June 12, 2025

FAA Assessing Suppression of Private Aircraft Owner/Operator Info – NAAA Seeks Expansion to Part 137

Following a statutory mandate in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. §44114), the FAA is seeking implementation of a procedure which, upon request of a private aircraft owner or operator, the personally identifiable information (PII) of such an individual will be withheld from broad dissemination or display, including on publicly available FAA websites. This PII to be removed will include the mailing/registration address, email, telephone number(s) and name(s) of aircraft owners/operators.

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NAAA Battles for Aerial Applications of New Insecticide—Isocycloseram—on All Crops and in All States

NAAA submitted comments this week on a proposal to register isocycloseram, a new insecticide with a novel mode of action. NAAA first became involved with the registration of isocycloseram late in 2024, when the registrant, Syngenta, reached out for NAAA’s assistance. During the registration process between Syngenta and EPA, EPA had indicated they intended to ban aerial application of isocycloseram for all crops except for cotton, and even then, only in specific locations.

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Decades of Dedication: FAA Recognizes NAAA Member Jim Bartholomew

Last week NAAA Member Jim Bartholomew, the long-time manager of Iowa’s Storm Lake Municipal Airport, was honored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. The award recognizes pilots with over five decades of safe flight operations and dedication to aviation excellence.

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NAAA Comments on Petition for Fixed-Wing Drone BVLOS Part 137 Operations

Last week, NAAA submitted comments on a petition from Pyka Inc. (Pyka) to amend their operational exemption for the Pyka Pelican uncrewed aerial application system (UAAS). The Pelican is unique as a fixed-wing aircraft with a 38-foot wingspan, 80 MPH working speed and 1,320-pound gross weight.

Read More NAAA Comments on Petition for Fixed-Wing Drone BVLOS Part 137 Operations
FAA Updates Guidance on Part 137 Certification Process

The FAA has released internal guidance, Notice 8900.735, which updates its process for considering applications for certification under Part 137 (amongst others). FAA certification offices will use the updated process described in this notice to conclude the certification process if an applicant does not meet applicable requirements for certification. Note that this does not apply to uncrewed-only operations.

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Superseding AD Issued for R44 Flex Plates and Clutch Yokes

The FAA has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD 2025-11-07) for Robinson R44 and R44 II helicopters, superseding AD 2024-19-11 which required visually inspecting a certain flex plate assembly and certain clutch shaft forward yokes, including each flex plate bolt, and depending on the results, taking corrective actions. This new AD requires the actions of the previous AD.

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AD Issued for AStar Cargo Swing Frame

The FAA has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD 2025-10-01) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2, AS350B3 and EC130B4 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of broken cargo swing frames and the determination to change an existing repetitive inspection threshold.

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NAAA Secures Further Benefits for Aerial Applicators in EPA’s Final Insecticide Strategy

The insecticide strategy is the latest document from EPA focused on protecting endangered species and critical habitat covered by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It follows the herbicide strategy, released in August of 2024. The herbicide strategy focused on protecting endangered species, primarily plants, from herbicide applications. The insecticide strategy has a similar goal.

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Executive Orders Pushing FAA for Expedited BVLOS Rulemaking

On June 6th, the White House issued the Executive Order (EO) Unleashing American Drone Dominance, which is aimed at accelerating the safe integration of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System through rulemaking that enables routine advanced operations. In addition, this EO stresses to all agencies to prioritize integration of UAS manufactured in the United States over those made abroad.

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NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Hotel Room Block Open

The NAAA hotel room block is now open for the 2025 Ag Aviation Expo at the Atlantis in Reno, Nov. 17-19. The Atlantis has undergone extensive renovations in all sleeping rooms and several restaurants in the hotel. All events will take place at the Atlantis or Reno-Sparks Convention Center, which are connected via a skywalk.

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