Mississippi State University No Longer Actively Collecting Ag Aircraft GPS Data

The Mississippi State University (MSU) Raspet Flight Research Laboratory (RFRL) is no longer actively collecting ag aviation GPS logs for their project to demonstrate where and when ag aviators are in the air making aerial applications. Since the project’s inception in 2017, the data collected and the analysis performed by MSU has fueled NAAA’s efforts in representing the safety interests of aerial applicators to regulators.

The MSU RFRL report generated from the analysis of the GPS data collection has been instrumental in documenting ag aircraft’s presence in the low altitude airspace and exposing the safety threat presented by drones not giving the right-of-way to crewed aircraft within it. NAAA has relied on the MSU study to prove to both the FAA and the drone industry that ag aircraft are incredibly common in the low altitude airspace. The research has been cited in NAAA’s comments on FAA’s proposed Part 108/beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) rule for drones as well as numerous other comments on drone petitions that comprised the safety of ag aviators.

If you have donated data in the past, NAAA thanks you for doing so – your efforts have had an impact. If you have a unique situation regarding the airspace you work in and potential conflict with drones that you feel would be valuable to add to MSU’s GPS data repository, you can still submit your GPS records. Click here for more information on how to donate your GPS logs.