2022 NAAREF In-Season Safety Session

The NAAREF in-season safety session held on June 6, 2022 was a great success. Over 100 people participated in the session. There were five PAASS presenters who served as panelists, including 2022 NAAA president Jim Perrin, 2022 NAAREF President Matt Hovdenes, 2017 NAAA President and Former NAAREF President Dominique Youakim, and longtime operators and ag pilots Craig Bair, and Brian Townsend. Cory Richtmyre joined Jim Perrin, whom Perrin is currently mentoring into the ag aviation industry. The panelists opened the discussion by reviewing accident trends from the 2021 and 2022 season, with key takeaways being high numbers of wire strike accidents and accidents involving helicopters. They then focused the discussion on the topics of wire strike avoidance, mentorship, and helicopter operations.