NO GUY WIRE LEFT BEHIND CONTEST

“No Guy Wire Left Behind” is a contest that will pay $1,000.00 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.

History
Guy wires have been a hazard to aircraft for generations. We all agree that if we had a choice we would bury power lines and not pilots, but we burying lines is not a realistic option to the power companies. Karen Plath of Plath Aviation in Oaks, ND 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.

Solution
The NAAA Safety/Federal Aviation Regulations Committee went to work at their February 2008 meeting in Washington DC to develop a solution to this problem. The committee recommended two plans, which were then 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 able to easily attach to the guy wire approximately 10 feet above the ground. The proposal for the winning design will be manufactured in large quantities and distributed on a local level to groups such as the 4-H, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in the hopes that they will sell them for their charitable causes. 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 the owners of ground obstacles equipped with guy wires or entities that propose to construct such obstacles with guy wires, that these obstacles will present a hazard to aircraft. The letter will recommend that they can mitigate their hazard to our industry by purchasing guy wire markers that are specifically designed to be low cost, highly visible and easily attached to any guy wire system. The letter will designate where such markers can be purchased.

How you can help
The deadline for the contest is September 1, 2008. Click here to download a contest form. Please help by notifying any person or group you think may be interested in this exciting opportunity! The committee reserves the right to withhold the prize if none of the entries are selected. If you have any questions, please contact NAAA by phone at (202) 546-5722 or by email at information@agaviation.org.