February 1, 2024

NAAA Defends Ag Aviators from Hazardous UAS Tower Inspection Operations

This week, NAAA participated in an FAA Safety Risk Management (SRM) panel to ensure the panel understands the dangers small UAS operating close to towers can present to manned agricultural aircraft. The goal of the panel was to determine if the procedures used by two tower companies who use UAS for tower inspections could be safely adopted by other companies seeking to conduct these types of operations. The procedures, approved by FAA, allow these two companies, B+T Group and American Tower, to conduct their operations in controlled airspace without notifying the local Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities. The operations are conducted within 100 feet horizontally and vertically of the tower.

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NAAA Survey to Assess Health & Life Insurance Needs of Industry

Operators & Pilots: Your input is needed! NAAA works continuously to identify opportunities that enhance the benefits available to our members. Over the past few years, we’ve received requests for access to more affordable, quality health and life insurance plans than what the aerial application operators and ag pilots in our industry may currently have access to. Therefore, NAAA is currently exploring the possibility of offering health and life insurance benefits for our membership.

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Richter Aviation Participates in Local Career Fair

High school career fairs are a great way for ag pilots to get information about the aerial application industry on how to become an ag pilot in front of students. Recently, Rick Richter of Richter Aviation in Maxwell, CA, participated in his local high school’s career fair, which included junior high school and high school students.

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Emergency AD Issued for Bell 505

On January 26, the FAA issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) 2024-02-55 for Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters with serial numbers 65011 and subsequent. This EAD was prompted by reports of cracked vertical stabilizer top end cap assemblies.

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Clean Water Act NPDES PGP Exemption Legislation Begins to Trickle Its Way Through Congress

Legislation to exempt pesticide applications over or near water from the Clean Water Act’s unnecessary and burdensome NPDES pesticide general permit took its first step towards enactment yesterday. The U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure marked up H.R. 5089, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act that would exempt pesticide applications, already registered for use over water and tested for water safety per the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), from the NPDES PGP.

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Update Your Information for 2024 Membership Directory

Have you moved or changed employers since you renewed your NAAA membership? Allied companies, have you reviewed your company description lately? Ensure your listing in the 2024 NAAA Membership Directory is correct by logging into your account.

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Set Yourself Up for Success by Renewing Your Membership for 2024

Thank you for your support of NAAA as a 2023 member. We request your continued support by renewing your NAAA membership for 2024. While you have been busy aiding farmers to produce a safe, affordable, and abundant supply of food, fiber, and bioenergy, NAAA has been busy making sure low altitude airspace is safe for your aerial application business to operate, as well as ensuring that you have the pesticide products you need to do your job.

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NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings Feb. 15-17 in Alexandria, VA

The February 2024 NAAA & NAAREF Board and Committee meetings will take place Feb. 15-17 in Alexandria, Virginia. All meetings are open to NAAA members. If you are not a board or committee member but are interested in attending, please contact Lindsay Barber for more details.

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