ber 12, 20

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Grassroots Alert: Your Comments to FAA Needed to Support Vital Proposed Rule to Require Marking and Logging Meteorological Towers into National Database

After two decades of NAAA advocacy, FAA proposes requirements for marking and logging locations of meteorological towers (METs).  Specifically, this proposal applies to all existing, altered and new METs, with heights from 50 feet to 200 feet. The proposal is presently available for public comment in support of or in opposition of the proposed rule until January 17, 2025.  NAAA is urging aerial applicators and state and regional ag aviation associations nationwide to comment in favor of this proposed rule. Additionally, comments should direct the FAA to broaden the requirements to include both METs and other towers that fit the same height measurement; all should either be marked and or logged into an FAA database where their geospatial locations may be identified to enhance the safety of low-altitude pilots.

To review the proposed rule and submit comments, go to: https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2024-2574-0001.  To comment click the “Comment” button and follow the prompts to either directly write comments or upload them.  Please reference: Docket Number FAA-2024-2574 in your comments.  A draft of NAAA’s comments may be found here.  Follow the NAAA format in drafting your own comments, such as using your own personal or company letterhead.  Emphasize the following points:

  • Personalize your comments and elaborate on the area in which you treat crops aerially in your location, including acres treated, crops treated, number of farmer customers, etc.  (see pgs. 1 and 2 of NAAA’s comments titled “U.S. Aerial Application Industry Background” for examples).
  • Emphasize difficulty in observing unmarked towers and mention how often you come across unmarked towers whether they be communication, meteorological or other such towers in your local area.  Also mention potential growth of such towers in your area. (see pages 3 and 4 of NAAA’s comments under title “History, Importance and Justification of Tower Marking and Database Logging Policy” for examples).
  • Emphasize that the FAA: (1) abide by the NTSB’s recommendations and the statute giving it this marking and database logging authority and ensure that not only new and altered meteorological towers are required to be marked and have their geospatial coordinates logged into a database, but that existing meteorological towers are required to do the same; and (2) urge the agency to abide by the statute and NTSB recommendations and ensure that other unmarked towers that pose an equal safety risk to low altitude ag pilots and that fit the statute’s definition of covered towers, such as communication towers, are required to either be marked or logged into a database (see pages 6-8 “NAAA’s Comments on FAA-2024-2574 Rules to File Notice for Meteorological Towers and Other Wind Energy Systems” for examples).

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Air Tractor Wraps Up Its 50th Anniversary Year Summarized in Terrific Documentary

As Olney, Texas-based Air Tractor wraps up its 50th anniversary year, the company reflects on its history of innovation, hard work, and community support, honoring the contributions of employees, dealers, suppliers, and partners. The company released its 50th-anniversary documentary on YouTube last week. President Jim Hirsch emphasized that the anniversary was not just about longevity but about embracing the vision of founder Leland Snow. Looking forward, Air Tractor aims to continue producing high-quality aircraft while adapting to future challenges and opportunities. The company is on track for a record-breaking year, with a projected production of 210 aircraft. Global demand remains strong, especially in Brazil’s agriculture sector and the firefighting market across multiple countries. Air Tractor also completed nine military AT-802U aircraft this year.

Despite supply chain challenges, the company has stabilized operations by onshoring critical components. Air Tractor has made significant capital improvements, including expanded production facilities and the development of a new research and development area.  Hirsch emphasized the commitment to quality and innovation, ensuring Air Tractor’s leadership in agricultural aviation and aerial firefighting for the next 50 years. The company celebrated its history and future with a Founder’s Day celebration in May, reflecting on its journey from its first delivery to becoming a global industry leader. Watch the documentary here.

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Havoc at the Hangar: Wrestling Dual at the Ag Aviation Hangar Makes Headlines

Nebraskaland Aviation owners Tye and Aimee Marquardt, NAAA operator members, hosted “Havoc at the Hangar” in Holdrege, NE, on Friday, December 13, to help the local high school wrestling team with a unique, cutting-edge format and to promote positive awareness of the aerial application industry. As dedicated supporters of Holdrege High School Dusters athletics and with a son on the wrestling team, the Marquardts embraced coach’s idea of having a match in their hangar. This led to Nebraska’s first-ever wrestling dual held in an ag aircraft hangar. The event featured a purple and black wrestling mat beneath low lights—just like traditional duals—set up next to the Air Tractor 602, used by Nebraskaland Aviation for crop spraying throughout the season. The event, which now they hope to become an annual tradition, captured the attention of local media and is generating excitement across the state. If you have any local newsworthy stories or updates to share with NAAA, please email us at information@agaviation.org.

Tye & Aimee Marquardt, Nebraskaland Aviation owners, featured with coaches Logan Ausman, Nick Rimpley, Brandon Rimpley, and Dan Smith

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Give Back! Support NAAREF Today

As the year comes to an end, we hope you will consider a donation to support the National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation (NAAREF) programs, which includes PAASS and Operation S.A.F.E. NAAREF programs were designed and are succeeding in promoting safety and environmental professionalism to the aerial application industry. Without successful NAAREF educational programs it’s unquestionable that the regulatory requirements facing us would be more rigorous.  
 
NAAREF programs save lives, enhance our industry’s reputation, enable insurance discounts, and help us meet regulatory requirements for certification. Since it first hit the stage in 1998, PAASS—the Professional Aerial Applicators’ Support System—has reduced our accidents by 26% and drift complaints by 26%. This is a phenomenal achievement and PAASS played a major role. 
 
It takes industry donations from individuals such as yourself to ensure top quality and effective NAAREF programs. You can make a tax-deductible donation to NAAREF here.
 
Did you know that you can also make a donation directly from your retirement account to NAAREF? When you reach age 73*, you’re required to withdraw a certain amount of money from your retirement accounts each year. Talk to your tax advisor for the most up-to-date information regarding a required minimum distribution (RMD) that you can donate to NAAREF. The RMD is an attractive way for donors to make a significant charitable gift directly from their IRA to a charity through a qualified charitable contribution (QCD) while avoiding taxable income. QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA payable to a qualified charity, such as NAAREF. You can also bequeath charitable funds to NAAREF through your will or trust. Please talk to your financial advisor and/or legal consultant about these options.
 
With government support no longer available, we have lost 14% of the revenue needed to offer NAAREF programs. Pesticide manufacturing companies’ consolidation has also resulted in a loss of NAAREF sponsorship revenue. We need to increase the amount of charitable donations from individuals and companies such as yourself in order to make up for the loss and to not suffer a reduction in quality of PAASS. 
 
Please donate now to help support NAAREF programs and cultivate education, safety, and technology advancements in the industry. They save lives, reduce drift incidents, demonstrate the professionalism of the aerial application industry, and can help stave off additional government regulations. 

*Beginning in 2023, the SECURE 2.0 Act raised the age that you must begin taking RMDs to age 73. If you reached age 72 in 2023, the required beginning date for your first RMD is April 1, 2025, for 2024.

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Renew Your 2025 NAAA Membership Today

Thank you for your support as a 2024 member of NAAA. We request your continued support by renewing your NAAA membership for 2025 today. 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 and to ensure your success, include:

  • NAAA is now offering health and life insurance options for members. More details available here.
  • NAAA worked to secure permission from the FAA to use frequency 122.925 for radio communications between agricultural aircraft to operate safely.
  • NAAA lobbied for the FAA Reauthorization Bill to include NAAA language ensuring the safety of manned aircraft from drone activity in BVLOS airspace and language establishing a deadline to the FAA to promulgate tower marking and logging.
  • Since 2017, NAAA has submitted over 300 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.
  • NAAA’s 2024 articles appearing in Farm Journal publications, along with the “Aerial Application: Above All Forms of Crop Care” ad campaign and accompanying web search tool identifying member businesses, have been widely circulated to hundreds of thousands of potential aerial application users.
  • NAAA and NAAREF have grown the C-PAASS certification learning center to include online learning for aerial applicators who want to augment their professionalism and be recognized and rewarded by their insurance providers, pesticide manufacturers, regulators, and customers. Learn more at https://education.agaviation.org/.
  • New membership database, allowing for automatic renewal and single invoicing of all memberships at your operation or company. Contact information@agaviation.org for further details.

In 2025, you will continue to receive ongoing benefits such as discounts for attending or exhibiting at the Ag Aviation Expo, connect with members through the print and online NAAA Membership Directory and receive Association publications, eNewsletters, social media briefings and substantive web content at AgAviation.org. Log into your account on our website to pay your 2025 NAAA membership invoice. Details at AgAviation.org/membership.

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.

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In Case You Missed Last Week’s NAAA eNewsletter

Click here for the December 12, 2024 eNewsletter to read:

  • Gallagher Announces Acquisition of AssuredPartners
  • 2024 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Photos Now Available
  • EPA Issues Guidance on Final Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) Rule
  • Give Back! Support NAAREF Today
  • Give the Gift of Aerial Application: Agriculture’s Air Force: 100 Years of Aerial Application Book
  • Renew Your 2025 NAAA Membership Today
  • EPA Releases Updated Proposed Surface Water Mitigations for Atrazine to Protect Endangered Species
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to Protect Monarch Butterfly

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