NAAA Drone Safety Press Release Sparks Industry-Wide PR Campaign in Various Publications, Including RFD-TV
Last week’s press release cautioning hobbyist and professional drone operators not to interfere with low-altitude manned agricultural aircraft created a public relations campaign amongst agriculture and aviation media outlets.
NAAA CEO Andrew Moore discussed the association’s safety recommendations for uncrewed operators operating within the vicinity of crewed ag aircraft on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report on Monday. He spoke with anchor Suzanne Alexander by phone from NAAA’s headquarters in Virginia. During the live phone interview, Moore reiterated that drones are not allowed above 400 feet without a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and manned agricultural aircraft fly as low as 10 feet off the ground when making an application. Moore noted that in a 2023 end-of-season survey, 11% of manned aerial application operators reported that either they or a pilot flying for them encountered a drone while operating an ag aircraft.
NAAA urges uncrewed operators to give right-of-way to manned or crewed ag aircraft, equip drones with detect and avoid technology, and equip drones with lights. Moore also reiterated that farmers and growers can find an aerial applicator near them at the Find an Aerial Applicator database on the NAAA website. Watch the broadcast here. RFD-TV also published the press release on their website. Market Day Report is RFD-TV’s most watched weekly live news program broadcast to 48 million homes across the country.
Moore will also be interviewed tomorrow on the Agriculture of America Podcast, which is produced by the American Ag Network, a nationwide radio, digital and multimedia ag news network.
The press release also appeared on the CropLife publication website; Ag Information Network website; DroneDJ website; Aviation Week website; KFGO in Fargo, SD; and Newstalk KIT in Yakima, WA.
To ensure the safety of low-altitude manned aircraft, NAAA recommends that uncrewed aircraft operators:
- Give the right of way to a manned aircraft. It’s the law.
- Equip drones with visible strobe lights, highly visible markings and tracking technology, like an ADS-B In system.
- Be certified and well-trained in operating an uncrewed aircraft.
- Contact local agricultural aviation operations before flying by consulting the Find An Aerial Applicator database.
- Land your uncrewed aircraft immediately when a low-flying aircraft is nearby.
- Carry uncrewed aircraft liability insurance.