Regulatory and Legislative Issues

Crop Protection Product Issues
NAAA is working hard to ensure that crop protection products remain available for aerial use and that professional aerial applicators have the flexibility they need to effectively do their job in protecting agriculture, forestry and public health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency responsible for registering crop protection products and determining how they may be used. As EPA works to make these determinations it is required to conclude each product’s health and safety effects, including a product’s effect on endangered species, water, drift and occupational exposure. Click here for the main pesticide issue pertaining to the aerial application industry.

Tax Issues
NAAA has been actively lobbying the Congress to amend the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax relief to aerial application operations nationwide. Efforts the Association has been involved with include successfully lobbying Congress to offer a full and complete tax credit from federal excise taxes levied on fuels used to perform agricultural and forestry aerial applications. NAAA is also actively working to provide tax relief to operations making security enhancements to their facilities. Click here for additional information.

Security Issues
Security issues have been a major focus of the Association’s activities in the aftermath of the 9/11/01 terror attacks against the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is still in the early stages of developing and enforcing rules to prevent acts of terrorism against the peoples of the United States. As we all know, times have changed in this country since those cataclysmic terror events stung our country in September of 2001. The best course to follow for the aerial application industry is to remain vigilant in securing ag aviation operations and make sure the community in which it is located—from law enforcement to local media to the general public—knows about the industry’s proactive efforts. NAAA has been active in informing the DHS’ Transportation Security Administration (TSA), FBI and a variety of other government agencies of the aerial application industry’s security efforts. One NAAA victory on the security front was getting the FAA to allow hidden ignition switches to be installed in ag planes without having to undergo the cumbersome FAA Form 337 process. NAAA also continues to monitor Congress and the number of different federal agencies involved with security to ensure that legislative and regulatory measures result in augmenting security, not unnecessarily burdening the industry. Click here for security issues pertaining to the aerial application industry.

Transportation Issues
NAAA is involved in a number of transportation issues. This includes attempts to prevent the placement of cell and wind-energy towers in the flight path of ag planes and on arable farm land, to trying to update the Federal Air Regulations pertaining to agricultural aviation to take into account the modernized aerial application industry. It also includes attempts to make highway transportation regulations more favorable to the aerial application industry by petitioning the DOT to allow industry operators to apply for “Restricted” commercial drivers licenses and additional needed regulatory relief. Click here for additional information.

Agricultural Aviation Political Action Committee
NAAA has established a Political Action Committee known as Ag-Av PAC. Ag-Av PAC serves to strengthen the agricultural aviation industry’s presence in Washington, DC by generating funds to contribute to candidates running for national office that support aerial applicators' role in helping American agriculture produce a safe, affordable and abundant supply of food and fiber to the world. Please help us in this effort and send a contribution to Ag-Av PAC at 1005 E Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. Click here for more information.

Updated February 4, 2008