ber 12, 20

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After Comments from NAAA, EPA Develops Process to Limit Areas Requiring Endangered Species

EPA recently published a process they will use to limit the size and scope of pesticide use limitation areas (PULA) to only those areas where an endangered species likely currently lives. This new process is in response to comments from NAAA and other ag organizations on the importance of minimizing the size of PULAs to only those areas where endangered species are located. NAAA included concerns about the potential size of PULAs on comments to EPA’s vulnerable species pilot project, herbicide strategy, and insecticide strategy.  

When EPA first began their recent Endangered Species Act (ESA) activities, for those species where they did not have accurate and current data on the exact location of endangered species (and critical habitat), they used the species range map from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as the basis for the PULA. This has the potential to include large tracts of land that do not currently have the species in question located on them. The use of such range maps would result in additional mitigations being required to protect endangered species in areas where no endangered species actually existed. 

The new process developed by EPA will use a FWS species range map to develop a core map. The core map is based on the range of the species but will be refined to eliminate areas where the endangered species is no longer located. The resulting core map that will be used to create PULAs for the species will only include areas where the species likely currently lives. EPA plans to create core maps for all endangered species that require protections from pesticide exposure. For more information, visit EPA’s core maps webpage.  

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Commerce Department Seeks Comments on Information Security for UAS 

On January 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking public comment to inform the potential development of a rule to secure and safeguard the information and communication technology and services (ICTS) supply chain for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). 

This ANPRM explains how foreign adversary involvement in UAS ICTS supply chains – including acute threats from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia – may offer our adversaries the ability to remotely access and manipulate these devices, exposing sensitive U.S. data. 

This ANPRM will assist BIS in determining the technologies and market participants that may be appropriate for regulation in order to address undue or unacceptable risks to U.S. national security, including U.S. ICTS supply chains and critical infrastructure, or/and to the security and safety of U.S. persons. 

Separately, the National Defense Authorization Act, which the president signed last month, started a one-year countdown, during which PRC UAS manufacturers DJI and Autel Robotics must prove that its products are not a national security risk to the U.S. If it can’t, the FCC will add their products to its “covered list,” which would block them from running on U.S. networks. This would effectively block all imports. Existing UAS which are already approved may remain operational unless the FCC takes further action. 

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Start the Year with a New 2025 NAAA Membership!

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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Extra Extra!! Winter 2025 Issue of Agricultural Aviation Now Online!

The Winter 2025 issue of Agricultural Aviation is available online and in the Agricultural Aviation Magazine App. Stories include an introduction to the 2025 NAAA officer team, results from the 2024 operator industry survey, a review of 2024 accidents and an article on the success of the Ag Aviation Expo.

Featured content in this issue includes:

Back issues are available in Agricultural Aviation’s Issue Library.

Get the free Agricultural Aviation App on your Apple, Google and Amazon mobile devices.

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Top 10 Agricultural Aviation Articles of 2024

Agricultural Aviation magazine published many informative articles in 2024. Below is a list of the top 10 digital articles from its 2024 issues based on the most viewed articles at AgAviationMagazine.org and the magazine’s app.

  1. The Labor of Accurately Compensating Labor According to the Department of Labor– Spring 2024
    • Good employees are hard to find, let alone retain, especially in an industry that is seasonal in nature, like the aerial application industry.
  2. Turns, Wires, and Nozzles – A Synopsis of the 2023-2024 PAASS Program– Spring 2024
    • The 2023-2024 PAASS Program provided accident analysis, turning safely and avoiding stall spin accidents.
  3. Spring Time with Safety on My Mind– Spring 2024
    • President Ray Newcomb’s Spring Column.
  4. The A-B-C’s of How the Agricultural Aviation Industry Fared in 2023 and Forecasting the 1-2-3’s of 2024– Winter 2024
    • NAAA CEO Andrew Moore’s Annual Report.
  5. More Members Equal More Voices Totaling a Greater Impact – Winter 2024
    • President Ray Newcomb’s Winter Column.
  6. As You Prepare for the Busy Season, Keep Safety, Wire Locations & Maintenance at the Front of Your Mind– Spring 2024
    • NAAREF President Perry Hofer’s Spring Column.
  7. Towers Up, Voices Up!– Spring 2024
    • With hazards from unmarked towers multiplying, communication and engagement are essential for aerial applicators’ safety.
  8. Some Uplifting Short and Long-Term Trends and Programs in American Agriculture to Keep Your Mindset on Safety– Spring 2024
    • NAAA CEO column discussed that safety is a mindset requires a powerful internal drive to focus on only the most critical tasks at hand and undeterredly do what is right.
  9. Exploring the Rise of UAS in Aerial Application: Are They Beneficial for Your Business?– Fall 2024
    • Drones, also known as uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), are currently a major topic of discussion in agriculture and many aviation sectors.
  10. Agricultural Aviation Accidents: A Synopsis of 2023 Accidents and an In-depth Review of Accidents from 2013-2022 – Winter 2024
    • This article provided an overview of 2023 accidents and an in-depth review of accidents from 2013-2022.

Back issues are available in Agricultural Aviation’s Issue Library.

Get the Free Agricultural Aviation App
If you haven’t installed the free Agricultural Aviation Magazine App on your smartphone or tablet, you are missing out on a great and easy way to tap into a library’s worth of back issues. Download the Agricultural Aviation Magazine App and see how easy it is to use. The app is compatible with all Apple, Google and Amazon mobile devices and can be downloaded from their respective app stores by searching “Agricultural Aviation Magazine.” Enable push notifications to be alerted when new digital editions are published and to receive occasional notifications about pertinent articles.

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AOPA Pilot Magazine Spotlights Agricultural Aviation Safety and Expertise in February Issue

An article in the February issue of AOPA Pilot magazine highlights the complexity of the agricultural aviation sector, describing aerial applicators as “full-blown agronomists, crop scientists, and passionate about the science of farming.” It also emphasizes the safety of agricultural aviation, noting a decade-long decline in accident rates. The piece was authored by Mike Ginter, senior vice president of the AOPA Air Safety Institute, who attended the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in Fort Worth, Texas last November.  Ginter praised NAAREF for promoting a strong safety culture and recognizing the NAAA’s ongoing commitment to ensuring safety in this demanding segment of general aviation. Be sure to check out the full article in the issue of AOPA Pilot magazine here.

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Don’t PAASS Up Safety Education – Attend the 2024-2025 PAASS Program, Collect CEU’s, Qualify for C-PAASS and Fly Safe

There are still several opportunities to attend the 2024-2025 PAASS Program this winter. Find a program here or contact your state/regional association. The PAASS Program covers the latest in aviation safety, environmental stewardship, and best security practices. Some states offer CEUs for PAASS Program attendance which goes towards renewing your commercial pesticide license. In addition, PAASS attendance is required to be a certified professional aerial application safety steward (C-PAASS) which may qualify one for insurance discounts amongst a number of other benefits. Most important, the program saves lives — ag aviation accident rates and drift incidents have decreased by nearly 26% since PAASS hit the stage.

The 2024-2025 PAASS program will begin with a review of agricultural aviation accidents from 2024, offering valuable insights into accident prevention, including strategies to avoid mid-air collisions, based on recent fatal incidents. Participants will examine these accidents to understand how to prevent similar events in their own aerial operations. This review will transition into a human factors segment focusing on controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), a leading cause of fatal accidents in aerial applications. Discussions will cover collisions with wires, towers, trees, and other obstacles, and feature interviews with pilots who have experienced CFIT accidents firsthand. Attendees will learn about wire strike accidents’ financial and operational impacts, including repair costs and lost work income. The program will also present findings from an FAA focus group on the risk factors contributing to wire strikes, offering insights into how these accidents could have been avoided.

The environmental professionalism section will address two key topics: the USDA-ARS Aerial Application Technology Research Unit’s (AATRU) droplet size models for improving pesticide application effectiveness and reducing drift and how to use the EPA’s Bulletins Live Two! (BLT) to protect endangered species during pesticide applications. A scenario will guide participants through identifying target areas, assessing pesticide use limitation areas (PULAs), and ensuring compliance with necessary mitigation measures, including buffer zones and correct aircraft calibration for droplet size.

Additional segments will focus on security, featuring a case study of a vandalism incident involving an agricultural aircraft, underscoring the importance of vigilance in safeguarding aircraft and equipment. A session led by an aviation medical examiner will highlight the dangers of certain medications and the importance of rest to avoid fatigue. The program will also address the risks posed by distractions, especially technological ones in the cockpit.

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February 20-22, 2025, NAAA Committee & Board Meetings in Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Passports Required

NAAA & NAAREF Board & Committee meetings will be held in Canada, Feb. 20-22, 2025.

NAAA & NAAREF are hosting the February 2025 meetings in Montreal at the same time and location as the Canadian AAA Convention. In addition to NAAA meetings, NAAA members are invited to attend the Canadian AAA Conference. Further details are available at https://form.jotform.com/243226110331237.

All meetings are open to NAAA members. If you are not a board or committee member but are interested in attending, please contact Lindsay Barber for more details.

Committee assignments were emailed to board and committee members on January 6. If you do not receive this information, please contact Lindsay Barber. A drafted schedule of events can be seen here.

Hotel:
Hotel Bonaventure Montreal
900 De La Gauchetiere West
Montreal, QC, H5A 1E4, Canada

The hotel deadline is January 21. Book online here or call 1-800-267-2575 and refer to NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings. Contact Lindsay Barber with hotel questions.

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2025 C-PAASS – Application Open!

The application is now open 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.

PAASS Attendance
Annually, 3 of the past 3 years		2023*2024*2025*
Operation SAFE Participation
Biennially, 1 of the past 2 years		–2024 and/or 2025*
Wires Course
This year*, attended in-person at 2024 Expo, State Meeting, etc.
or alternatively completing the self-paced online course:
– Avoiding Wire Strike Accidents		––2025*
Human Factors & Aviation Safety Course
This year*, completing the self-paced online course:
– Avoiding Inadvertent Meteorological Conditions (IIMC)		––2025*
Environmental Professionalism Course
This year*, completing ONE of the following self-paced online courses:
– The Impact of Each Droplet – Part 1
– The Impact of Each Droplet – Part 2		––2025*
NAAA Membership
This Year		––2025
State/Regional Association Membership
This Year		––2025
* Denotes Fall of the prior year through Spring of the listed year.

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.  

When you’re ready, Apply for 2025 C-PAASS through the NAAA website. 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. 

To those who became certified in 2023 and 2024, NAAA applauds you and hopes you will certify again in 2025. To those who have not, why not start 2025 off right and become certified today! 

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Hey, U.S. Corporations and LLCs, Have You Filed BOI Yet? 

BOI: Beneficial Ownership Information 

Your company is likely subject to a new federal reporting requirement for BOI, under the 2021 Corporate Transparency Act. Companies who are required must report information about their beneficial owners—the individuals who ultimately own or control the company—to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury. 

If your company is a corporation, a limited liability company (LLC), or was otherwise created in the United States by filing a document with a secretary of state, you are required to report unless one of the unlikely 23 exemptions applies.  

If your company was created or registered prior to January 1, 2024, you were required to file BOI by January 1, 2025. (See Below) Companies created or registered in 2024 have 90 days to file BOI and those created or registered in 2025 or later will have 30 days to file BOI. (Also, See Below) 

If this is all news to you, you are not alone and you are not in violation (yet). A recent federal court order has temporarily enjoined (prohibited) enforcement for complying with BOI reporting requirements. While the injunction is in effect, reporting companies are not required to file BOI with FinCEN. However, companies may continue to voluntarily file BOI reports. The Department of Treasury is appealing the injunction, and it is unclear if/when the requirement to file will be reinstated. 

Filing BOI is done electronically through FinCEN’s website free of charge. It is a one-time filing and not an annual requirement. You can view FinCEN’s Small Entity Compliance Guide for BOI for more information. 

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In Case You Missed Last Week’s NAAA eNewsletter

Click here for the December 19, 2024 eNewsletter to read:

  • Grassroots Alert: Your Comments to FAA Needed to Support Vital Proposed Rule to Require Marking and Logging Meteorological Towers into National Database
  • Air Tractor Wraps Up Its 50th Anniversary Year Summarized in Terrific Documentary
  • Havoc at the Hangar: Wrestling Dual at the Ag Aviation Hangar Makes Headlines
  • Give Back! Support NAAREF Today
  • Renew Your 2025 NAAA Membership Today

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