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- Research on Economic Value of Agricultural Aviation Industry Published in Journal of Agribusiness Highlighting a Loss of 24% for Producers if Aerial Application Were Not Available
- Legislation Eliminating Burden of Clean Water Act’s Permits for Pesticide Applications Already Approved for Water Safety Under FIFRA Advances in Congress
- 2025 C-PAASS – Application Closing Friday!
- NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings Feb. 12-14 in Alexandria, VA, All Members Invited
- Renew Your 2026 NAAA Membership Today
- AD Issued for AStar Cargo Swing Emergency Release Control
- Superseding AD Issued for AStar Vertical Fin Spar
Research on Economic Value of Agricultural Aviation Industry Published in Journal of Agribusiness Highlighting a Loss of 24% for Producers if Aerial Application Were Not Available
Research supported by the NAAA that documented the economic impact of the agricultural aviation industry in the United States has been published in the Journal of Agribusiness, a peer-reviewed journal published by the Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia. The article “Value of the Agricultural Aerial Application Industry in the United States Delineated by Crops Grown and by State: A Counterfactual Study” was published in Volume 40, Issue Number 2 of the journal. This is listed as the Fall 2022 issue because the journal is still experiencing delays resulting from COVID-19.
The paper was authored by Kaitlynn Hughes, Senarath (Sam) Dharmasena, Ph.D. and Daniel Martin, Ph.D. Sam is an instructional associate professor in Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University. Kaitlynn is pursuing her Ph.D. in this department, and Dan is a former member of the USDA-ARS Aerial Application Technology Research Unit at College Station, TX.
Other portions of this research project have been previously presented at the 2020, 2021 and 2023 Ag Aviation Expos. The journal article focused on what would happen to the revenue for both producers and agricultural input suppliers if aerial application were no longer available for use in the U.S. The researchers concluded that the total loss in revenue for producers without access to aerial application would be 24%; for agricultural input suppliers, the loss in revenue would be 27%. This study highlights the important role agricultural aviation plays in agricultural production in the U.S.
Legislation Eliminating Burden of Clean Water Act’s Permits for Pesticide Applications Already Approved for Water Safety Under FIFRA Advances in Congress
Late last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the PERMIT Act (HR 3898) by a vote of 221-205. The legislation includes the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, which was originally introduced by Rep. Rouzer (R-NC) as HR 3824, and other Clean Water Act permit reform bills. The legislation would exclude permit applications to or near water from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) pesticide general permits (PGPs). This bill would eliminate the significant legal liability and paperwork burdens that various state and federal NPDES PGPs have placed on aerial applicators, mosquito abatement districts, and others that treat disease-carrying mosquitoes and other health-threatening pests since 2011. Pesticides, under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act are already required to be tested for water safety. The fate of the legislation is uncertain in the Senate, but NAAA will continue to push for its passage as a stand-alone bill, a package of other Clean Water Act permit bills or in the next Farm Bill. We are grateful to Rep. Rouzer for his continued efforts to advance this critical NPDES permit relief.
2025 C-PAASS – Application Closing Friday!
The time is almost up to apply to become a 2025 Certified-Professional Aerial Applicator Safety Steward (C-PAASS). This annual, individual certification for ag pilots, both operator and non-operator, serves to recognize a strong commitment to safety, professionalism and the pursuit of continuous improvement. Use it to positively distinguish yourself to insurers, customers, regulators and others outside the industry — and be a part of the force advancing safety, and changing the narrative, for agricultural aviation on a national level.
You can find additional information, as well as links to the requisite courses, at the My 2025 C-PAASS Progress page in the NAAA Education Center.
Apply for 2025 C-PAASS through the NAAA website – the application will close Friday, December 19 at 11:00 PM Eastern Time.
Once an application is approved, there is a $100 certification fee due to complete the process. Certified individuals are publicly listed and will receive a hard-copy certificate, pin and decal to signify their ongoing commitment to safety and professionalism.
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NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings Feb. 12-14 in Alexandria, VA, All Members Invited
The February 2026 NAAA & NAAREF Board and Committee meetings will take place at the Hilton Old Town in Alexandria, VA. Click here to view a schedule of meetings. All meetings are open to NAAA members. If you are not a board or committee member but you’re interested in attending, please contact Lindsay Barber for more details.
Meeting Location
Hilton Old Town Alexandria
1767 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
- Rate: $172/night plus tax.
- Room Block Closes: January 20, 2026. Room rates will be higher after block closes, and we cannot guarantee rooms will be available after this date.
- Reservations:
- To book online: https://group.hilton.com/te94ah
- Call 1-800-HILTONS and refer to group/SRP code is 90O (that is 9 zero and the letter O)
- If you have hotel questions or issues, do not book outside the block. Please email Lindsay Barber your arrival and departure dates.
Board Books: All board books are provided electronically. Board and Committee members will receive a link and directions to download the electronic board book approximately one week before the meetings. The board book can be downloaded to your computer, tablet or you can print your committee items.
PAC Breakfast: Join us on Friday morning, Feb. 13th, at 7 a.m. at the Hilton Old Town for the AgAv PAC Breakfast. Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC) has been invited to speak. Further details will be sent in early 2026.
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Renew Your 2026 NAAA Membership Today
Thank you for your support as a 2025 member of NAAA. We request your continued support by renewing your NAAA membership for 2026 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 continues to lobby the FAA to include NAAA language ensuring the safety of manned aircraft from drones operating beyond visual line of sight. In response to FAA’s proposed rule on the topic, NAAA will provide evidence-based comments to the FAA defending crewed aircraft’s right-of-way over drones in all circumstances.
- NAAA has defended the use of ensuring sound scientific methods and application practices in the registration and use of pesticides to key administration officials of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission via hands-on field demonstrations, White House meetings and comprehensive comments to MAHA officials.
- Since 2017, NAAA has submitted over 300 comments to the EPA to keep aerial application use on pesticide labels with great success, enabling you to keep a deep inventory of pesticide tools without unnecessary and burdensome restrictions.
- NAAA released an aerial applicator’s Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) to enhance agricultural aviation safety.
- NAAA has urged the Department of Commerce and other federal agencies to leave aircraft engines and related ag aviation parts free of tariffs.
- NAAA and NAAREF have grown the online education center, which includes educational videos and C-PAASS certification for aerial applicators who want to augment their safety and professionalism and be recognized and rewarded by their insurance providers, pesticide manufacturers, regulators, and customers. Learn more at education.agaviation.org.
- NAAA offers health and life insurance options for members. Visit agaviation.org/membership for details.
In 2026, your NAAA membership will continue to provide valuable benefits that support your business and that have protected the industry for nearly 60 years. Receive discounts for attending or exhibiting at the Ag Aviation Expo; access to the NAAA Membership Directory in both print and online formats to connect with fellow members; and stay informed through our publications, eNewsletters, social media updates, and in-depth online content at AgAviation.org. To renew, log in to your account at AgAviation.org and pay your 2026 membership invoice. 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 and user fees affecting your aerial application business and trade association membership dues are tax deductible.
AD Issued for AStar Cargo Swing Emergency Release Control
The FAA has adopted a new airworthiness directive (AD 2025-24-06) for certain Airbus Helicopters AStar and TwinStar helicopters.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued EASA AD 2025-0025, dated January 23, 2025 to correct an unsafe condition on AS 350 B2, AS 350 B3, AS 355 NP, AS 355 N, and EC 130 B4 helicopters, all serial numbers, equipped with ONBOARD systems 3500LB, having part number (P/N) 704A41811035. The EASA AD states that a report was received of a loss of cargo load during cargo swing operation on a helicopter. Subsequent investigation revealed an incorrect adjustment of the release cable of the cargo swing emergency release control.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the adjustment of the cargo swing emergency release control. This AD is effective January 12, 2026 and can be viewed here.
Superseding AD Issued for AStar Vertical Fin Spar
The FAA has adopted a new airworthiness directive (AD 2025-24-04) to supersede AD 2021-20-16, which applies to certain Airbus Helicopters AS350B3 and AS355 helicopters. AD 2021-20-16 was issued in October 2021 and required repetitive cleaning and visual and detailed inspections of the right-hand side of the vertical fin spar and vertical fin upper attachments for discrepancies (cracking) with corrective action, if necessary.
Since the FAA issued AD 2021-20-16, Airbus Helicopters developed a modification of the upper fin assembly. The new superseding AD requires the same actions as AD 2021-20-16 and would also require replacement of the upper fin assembly with a modified upper fin assembly, which would constitute terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
This AD is effective January 12, 2026 and can be viewed here.
In Case You Missed Last Week’s NAAA eNewsletter
Click here for the December 11, 2025 eNewsletter to read:
- NAAA Submits Comments to EPA in Support of Aerial Application for Two Herbicides
- Leif Isaacson Honored with Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
- NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings Feb. 12-14 in Alexandria, VA, All Members Invited
- Give the Gift of Aerial Application: Agriculture’s Air Force: 100 Years of Aerial Application Book
- Renew Your 2026 NAAA Membership Today
- NAAA Offers Healthcare Options to NAAA Members