NAAA Participates in 2nd Annual Spray Drone End User Conference
Upon invitations from leaders in the remote pilot application aircraft space, NAAA participated in 2nd Annual Spray Drone End User Conference in Gulf Shores, Alabama, this week. The conference was well attended by both national and international uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) manufacturers, UAS 14 CFR Part 137 certificate holders, and pesticide manufacturers—250 were in attendance with another 100 attending virtually.
NAAA CEO Andrew Moore addressed 250 in-person attendees and 100+ virtual attendees.
Key leaders in the UAS application space exhibited their equipment and multiple educational sessions ranging from adjuvants affects on application efficacy to drone maintenance to licensing requirements and regulatory procedures were offered.
Pegasus Robotics displayed and demonstrated their UAS.
NAAA CEO Andrew Moore attended the conference on behalf of the association and addressed the attendees about the NAAA’s long-time efforts working to ensure pesticides are labeled for aerial use, which EPA allows to be used for both crewed aircraft and UAS, without unnecessarily burdensome restrictions; safety policy NAAA advocates to avoid collisions between crewed aircraft and UAS; and business networking, educational stewardship programs, and positive public relations that NAAA provides to help ensure the economic health, professionalism and reputation of the industry.
Moore provided an overview of the aerial application industry and shared the industry’s long-time regulatory and legislative efforts.
Key players in the drone space were in attendance from DJI Agriculture, Agri Spray Drones, Bestway Ag and Pegasus Robotics, including NAAA members such as Leading Edge Aerial Technologies, Bayer and Rantizo. The UAS application industry is growing by 23% per year, according to one participant, and since June of 2023, 560 UAS Part 137 certificates have been issued since the FAA released its expedited process for UAS operations.
Sponsors of the 2nd Annual Spray Drone End User Conference
Leaders in the UAS space realized the important role NAAA plays in the reregistration process of pesticides for aerial use including modernizing key atmospheric drift models. It also realized the important role that NAAA and NAAREF’s award-winning educational programming plays in self-policing the industry without being unduly regulated by government agencies. The UAS leaders discussed the possibility of partnerships with plans for further discussions to continue. NAAA will continue to keep members abreast of any such developments.
DJI’s exhibit provided information about their UAS.