterate flying safely around wires, and impart avoiding normalization of unsafe aviation habits. The environmental professionalism module will use the atmospheric drift model AGDISP to show the importance of droplet size and boom length to mitigate drift and enhance efficacy. 
 
Accidents were then discussed of which there have been 54 total this year, ten of which, sadly, have been fatal. Eighteen of the total accidents were from controlled flight into terrain and 12 of those were from hitting power lines, six of which resulted in fatalities. In 2022 there were a total of 51 ag aviation accidents, nine of which were fatal. Moore stated that although one accident is too many there has been a 26.34% and 7.5% accident decrease in annual accidents and annual fatal accidents, respectively, since PAASS hit the stage in 1999 and drift claims have decreased by 26 percent.
 
Moore then shifted gears to the 2023 NAAA convention (Ag Aviation Expo) that will be held in Palm Springs, California, December 4-7. The Kickoff Breakfast speaker on Dec. 4 will be aircraft engineer Burt Rutan, designer of the Voyager that circled the globe non-stop without refueling and SpaceShipOne the first private suborbital aircraft. Rutan was described by Newsweek as “the man responsible for more innovations in modern aviation than any living engineer.”  The NAAA
 
General Session on December 5 will include presentations by EPA’s Director of the Office of Pesticide Programs Ed Messina; President of the Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology Terry Kipley, who will discuss adjuvants; and ag aviation flight school instructor Fran De Kock of Battlefords Airspray in Canada who, along with a group of expert panelists will discuss turning and aircraft safely.  The four-day event will include 26 educational sessions ranging from a full day wires course, the half day aerial application technology research session, and sessions on precision ag, chemicals, low-altitude safety, FAA policy, and much more.  Thirty-four states and certified crop consultants will be offering continuing education units for attending educational events.  The exhibit hall will include ten aircraft from Air Tractors to a Thrush to rotorcraft to drones, along with over 140 exhibitors of ag aviation parts, equipment, and services.  The always entertaining NAAA auction will include Pratt & Whitney’s donation of a new PT6A-34, plus an additional special gift to celebrate the PT6’s 60th year and one-billionth hour in operation.  Also, up for auction will be Air Tractor’s donation of a Can-Am Commander ATV, Turbine Conversion’s donation of their single point fueling system and much more.  The event looks like it will be teaming with attendees as room night reservations are currently higher than they have been in three years.  Moore also announced that the 2024 Ag Aviation Expo will be in Fort Worth, Texas followed by Reno, Nevada in 2025 and 2028, Savannah, Georgia in 2026, and Oklahoma City in 2027.  The convention from 2024-2028 will be held in November the week prior to Thanksgiving.
 
Finances were then discussed. NAAA completed its 2022-2023 fiscal year June 30, 2023, with a surplus of $158,743 and NAAREF ended the fiscal year with a surplus of $145,887. The surpluses were due primarily to strong convention and membership income as well as gains in the association’s investments value. NAAA had $4,986,264 in assets at that time and NAAREF had $1,158,420.  In terms of membership revenues versus total expenditures, NAAA dues account for only 32.7% of total expenses.  NAAA spends $1,690.58 on each member (operator dues are $635 a year or $1.74 per day and pilot dues are $270 a year or $0.74 per day). As of the end of September 2023 NAAA had a total of 522 operator members and 474 pilot members compared to 573 operator and 566 pilot members at the completion of 2022, a drop of 16.5%. To augment membership Moore mentioned that NAAA had investigated providing health care insurance to members and that a recent survey indicated that 79% and 77% of the industry were interested in health care and life insurance, respectively.  He also mentioned that insurance underwriters requiring C-PAASS for better rates and pesticide manufacturers offering label flexibility for those C-PAASS certified would be mutually beneficial to both NAAA membership and risk reduction for insurance and pesticide manufacturers. He also mentioned that membership numbers might also increase if dues were based on an operation’s total hopper capacity (for example lower dues for hopper capacity below 300 gallons and more for 500 gallons and even more moving up incrementally in total hopper capacity.
 
Moore concluded with some forecasting.  He raised concerns that U.S. agricultural trade is predicted to be down significantly in 2023 with USDA projecting an ag trade deficit of $17 billion (exports $181 billion; imports $198 billion). The 10-year U.S. ag trade average has been a $13 billion surplus.  Further concern is the Biden administration’s anemic pursuit of new trade agreements and high interest rates inflating U.S. ag goods.  Adding to the concern is GOP presidential candidates advocating for even more protectionist approaches, particularly with China.  World Trade Organization economists predict that trade disputes have the potential of shaving $4.4 trillion off global output--equivalent of a 5% reduction of the world’s gross domestic product.
 
Moore did forecast potential for the industry mentioning a recent article in CropLife magazine stating that the “use of drones for application work has increased among ag retailers from 14% in 2021 to 32% today based upon the findings of the 2023 CropLife/Purdue Precision Ag Adoption Survey. ‘And the anticipation, according to the dealers surveyed, is that percentage will reach 54% over the next two years,’” according to Purdue. NAAA’s own Summer 2023 issue of Agricultural Aviation magazine interviewed a few manned ag aviation operators, such of Robert Ching of Aura LLC in Zeeland, Michigan who is using drones to treat parts of fields difficult to reach by manned aircraft as a safety enhancement to his operation. The issue also interviewed several drone application companies that state their work is primarily being conducted in areas that are too difficult to reach by larger manned application emphasizing that their service is more complementary rather than competitive. The CropLife magazine article also stated how drone crop surveying use by ag retailers is projected to increase to 75% in 2026 from 57% in 2023, while satellite imaging of cropland has declined as used by ag retailers from 70% in 2019 to 55% this year. Moore stated that NAAA operator members are the experts in aviation and should be the ones to utilize this technology to operate it in the safest manner and most professional manner.  The CropLife magazine survey also stated that precision application use by retailers is on the rise with pesticides and fertilizers projected to be applied by 43% and 87%, respectively, by ag retailers in 2026.  This is another service, Moore mentioned, that can be conducted via aerial application for ag aviation operators to pursue. Moore then concluded his presentation.
 
Awards
With the Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet that concludes the Ag Aviation Expo every year coming up December 7th in Palm Springs, the Awards Committee, with input from the Allied and Operation S.A.F.E. Committees, decided, as announced by Committee Chairman JT Helms of Old Republic Insurance, on the following slate of outstanding individuals that have gone above and beyond in serving the agricultural aviation industry:  
  • Natanael Vaz (Pratt & Whitney) for the Allied Industry Individual Award awarding outstanding contributions to the industry from an allied member.
  • Robert Ching (Aura LLC) for the Evans-Christopher Operation S.A.F.E. Award, for outstanding contributions to aerial application testing for efficacy and stewardship.
  • Delta Airlines "Puffer" Award: Chris Doyle of COFire Aviation, for outstanding contribution to the design of ag aircraft and associated equipment
  • John Robert Horne: Trevor Peltier of Meyer Agri-Air, for a new pilot’s exemplary safety record. 
  • Larsen – Miller Community Service Award: Dwayne O’Brien of O’Brien Flying Service, for great contributions to his local community.
  • Opal & Bill Binnion Memorial Award: Michael Hutchins of Custom Air, Inc., and Terry Humphrey for efforts to educate the public about aerial application.
  • Richard “Dick” Reade Memorial Award: Jim Hirsh of Air Tractor for outstanding contributions to the industry.
  • William O. Marsh Safety Award:  Darrin Pluhar of Plu’s Flying Service, for significant achievements in safety education to the industry.  
  • Zoren & Joan O’Brien Memorial Outstanding Service Award: Sam Rogge of Jet Stream Ag Aviation and Rob Scherzinger of Aspen Ag Helicopters, for outstanding service to the commercial ag aviation industry.
 

NAAA Precision Ag Committee (pictured above) was one of 20+ committees that met over four days.
 
Budget and Finance Committee
Treasurer Ray Newcomb oversaw the annual audit of the NAAA and NAAREF’s finances.  This audit is conducted each year by an independent CPA to ensure that the association’s procedures follow professional accounting standards.  The audit received a glowing review and was accepted by the board. 
 
Communications & Public Relations Committee
Chairman Matt Regier successfully sought Board approval for moving ahead with a contract with Farm Journal for a one-page article and half page ad in four issues of The Scoop each year which has a circulation of 40,000 ag retailers and crop consultants nationwide.  The article will also be published in AgWeb’s eNewsletter (circulation: 100,000 U.S. farmers and possibly other Farm Journal publications.  The money saved from going to three from four Agricultural Aviation magazines a year will pay for this widely circulated external promotional information to potential agricultural aviation customers.  
 
Regier also announced that the NAAA eNewsletter will have a new look in 2024, that NAAA  launched a new look and feel to its website: AgAviation.org, and that AgAir Update will continue to publish a monthly NAAA column in its magazine as it has so generously done since 2012. Also, NAAA is providing Flying Magazine a free booth in exchange for an ag aviation career based advertising in their magazine of 82,000 subscribers.
 
Chairman Regier also announced that Syngenta has agreed to host another NAAA Leadership Training Program in 2024 with 14 attendees which takes us back to what the program was pre-pandemic in terms of aerial application participants.
 
Convention Committee
Co-Chairman Lynn Justesen of UPL urged everyone to take advantage of early attendee registration for the Ag Aviation Expo that ends on Nov. 3rd that will save $75 per person. He also mentioned that he’s conversed with people that have booked airline tickets to Palm Springs recently and some good rates can be had right now so he urged folks to book their tickets soon. 
 
He also mentioned that Pitch Perfect for PAASS will be held on Sunday, December 3rd in Palm Springs which is a karaoke fundraiser supporting NAAREF.  The fee to attend is a donation directly to NAAREF in the amount of $110 in return for two drink tickets and appetizers for the opportunity to watch some of the ag aviation industry’s greatest singers, which could be you if you want to throw in your name to karaoke. 
 
Government Relations Committee
The committee discussed in detail ADS-B collision avoidance technology. Chairman Reabe summarized that the general thought direction of the committee is that NAAA should promote ADS-B as a safety device, and that NAAA advocate that ADS-B data not be used by the FAA as an enforcement measuring technology, but rather as solely a collision avoidance device.  This is due to fears that ADS-B signals are available to the public and government to identify specific aircraft and their owners that could lead to unwarranted, frivolous investigations. Concerns were also registered that the technology is not failsafe due to situations where it loses its signal and incidents where its signal is spoofed.  As such a full position requiring its use was not advocated by the Committee at this time.
 
Insurance Committee
Sam Rogge, Committee Chairman, reported on an NAAA survey where operators were asked if they would be interested in health and/or life insurance through NAAA. Seventy-nine percent (79%) reported interest in health insurance and 77% reported interest in life insurance.  On the health insurance end, NAAA is working with a nationwide network—Decisely—to provide health insurance to NAAA members.  For the program to be successful, it would need at least 1,000 participants to benefit everyone and reduce insurance costs. The committee supported moving forward to pay Decisely to conduct a larger survey of NAAA members and the industry and to develop a health insurance plan.  This motion was approved by the board.
 
Membership Committee
Chairman Dwayne O’Brien, and the committee determined the Ag Wings of Tomorrow scholarship applications and the highest ranked winners. Scholarship recipients are: Macy Arbuckle (sponsored by Mark Noe, Vinton IA); Max Gschwendtner (sponsored by Scott Petersen of Pontiac, IL); Delfino Martinez (sponsored by Pat Kornegay, San Benito, TX) and Saint-Andre Roux (sponsored by Scott Heinen, Seneca, KS).  The committee also determined the Charles Stokes Memorial Turbine Training Scholarship recipient, which is Drew Cavanaugh (sponsored by Robert Shepard, Minden, NE).
 
Museum Committee
Chairman Matt Woolard announced that the Snow S-2 aircraft—one of the first aircraft built specifically for aerial application, will be delivered to the National Agricultural Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame in Jackson, Miss. in 2024. The engine will be removed, auctioned off and the proceeds will go to the museum.  
 
The committee also discussed a walkway at the location lined with bricks with the names of fallen pilots on each brick. Graham Lavendar of AgAir Update has taken up obtaining names with some assistance from NAAA. It is a noble, honorable tribute to these men and women pilots that have given the ultimate sacrifice to the industry.  
 
Nominating Committee
2022 NAAA President and current Nominating Committee Chairman Jim Perrin recommended the following people for the 2024 NAAA Officer team: 
  • President – Ray Newcomb (Northeast)
  • Vice President – Glenn Holloway (Miss.)
  • Secretary – Joel Meyer (Iowa)
  • Treasurer – Matt Woolard (Ark.)
 
The nominees will be officially voted on at the Sunday, December 3, 2023, NAAA board meeting in Palm Springs, Calif.
 
Safety & Federal Aviation Regulations Committee
Matt Hovdenes of North Dakota, Committee Chairman stated that in conjunction with the Helicopter Association International a Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) specific for agricultural aviators has been developed. A FRAT is a tool used by aviators to access various sources of risks for the flight they are about to take. These include pilot health, experience, weather conditions, aircraft condition, distractions, safety equipment, landing conditions, and obstacles. The FRAT designed for ag operations is split between risks that should be assessed weekly, daily, and every flight. Not that the agricultural aviation FRAT has been developed it will not be beta tested by some ag pilots that are still flying this year. After that input is collected the Committee will determine the next steps in February which could include full deployment to the industry.
 
Support Committee
Tiffany Rivenbark, Support Chair. announced that with the new Athena Project logo comes a new Athena Project curricula this season which will be presented at 13 different state conventions. The topic is “Five Blades to Propel your Health and Wellness” and will cover nutrition and hydration, physical, mental, and environmental health, as well as relationships for ag aviation operations’ pilots and crew.
 
Rivenbark also mentioned that the Support Committee scholarships were awarded to Lillian Chisum as the $2,000 recipient and Shelby Heinen as the $1,000 recipient. The 2024 topic will be “What are the biggest obstacles to the ag aviation industry in your local community?” 
 
National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation
NAAREF President Perry Hofer provided the report and stated that the PAASS program will be presented at the Helicopter Association International’s 2024 convention—HELI EXPO in Anaheim this winter.  He also mentioned working with various helicopter groups on wire strike avoidance and low altitude hazards for future sessions at their conventions. 
 
NAAREF also announced new nominees to its board, those being:
  • Jim Perrin, Wisconsin (first term)
  • John Wright, Assured Partners (first term)
  • Matt Hovdenes, North Dakota (second, three-year term)
 
President Hofer thanked the outgoing NAAREF Board Members: JT Helms and Dominique Youakim.
 
State and Regional Reports
Matt Woolard with the Arkansas Ag Aviation Association generously presented NAAREF with a $5,000 check to continue its substantive, life-saving educational equipment. 
 

Arkansas AAA Board Member Matt Woolard presents NAAREF President Perry Hofer with a $5,000 donation.
 
Glenn Holloway of Mississippi reported about wind tower legislation being considered in the state. He reported that companies are installing wind towers so quickly that the Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Association has contracted with a state lobbying group to enact legislation requiring that in the even a tower is erected between 50-200 feet, the tower sponsor be required to alert the association’s executive director about the tower’s geospatial location so that an alert may be sent to ag pilots in the state. 
 
In a gesture of great appreciation, before the NAAA Board meeting concluded its regular business on Saturday afternoon, October 7th, President Craft thanked those rotating off of the NAAA Board—Bruce Hubler (Oregon), Sam Rogge (Colorado), Lee Turnquist (Florida).
 

Fred Ayers, Founder of Ayers Corporation & Ag Aviation Industry Pioneer, Passes

Fred Ayers, the founder of Ayers Corporation, which evolved into Thrush Aircraft, passed away on October 6 at the age of 93. He was inducted into the National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame (NAAHOF) in 1997 and the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in 2002.  
 
Ayers was awarded NAAA’s Delta Air Lines “Puffer” Award in 1976; the award is presented to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the design of agricultural aircraft and/or related equipment.
 
Born in Dothan, Alabama, on December 10, 1930, Fred P. Ayres studied aeronautical engineering at the University of Alabama, served in the U. S. Army for two years during the Korean War, and then attended Mexico City College. He obtained his commercial pilot's license in 1955 and began a career in aviation by becoming a crop-dusting pilot. 
 
According to the 1997 NAAHOF awards presentation for Ayres, “In 1958, Fred started his own spray business in Blakely, GA, after flying for three years with Dothan Aviation in Dothan, AL. He was one of the first operators of the Grumman Ag Cat and operated a fleet of five by 1962. As the years continued, Ayres developed a relationship with Rockwell International, marketing their line of agricultural aircraft, including the A-9 Sparrow and A9-B Quail, along with the S2R Thrush. In 1967, he formed Ag Aero Distributors, Inc. to handle the domestic and worldwide distribution of Rockwell ag aircraft in the world. Ag Aero rapidly became the largest distributor of Rockwell ag aircraft in the world.” 
 
In the book Power: The Pratt and Whitney Canada Story, “Ayers spoke to Rockwell about doing a PT6-powered Thrush. They weren’t interested so he approached Pratt & Whitney Canada and made his own deal, hiring Serv Aero of Salinas, CA, to do the conversion. His first Turbo Thrush flew in September 1975.” The aircraft was a Thrush S-2R, a single-seat ag monoplane powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6.
 
Ayres was quoted as saying, “We were doing so well with the PT6 that whenever we found an operator with enough capital to afford a conversion, we had a sure sale. We couldn’t get airframes fast enough. The PT6 was right up front in our decision to buy the Thrush rights from Rockwell.” 
 
In 1976, Ayers negotiated with Rockwell International for the purchase of the Albany plant and its general aviation assets; the transaction was completed in November 1977. 
 
In addition to the work he was already doing, Ayres established an ag pilot training school at Commander Air Service. The training curriculum began with 20 hours of dual instruction in a 450 Stearman and progressed to 30 hours of supervised solo in all the major ag aircraft manufactured at that time. The school was an instant success, with students coming from around the world for the best agricultural aviation training available.
 
In the 1980s, First Lady Nancy Reagan encouraged children to “Just Say No” to drugs and the aerial application industry had already been assisting with efforts on eradication of illegal drugs since the 1970s. Ayres played a central role in these drug eradication efforts and he was contracted by the U.S. State Department to develop a special version of the Turbo Thrush known as the Narcotics Eradication Delivery System (NEDS). 
 
The NEDS plane was beefed up with a powerful PT6 engine to carry its 2-ton load of herbicides and still be able to maneuver through enemy fire. The planes had a maximum speed of 250 miles per hour and could fly up to 1,000 miles on one tank of gas. Able to cruise at speeds under 100 miles an hour, the planes could stay in the air for up to seven hours at a time. The aircraft were modified over time to add weapons capabilities, night vision cameras and other surveillance equipment.
 
The Ayres Corporation delivered nine NEDS airplanes to the State Department from 1983 to 1985. In 1989, Ayres built a souped-up version of the NEDS aircraft called the V-1-A Vigilante. The wingspan was just over 44 feet, and its empty weight was 4,900 pounds. It could take off and land with as much as 10.500 pounds altogether. 
 
The Ayres Corporation in the 1990's transformed itself from a small company primarily manufacturing and distributing crop spraying aircraft to a 700-employee diversified aerospace company. In addition, the purchase of LET, an aircraft manufacturing firm in the Czech Republic was realized. That company's 1,700 employees produced the 19-passenger L410/420 and the 40-seat L610 and market them worldwide. 
 
In June 2003, Thrush Aircraft was formed from Ayres Corporation. Listen to this great interview of Ayres conducted by AgAir Update in 2014. NAAA’s thoughts and prayers are with the Ayres family at the loss of Mr. Ayers.
 

Congratulations to Bill Lavender, Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame’s Newest Inductee

AgAir Update founder Bill Lavender has been selected as a 2024 Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame Inductee. Congratulations to Bill on this great achievement and thank you to everyone in the industry who voted for Bill! 
 
Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame candidates are nominated based on their “outstanding and lasting contributions to the advancement of aviation or manned space flight.”
 
Bill began his aviation career in 1973 and has amassed over 14,000 flight hours. In his early career, he progressed from flying banners and skydivers to active agricultural aviation flying as an operator and pilot in central Georgia until the early 2000s when he retired to focus on his publications, including AgAir Update. Bill retired from general aviation flying in 2021. During his four-decade aviation career, he has owned and operated over 15 aircraft, from AgWagons to Turbine Thrush and Barons. Bill taught his son, Graham, to fly at a very early age, continuing the family aviation tradition. 
 
Bill was inducted into the National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame in 2017. The NAAHOF is housed at the Mississippi Ag Museum in Jackson, Miss. Bill has also received the following NAAA awards:
  • Richard “Dick” Reade Memorial Award (previously the Related Industry Award) in 1992.
  • NAAA Falcon Club Pin in 2002.
Congratulations to one of the biggest champions of the aerial application industry!
 

Ag Pilot Writes Children’s Book About Flying an Ag Plane & the Benefits of Aerial Application

Third generation pilot and Arkansas ag pilot, Peter Schellenberger, has written and published a new children’s book called Crop Duster Pete. The book takes children along for a ride in an Air Tractor and teaches them about the benefits of aerial application. 
 
“Have you ever seen the iconic yellow airplane racing low to the ground just above green fields in the sunshine? Have you ever wanted to experience it firsthand? Now is your chance to ride along with Crop Duster Pete and find out. Flying from daylight to dark, you will see what Pete accomplishes to help farmers protect their crops from weeds and bugs that threaten to destroy our food supply. Put on your helmet and strap yourself in.”
 
You can purchase books at the Ag Aviation Expo at the Support Fundraising booth. It  is also available in both digital and paperback at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart. 
 

Ag Aviation Expo Attendee Pre-Reg Closes Nov. 3; Room Block Closes Nov. 9

NAAA is excited to host our annual convention in Palm Springs, CA Dec. 4-7. We still have plenty of hotel rooms available at the Hilton and Hyatt in the NAAA room block for those who haven’t booked a room or are still undecided. The deadline to book your hotel room in the NAAA block is Nov. 9. 
 
If you’re attending, we urge you to save $75.00 and pre-register by Nov. 3. It will also help us reduce lines at the registration desk and have accurate food/beverage counts, especially if you’re attending the Kickoff Breakfast to hear from Burt Rutan, Aerospace entrepreneur and Virgin Galactic spacecraft designer.
 
In addition to attendee registration, please also register for the following events:
  1. Flying in the Wire and Obstruction Environment Course, which is acclaimed by professional airplane and helicopter operators world-wide. It gives low-altitude aviators the essential skills needed to safely operate an aircraft in wire and obstruction environments. This course is for both aircraft and helicopter pilots. Learn how to identify signs of wires and why ag aviators hit wires they already knew were there. This course may very well save your life—don’t miss it. $150 per person; 8-hour course; register online.
  2. Pitch Perfect for PAASS is a karaoke fundraising event for NAAREF's PAASS program. Anyone can sing, no matter their vocal range. You can form a team to sing if you don’t have what it takes to get up on stage by yourself. This is a terrific social event with the added benefit of raising money for NAAREF and PAASS and the lifesaving and environmental stewardship benefits those entities achieve. Join us Sunday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. $110 donation to NAAREF per person; register online.
  3. Support Committee’s Monday Cooking Demonstration & Wine Pairing with the chef of the Palm Springs Convention Center. Event RSVP is required to Cathy Ellett.
We look forward to seeing you in December for networking, education, CEUs and a really good time! 

Details for the 2023 Ag Aviation Expo

  • Dates: Dec. 4-7, 2023
  • Location: Palm Springs Convention Center and Renaissance (the two facilities are attached)
  • Kickoff Breakfast Speaker: Burt Rutan, Aerospace Legend
  • General Session Speakers:  Ed Messina & Terry Kippley & Turn Smart Safety Session
  • Schedule of Events: See the current, tentative schedule here.
  • Hotel: Details here.
  • Attendee Registration: Now Open here.
  • Exhibitor Booth Sales: Booth Sales Open here.
  • Sponsorship Opportunities: View the sponsorships opportunities here. We have sponsorships available for all budget sizes. Please email Lindsay if you would like to secure a sponsorship.
  • Auction Donations: Thank you to Pratt & Whitney Canada for donating a PT6-34AG engine and Air Tractor for donating a custom Can Am to this year’s NAAA Live Auction. In addition to their generous engine donation, Pratt & Whitney Canada will also have an additional surprise donation at the NAAA Live Auction to celebrate their 60th anniversary of the PT6 family of engines and for reaching nearly 1 billion hours flown since the company was founded in 1928. Please consider making a donation for the Live and Silent Auction. Support the aerial application industry by donating an item today. Email Lauren with your donation details.
 

Renew Your NAAA Membership for 2024

 

Thank you for your support of NAAA as a 2023 member. We request your continued support by renewing your NAAA membership for 2024. While you have been busy aiding farmers to produce a safe, affordable, and abundant supply of food, fiber, and bioenergy, NAAA has been busy making sure low altitude airspace is safe for your aerial application business to operate, as well as ensuring that you have the pesticide products you need to do your job. 

 

Several of NAAA’s accomplishments this year, on your behalf, include: 

  • NAAA launched C-PAASS, for aerial applicators that take additional steps to augment their professionalism through education and testing who may be recognized and rewarded by their insurance providers, pesticide manufacturers, and customers. 
  • Since 2017, NAAA has submitted a total of 267 comments to the EPA to keep aerial applications on pesticide labels with great success enabling you to keep a deep inventory of pesticide tools without unnecessary and burdensome restrictions.
  • Due to NAAA's advocacy work, the House passed FAA Reauthorization bill directing FAA to broaden protections ensuring the safety of manned aircraft from drones operating beyond visual line of site in addition to those drones operating under Part 107 and those above 55 pounds. 
  • NAAA is actively advocating Congress for Farm Bill inclusion of exempting NPDES Permits for pesticide applicators and other key unnecessary, burdensome and duplicative regulatory relief provisions, in addition to continuing substantive USDA research for developing safer, more efficient aerial application technologies.
  • NAAA’s “Aerial Application: Above All Forms of Crop Care” ad campaign and accompanying web search tool identifying member businesses is widely circulated to hundreds of thousands of potential aerial application users.

You will also continue to receive ongoing benefits, such as legal consultation on federal aviation laws, discounts for attending or exhibiting at the Ag Aviation Expo, staying connected to members through the print and online NAAA Membership Directory and receiving Association publications and eNewsletters, social media briefings and substantive web content at AgAviation.org. 

 

Please make it a priority to renew your NAAA membership---the payoff far exceeds what you will spend in dues in the form of effective advocacy that reduces regulation and taxes affecting your aerial application business and trade association membership dues are tax deductible.

 

Beware of Fraudulent Emails & Calls with Ag Aviation Expo Name

NAAA received notification that scammers using the company name Convention Housing Experts LLC have sent an email to several Allied members offering hotel rooms. NAAA also received notification that a different company has called some of our Allied members telling them to book their hotel room with them. These communications are spam and not affiliated with NAAA; please delete it and do not respond to their calls. 
 
Please only book your Ag Aviation Expo hotel room using information directly from NAAA. You can find our hotel room block details here. 
 
If you are unsure if an email is legitimately from NAAA, please feel free to email information@agaviation.org for clarification. Any message from NAAA will come directly from a staff member's email address, information@agaviation.org, or naaaexpo@agaviation.org.
 
There are several reports of entities trying to scam people by having them give money toward fraudulent efforts. Do not fall victim to one of these scams.
 

PAASS Programs Scheduled for 2023-2024 Convention Season; Requirement for C-PAASS Certification

The industry’s state/regional convention season begins in less than two weeks, first with Michigan AAA and then the Kansas AAA and California AAA conventions. Review the calendar of conventions here. As you determine what state/regional conventions you’re going attend, make sure you plan to attend a PAASS Program. Attending the PAASS program not only makes you a safer ag pilot, it can also provide you with the continuing education units from state pesticide agencies needed to renew your commercial pesticide license.
 
The 2023-2024 PAASS program will begin with a review of agricultural aviation accidents from the 2023 season. It will also include a discussion of accident trends seen over the 10-year period from 2013 to 2022.
 
For the human factors segment, PAASS will take on the subjects of stall spin accidents and overly aggressive flying. Fran de Kock of Battlefords Airspray in Canada provides both classroom and in-cockpit instruction on how to turn an agricultural aircraft safely, training to learn how an aircraft feels as it approaches a stall, and why agricultural aviation is not aerobatics.
 
PAASS will go back to the basics in environmental professionalism – discussing the importance of droplet size and boom length. Using larger spray droplets and reducing the length of the boom are both proven techniques for reducing drift. 
 
To reinforce the importance of security at ag aviation operations, the 2023-2024 PAASS program will provide details on an incident where a perpetrator attempted to steal an agricultural aircraft. By learning about this incident, operators and pilots can better assess their own security measures in order to prevent criminals from stealing or damaging equipment and contaminating fuel and agrichemicals. Review a full summary of the 2023-2024 program here.
 
Attending a PAASS Program is one of the requirements for becoming a Certified-Professional Aerial Applicator Safety Steward (C-PAASS). Requirements include:
  1. Annual attendance at PAASS.
  2. Biennial Participation in Operation S.A.F.E. If you are unable to attend a traditional Fly-In this Fall, as an NAAA member, you have alternative options; read more.
  3. NAAA Membership.
  4. State/Regional Association Membership.
 
The application window for 2023 C-PAASS Certification will close shortly after the Ag Aviation Expo. Make sure your name is on this prestigious list for the inaugural year of C-PAASS. If you haven’t done so yet, you can check your 2023 C-PAASS eligibility here.
 

Rantizo, Spray Drone Company, Receives $6 Million in Expansion Funding

Aerial spray drone company Rantizo, an NAAA Allied Industry member based in Iowa City, IA, has received $6 million in expansion funding led by Leaps by Bayer, Fulcrum Global Capital, and Innova Memphis.  Leaps by Bayer (Bayer the pesticide and pharmaceutical company) has invested over $1.5 billion in venture capital in the agriculture and health care industries in an effort, according to its website, to “shift core paradigms in our industries.”
 
CEO Rantizo Mariah Scott stated, "Our vision is to build a service network that puts autonomy to work in ag, starting with spray drone services. We are excited to expand our nationwide operator network, deploy our work management and as-applied map software, and continue our exponential growth in acres treated."
 
Rantizo operators provide drone application services in 30 states. View the full press release here.
 

Former NAAA President Leland Shelton Passes

Arthur Leland Shelton, 87, of Hereford, Texas passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023.Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Avenue Baptist Church in Hereford.


Leland was the proud President of the Texas Agricultural Aviation Association in 1983 and the National Agricultural Aviation Association in 1985. He was chairman of the committee that developed Operation S.A.F.E., which has been instrumental in the industry concerning spray patterns and drift control. Leland was awarded with the NAAA Agrinaut Award in 1990 and the Outstanding Service Award in 1985 (now called the Zoren & Joan O’Brien Memorial Outstanding Service Award).


Born May 17, 1936 in Taft, California to Olin and Thelma Shelton, he was a graduate of Dimmitt High School and joined the Army where he became a paratrooper.


In 1958, Leland moved to Hereford and began working for B&O Spraying Co. In 1960, he met Mary Patton, the love of his life, and they were married on July 30, 1961. Shortly after their marriage he started flying lessons and in 1964, he got the opportunity to become a partner in the company, and it became Whiteface Aviation. He was the managing partner until 1986, when he became the sole owner. During his time in the aerial application industry, he received many awards and recognition.


Leland was a great hard-working husband, father, and grandpa, who was always proud of his family, loved having family get togethers and he also loved the times he spent in Ruidoso. Leland also enjoyed working, playing golf, fishing, and many other things.


Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Mary, of Hereford; sons, Terry and his wife, Sandy of Hereford, Jeff and his wife, Kim of Crockett; grandchildren, Jessica and husband, Nathan, Tanner and wife, Whitney, Raegan and husband, Ryan, Peyton, Teagan and wife, Sydney and Macie; great grandchildren, Sonen, Cora, Wesley, and Lyla; brother, Jerry and wife, Beth of Tulia; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Laquita Griffith and Melba Conard, and a brother, Donald Shelton.


In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Avenue Baptist Church, 130 N 25 Mile Ave, Hereford, TX 79045 or to Hereford Senior Citizens Center, 426 Ranger St., Hereford, TX 79045.

Aerial Applicators Showed up in Droves at the Greenville, MS Aviation Day

This past weekend, the city of Greenville, MS, Mid-Delta Airport hosted Greenville Aviation Day. The event hosted a wide range of aircraft, hot air balloons, an Aeroshell team performance, and many aerial applicators showed up to show off their aircraft and the aerial application industry.
 
Jon Byrd, a pilot in Sidon, MS flew in and displayed the Snow S-2. Richard Davidson, operator of Southland Flying Service in Tchula, MS flew in a Stearman and Baylor Bryant, operator of Valley Air Applicators in Indianola, MS flew in and displayed the AT-602. Blues Air, LLC, affiliated with Delta State University, exhibited an AT-802 and Cessna Ag Truck. 
 
Exciting demonstrations were performed at the aviation day. Our industry’s own Frank Kimmel of Kimmel Aviation Insurance Agency in Greenwood, MS performed in his T-6.
 
Stephen Covington amazed everyone with his aerobatic performances in his highly modified Pitts S2S named the “Raptor”. Eric Hollingsworth put on quite the show in his L2 Taylorcraft by performing exciting aerobatics.
 
If you’re hosting or exhibiting at a similar event in the future, don’t forget to share NAAA’s Career webpage, which is chocked full of information, such as flight schools and scholarship opportunities.
 

NAAA Support Committee Events at Ag Aviation Expo

We look forward to seeing you at the 2023 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in Palm Springs, CA, Dec. 4-7. The NAAA Support Committee has organized several fun events at the Ag Aviation Expo for spouses/significant others, family members and office crew. Save $75 by pre-registering by Nov. 3 for what promises to be an outstanding convention!

2023 Ag Aviation Expo Support Committee Events

Monday, Dec. 4: Food & Wine Tasting (RSVP required) 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Enjoy a food and wine pairing cooking demonstration from the chef of the Palm Springs Convention Center. Meet other women in the industry and enjoy a great light lunch and new wines. RSVP required for event to Cathy Ellett at catellett@gmail.com. Sponsored by GarrCo Products Inc. and Star-Flex
 
Wednesday, Dec. 6: Athena Project Presentation (no RSVP required) 9:45–11:45 a.m.
Attend the Wednesday Athena Project presentation titled, “Five Blades to Propel your Health and Wellness,” which will cover nutrition and hydration, physical, mental and environmental health, as well as relationships.  The program is written by the Athena presenters and committee members for office bookkeepers, working loaders, operators, pilots and family members. The program covers information that is beneficial to anyone working in the industry and family members. Attend this session, whether you’re a spouse, office crew or family member, to gain inspiration, encouragement, and advice on better ways to serve our industry. All are invited and no RSVP is required. Sponsored by Chuck Holzwarth Flying Service.
 
Wednesday, Dec. 6: NAAREF Relationship Drift (no RSVP required) 4–6 p.m.
The Relationship Drift Session will look at how personal relationships affect pilot decision making and safety. Men and women should attend this session together, including couples and office crew. This is similar in format to the popular Compaass Rose program, but instead of better facilitating relations between inexperienced pilots and more experienced operators, the new session is designed to facilitate relations between operators/pilots and their spouses or significant others and office crew. All are invited!  Sponsored by Rotorcraft Repair & Manufacturing
 

Is Operation S.A.F.E. on your End-of-Season Checklist?

If your aircraft has not been through Operation S.A.F.E. in 2022 or 2023, NAAREF recommends doing so prior to the start of the 2024 season. While many across the country have their aircraft pattern tested in the Spring, it is not at all uncommon to do so in the Fall. Performing this critical testing on your equipment in the Fall presents several benefits. The operational pace, for one, is typically milder in Fall compared to Spring. You also may have ideas for application setup changes fresh in your mind after a season focused on your work. 
 
If you are unable to attend a traditional Fly-In this Fall, as an NAAA member, you have alternative options.
 
Earlier this year, NAAA announced the release of DropFlight, an iPhone/iPad app which allows extremely fast scanning and analysis of water-sensitive spray cards, all on your Apple mobile devices. This tool, created under the direction of a U.S. aerial applicator, is targeted specifically for aerial applicators to use in assessing spray pattern uniformity, effective swath width and droplet size across the swath. 
 
 

 
Use NAAA member code:  NAAA23
 
Another option for conducting your own spray pattern testing is to use AccuPatt, the same desktop (Windows/MacOS) software that Operation S.A.F.E. Analysts use. Originally developed to run the string testing systems you may have seen at a Fly-In, AccuPatt has grown to include spray-card-analysis functionality that can be used independently to perform spray-card-only pattern testing. Now, it is being offered to NAAA members for use in their own operation at no cost. A flatbed scanner is required to digitize the spray-cards for analysis.
 
Consult the User Manual to get up and running
 
To further reduce friction in getting your spray pattern testing underway, DropFlight is also offering all the needed testing gear. Available as a convenient kit, or by the piece, their card mounting system makes it simple to lay out cards uniformly and in the correct orientation to the wind. This testing gear will work with both DropFlight and AccuPatt and is the fastest and most convenient way to acquire all the equipment you need to conduct your own pattern testing.
 
As always, if you consult with a NAAREF-recognized Operation S.A.F.E. Analyst about your pattern testing data, they can report this to NAAREF as participation in Operation S.A.F.E. NAAA members will receive an official letter of participation and credit toward C-PAASS certification.
 
The application window for 2023 C-PAASS Certification will close shortly after the Ag Aviation Expo. Make sure your name is on this prestigious list for the inaugural year of C-PAASS; if Operation S.A.F.E. credit is the only box left for you to tick before applying, this is your opportunity. If you haven’t done so yet, you can check your 2023 C-PAASS eligibility here.
 

Thank You, NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Sponsors! Attendees, Register Today!

Attendee registration and booth sales are open! NAAA sincerely appreciates the companies that support NAAA and the agricultural aviation industry by sponsoring the 2023 Ag Aviation Expo in Palm Springs, California, Dec. 4-7. We have been fortunate over the years to be able to count on many of our Allied Industry members to sponsor a convention program, activity or item that benefits attendees. We appreciate them taking advantage of the opportunity to reach thousands of potential customers in the agricultural aviation industry. More opportunities to participate in the auction and to sponsor are listed below. 
 
Sponsoring companies help ensure the success of our annual Ag Aviation Expo, and we still have many opportunities available! Seventy-five percent of attendees surveyed in a post-convention survey stated they would be “very likely” to use the products and services of a company that sponsors the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo.
Thank you to our 2023 Ag Aviation Expo sponsors:
  • Diamond Sponsors: BASF, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Syngenta, UPL North America
  • Platinum Sponsor: Transland
  • Gold Sponsors: AG-NAV, AgriSmart Information Systems/Flight Plan Online, Air Tractor, Covington Aircraft, Bayer CropScience, GarrCo Products, Insero, Old Republic Aerospace, Starr Insurance Companies
  • Silver Sponsors: Aeris Insurance Solutions, AgAir Update, AIG, AssuredPartners, CapstanAG, Chuck Holzwarth Flying Service, Davidson Solid Rock Insurance, FMC, Kimmel Aviation Insurance Agency, Lane Aviation, North Star Aviation Inc., Perfect Flight App, Rotorcraft Repair & Manufacturing, Southeastern Aircraft Sales & Service, Star-Flex, Turbine Conversions, US Specialty Insurance Company/Tokio Marine HCC
  • Bronze Sponsors:  Chem-Man by DataSmart, Praxidyn
We know that sponsoring companies have the opportunity to support many organizations, and we appreciate their support of NAAA! We still have sponsorships available for this year’s Ag Aviation Expo. Learn more about sponsorship here or contact Lindsay Barber at (202) 546-5722.

Details for the 2023 Ag Aviation Expo

  • Dates: Dec. 4-7, 2023
  • Location: Palm Springs Convention Center and Renaissance (the two facilities are attached)
  • Kickoff Breakfast Speaker: Burt Rutan, Aerospace Legend
  • General Session Speakers:  Ed Messina & Terry Kippley & Turn Smart Safety Session
  • Schedule of Events: See the current, tentative schedule here.
  • Hotel: Details here.
  • Attendee Registration: Now Open here.
  • Exhibitor Booth Sales: Booth Sales Open here.
  • Sponsorship Opportunities: View the sponsorships opportunities here. We have sponsorships available for all budget sizes. Please email Lindsay if you would like to secure a sponsorship from last year or be contacted about 2023 opportunities!
  • Auction Donations: Thank you to Pratt & Whitney Canada for donating a PT6-34AG to this year’s NAAA Live Auction. Please consider making a donation 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 Lauren with your donation details.

Important Call for GPS Data to Protect Manned Ag Aircraft from Drones

In 2022, an FAA advisory committee weighted with drone interests from Amazon, Google and other unmanned corporate interests suggested that the agency promulgate rules that drones operating beyond visual line of sight be permitted to:

  • Increase their weight to 1,320 pounds
  • Not equip with ADS-B identification technology
  • Not give the right of way to manned aircraft when operating in rural, low-altitude airspace because they claimed there are no other users of this airspace.
As an ag aviator, you know these requests to be patently unsafe and based on false premises. As such, we call on you to help us collect information on ag aircraft’s use of the low-altitude airspace. NAAA is working with and supports Mississippi State University’s (MSU) Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and its continuing research on safe operational distances between low-altitude, manned aircraft and drones. The study’s objectives are to:
  1. Identify Ag Aircraft Operational Trends
  2. Develop Ag Aircraft Operational Model
  3. Validate Model through Observation/Collection of Empirical Data
  4. Inform/Educate UAS Operators
  5. Promote Safety in all Low-Altitude Ag Environments
Your voluntary participation in this study is critical to achieving these objectives. NAAA encourages you to donate your GPS flight log data to participate in this timely research. Logs from any year(s) are welcome and will be washed of any identifying information prior to use.
Many of you have previously contributed during the first stage of data collection from 2017 to 2020 when NAAA members donated 49,180 flight logs from 20 states. The second stage of the study began in 2021 and seeks to additionally include aircraft make and model info. These details are important, as the airspace modeling will be impacted by aircraft types differently, such as fixed-wing versus helicopter operations.

More GPS flight log data is needed to continue this study. Because of the diverse growing areas and unique geographical challenges experienced by aerial applicators, it is imperative that as many states and regions as possible are represented. This will ultimately help facilitate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into these different airspaces.

As a reminder, NAAA and Raspet have agreed that all submitted information will remain confidential, and all GPS flight logs will be stripped of any personally identifying information before any research is conducted using the data.

There are several methods available to submit your data:
  1. Request a secure upload link for larger uploads OR email directly to Madison Dixon, Research Director.
    Email:     mdixon@raspet.msstate.edu
  2. Mail a flash drive or other storage device to the address below. (The device will be immediately mailed back once data is received if a return address is provided):

Address:

Attn: Madison Dixon

Raspet Flight Research Lab – Bldg. 2

114 Airport Rd.

Starkville, MS 39759