NO GUY WIRE LEFT BEHIND CONTEST

“No Guy Wire Left Behind” is an exciting new challenge for all that want a chance to make a difference! This opportunity presents a contest that will pay $1000 to the best design for a guy wire marker. This marker will ultimately be attached to guy wires across America to help protect agricultural aircraft and birds.

History
Guy wires have been a hazard to aircraft and birds for generations. We all agree that if we had a choice we would bury power lines and not pilots, but we realize that is not a realistic option. One person from North Dakota, Karen Plath of Plath Aviation, tried another idea. Her plan was to approach the electric company and ask if they would install guy wire markers to better enhance their visibility. The electric company responded that they could install the traditional yellow sleeve marker and charge her for the material and labor. Not only was this option too expensive, but the traditional yellow sleeve markers are visible to ground personnel and not to aircraft or birds. Even on the legislative level Karen found that her concerns were of far less importance than the multitude of other issues that her representatives had piled on their plates. Karen then asked if the NAAA could help.

Solution
The NAAA Safety/ Federal Aviation Regulations Committee went to work at their spring board meeting in Washington D.C. in February of 2008. Two plans were developed and approved by the board of directors for implementation.

Plan 1 is to sponsor a contest to design a guy wire marking device. The device must be low cost, high visibility, weather resistant and have high design appeal. The marker should be easily attached to the guy wire approximately 10 feet above the ground. The winning design would be manufactured in large quantities and distributed on a local level to groups such as the 4H, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. These groups, after receiving an order, would sell the guy wire markers to companies who placed the order. The order would result from a letter generated from Plan 2.

Plan 2 is to develop a form letter after the guy wire markers are made available. This letter, to be made available to ag operators, is intended to notify companies that have existing guy wires, or propose to construct guy wires, that their project will present a hazard to aircraft and birds. The letter will recommended that they can mitigate their hazard by purchasing guy wire markers that are specifically designed to be low cost, high visibility and easily attached to any guy wire system. The letter will designate that the markers can be purchased from the group that you designate. The letter will explain the benefits of supporting the educational activities for the children in their communities.

How you can help
The deadline for the contest is September 1, 2008. Click here to download a contest form. The committee reserves the right to withhold the prize if none of the entries are selected. Please help by notifying any person or group you think maybe interested in this exciting opportunity!