Turning an Ag Plane Safely Course to be Presented at NAAA Ag Aviation Expo General Session
NAAA is pleased to announce that Fran de Kock of Battlefords Airspray in Canada will teach the Turning an Ag Airplane Safely Course on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo General Session.
The safety session will cover in detail how to safely turn a fixed-wing ag aircraft. The class is intended for all ag pilots, whatever their experience level. It will review the basics of an ag turn, how to properly train to make safe ag turns, and how to make ag turns in different conditions. The risks of a turning accident and how to manage those risks will also be thoroughly covered.
Later this year, the National Agricultural Aviation Historical Committee (formally NAAHOF) will induct de Kock into the National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame, in recognition of his lifelong dedication to agricultural aviation, pilot training, and safety education. de Kock’s career spans five decades and has left a lasting impact on ag aviation safety in Canada, the United States, and around the world.
de Kock began flying in 1975 in Alberta and Saskatchewan before founding Battlefords Airspray with his wife, Patricia, in 1980. What started as a small operation with two trainers and two spray aircraft grew into a highly respected business with a diverse fleet, including Air Tractor 504s and 502s, Gippsland GA200s, and other purpose-built ag aircraft. The company was sold in 2021, but its training legacy continues.
A pioneer in progressive ag pilot instruction, de Kock developed structured transition programs that moved pilots from tailwheel aircraft to turbine-powered ag airplanes. He introduced side-by-side instruction with the Gippsland GA200 in 2001 and later incorporated the dual-seat Air Tractor 504 in 2012, helping to set a new standard for turbine transition training.
Beyond his company, de Kock has made a lasting international impact through his work with the Canadian Aerial Applicators Association (CAAA), NAAA, and NAAREF. He has led safety seminars, appeared in training videos, PAASS videos, and taught on critical topics such as wire strike avoidance, emergency procedures, and stall recognition, always emphasizing his core mission of bringing pilots home safely to their families.
Still active as a certified flight instructor, de Kock continues mentoring the next generation of agricultural aviators. de Kock was awarded the NAAA William O. Marsh Safety Award in 2020, which recognizes significant achievements in safety, safety education or an outstanding operational safety program.
Attendee registration for the Ag Aviation Expo will open in July.