A yearly education program like no other, the Professional Aerial Applicator Support System (PAASS) is created and presented by ag pilots. New content on relevant topics each year covers key safety and drift mitigation issues important to flying, modern agriculture and crop protection. The conscious decision to educate rather than regulate inspired PAASS, hence the motto: “Upon the performance of each rests the fate of all.”
Reduce the number of aviation accidents and drift incidents associated with the aerial application of fertilizers and crop protection products.
The NAAREF Board members believe that this objective will be best achieved by providing advanced educational opportunities for all pilots and pilot-operators active in the industry. Specifically, the intent is to develop educational programs that will enhance the commercial aerial applicator profession by improving the understanding of human factors, enhancing critical Aeronautical Decision-Making skills, and inducing positive behavioral change.
Many State and Regional Agricultural Aviation Associations host PAASS at their annual meetings and conferences each year between October and March. You must first register for PAASS through the meeting/conference you plan to attend. To receive credit, you must secondarily register online with NAAA and verify your attendance at the conclusion of the program (via a provided code). NAAA membership is not a requirement to attend PAASS or receive credit.
If you attended PAASS, you can obtain an Attendance Verification Letter to provide to your insurer, etc. It is a PDF with a unique ID showing the date and location of the program you attended. Letters for 2020-Present can be found in your Transcript in the NAAA Education Center (see link below). Letters for 2019 and earlier are available upon request.
NAAA members may purchase on-demand access to recorded PAASS programs from recent years. Two options are offered:
PAASS is presented by a group of geographically diverse aerial application professionals selected for their dedication to safety and environmental professionalism. Each PAASS presenter volunteers countless hours of their time to collectively produce, prepare and present the program each year across the country. The success of PAASS is indebted to the dedication of these individuals, past and present.