Click on the article title below to be taken directly to the article. After you’re done reading the article, click “Back to Top” at the bottom to be brought back to the Table of Contents.
Table of Contents
- NAAA Advocates for Federal Law Banning ADS-B From Being Used to Levy Fees
- NAAA Quoted in Agri-Marketing Magazine Drone Article
- Bid on Great Auction Items at NAAA Live Auction on November 18; Letter of Credit Required for PT6A-34AG Engine
- Congratulations to Turbine Conversions Ltd. on 35 Years of Service to the Aerial Application Industry
- ACRC Announces Record Recycling Collection
- NAAA Membership Renewal Season is Here
NAAA Advocates for Federal Law Banning ADS-B From Being Used to Levy Fees
NAAA joined a coalition of nearly 100 general aviation organizations across the U.S. advocating to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (CST) leadership to move Senate legislation, S. 2175, prohibiting federal, state, and local governments from using automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data (ADS-B) to assess a fee or otherwise impose a charge on the owner or operator of such aircraft. The letter was sent to the chairman of the CST Committee, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), and the Ranking Member of the Committee, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), before the CST Committee advanced Chairman Cruz’s ROTOR Act legislation that responds to the collision between a PSA Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter above the Potomac River just outside of Reagan National Airport in the Washington, DC area this past January. Among other things, Senator Cruz’s legislation would limit the Army’s ability to turn off a location-transmitting technology on its helicopters; mandate that aircraft that are already required to have ADS-B Out installed also have ADS-B In, equipped no later than Dec. 31, 2031; and direct the FAA to establish an office for coordinating airspace issues with the Defense Department and require the aviation agency to conduct safety reviews related to helicopter operations around busy airports. The ROTOR Act was marked up out of Committee and is awaiting scheduling for full U.S. Senate approval.
Unfortunately, S. 2175, was not considered “in order,” and hence withdrawn so other opportunities are being sought by the GA coalition to advance S. 2175, authored by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC). To read the letter sent to the CST Committee leaders click here.
NAAA Quoted in Agri-Marketing Magazine Drone Article
NAAA CEO Andrew Moore was quoted in AgriMarketing’s magazine for their “The Future of Drones in Agriculture” article. The magazine is read by 6,000 subscribers, 10,000 eNewsletter readers and the publication’s website receives 30,000 visitors per month.
Moore reiterated that uncrewed aerial application systems (UAAS) should be held to the same or comparable application standards for efficacy and drift as crewed aerial applicators. He stated, “With drones we don’t have the spray drift models to be able to accurately predict the effect on materials applied with a drone. On the other hand, we benefit from decades of efficacy data from spray planes and single rotor helicopters.”
The author interviewed numerous drone companies to gather their insights on the future of drone use in chemical applications. The article also highlights findings from a Stratovation Group research study, which revealed that 72% of current users plan to buy more drones or use more drone services in the next three years. Stratovation conducted the research in partnership with: National Corn Growers Association, SweetWater Technologies, Agri Spray Drones, CropLife America, Syngenta, the Ag Retailers Association, The Fertilizer Institute, and D.C. Legislative and Regulatory Services. Read the article here.
Bid on Great Auction Items at NAAA Live Auction on November 18; Letter of Credit Required for PT6A-34AG Engine
Thank you to the many companies that support ag pilots and their operations, as well as the industry, through donating items for the Live and Silent Auctions at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo. The money raised from these items supports NAAA government advocacy, public relations and educational programs. To donate an item to the live or silent auction, contact Amy May.
In addition to the generous donation of a brand-new PT6A-34AG turboprop engine from Pratt & Whitney Canada, bid on:
- Custom golf cart donated by Air Tractor
- Full AFS Corr Essential Boom System: For any aircraft (402, 502, 602, 802 Air Tractor or 510, 710 Thrush), donated by AeroFlow Systems
- Single-point fueling system, donated by Turbine Conversions
- One set of stainless steel booms of customer’s choice (502, 602, 802 or Thrush) donated by Transland
- Daniel Defense semi-automatic rifle, DDM4V7 Pro Series, 223 Remington/556NATO, 18″ barrel, 1:7 twist, 32 round, 1 magazine and Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro 2-16X Thermal Scope, 640 x 480, donated by Diversified Applications
- Several training courses, products for your aircraft and business, pistols and rifles
Join us for the Live Auction & Reception on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 5:30 p.m. at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center on the NAAA Trade Show floor. All are welcome to enjoy the auction, and food and beverages sponsored by Syngenta. The Silent Auction bidding will be open Tuesday and Wednesday during NAAA Trade Show hours.
Pratt & Whitney Canada Engine Details
Thank you to Pratt & Whitney Canada for its generous donation of a brand-new PT6A-34AG turboprop engine. The engine is valued at $735,000. The engine build specification is 1334, used on the Air Tractor, Thrush and Turbine Conversions STC. The winning bidder is required to pay $20,000 down on-site, and the remainder of the payment is due within 30 days. Please provide a letter of credit from a financial institution to Deana Kissinger.
Congratulations to Turbine Conversions Ltd. on 35 Years of Service to the Aerial Application Industry
Congratulations to Turbine Conversions Ltd. on two company milestones this month, including the company’s 35th anniversary in business and the 25th anniversary of its FAA-certified Single Point Fueling (SPF) System, first approved on October 19, 2000.
For over three decades, TCL has provided innovation, quality, and family-owned leadership in the agricultural aviation industry. Their SPF System remains their top requested upgrade for agricultural aircraft worldwide. They have manufactured and shipped more than 1,500 SPF systems—a milestone made possible by the tremendous support of their global dealer network, trusted maintenance facilities, and loyal customers.
Bill Hatfield and Turbine Conversions Ltd. have been members of NAAA for several decades, as well as exhibitors at the Ag Aviation Expo, sponsors, auction donors, and donors to NAAREF & PAASS.
ACRC Announces Record Recycling Collection
The Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC), the trade association of the ag chemicals industry responsible for supporting the collection and proper recycling of ag containers nationwide, announced that September was the strongest collection month in history with 1,787,690 pounds collected! The 3rd quarter of 2025 was the strongest collection quarter in history with 3,915,592 pounds collected.
If you’re not recycling your containers, click here to find a collection provider near you. The program currently operates in 47 states and collects all types of ag chemical containers, including pesticides, animal health, specialty pest control, micronutrients, biologicals, fertilizer, and/or adjuvant product containers. Over the past 33 years, the ACRC program has collected and recycled over 257,000,000 pounds of container plastic.
The container inspection and cleaning criteria followed by ACRC contractors, which is the EPA standard established in the EPA 2006 Container and Containment Rule, requires 99.99% removal of each active ingredient. A simple way to articulate this standard is “CLEAN means CLEAN, with NO residue seen.” Staining is fine, but residue is not. The most important tip for achieving this standard is proper rinsing techniques at the time of use, which can be viewed here.
The ACRC website offers free training information, brochures and posters about inspection and rinsing of containers here.
NAAA Membership Renewal Season is Here
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.
In Case You Missed Last Week’s NAAA eNewsletter
Click here for the October 16, 2025 eNewsletter to read:
- NAAA and NAAREF Boards Meet in Ag Aviation’s Epicenter—the Mississippi Delta—to Honor the Industry’s Fallen and Conduct Business for the Industry’s Future
- MS Ag & Forestry Museum & MS Ag and Forestry Museum Foundation Hosts Ribbon Cutting for Last Pass Memorial Walkway
- Pre-Registration Deadline is Tomorrow, Oct. 17, Save $75
- NAAA Mourns the Loss of 1974 President Al Johnson
- 2026 NAAA Membership Renewal Open
- 2025 Ag Aviation Golf Tournament Oct. 18-19