National agricultural aviation association

Membership

The National Agricultural Aviation Association represents the interests of small business owners and pilots licensed as commercial applicators that use aircraft to enhance food, fiber and bioenergy production, protect forestry and control health-threatening pests.

As the voice of the aerial application industry, NAAA provides national representation before the federal government, brand protection, continuing education and safety programs, seeks technology and research funding and hosts the world’s largest agricultural aviation show each year. Furthermore, through its affiliation with the National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation (NAAREF), NAAA contributes to research and educational programs focused on enhancing the efficacy, security and safety of aerial application.

NAAA represents more than 1,600 members in 46 states. To join the association, join online, download the Print Application or contact NAAA at (202) 546-5722 or information@agaviation.org.

When you become an NAAA member, you are making an important investment in yourself and your business.

That holds true whether you have worked in the aerial application industry for decades or have a passion for aviation and agriculture and are interested in becoming a professional ag pilot. The payoff far exceeds what you will spend in dues in the form of effective advocacy, national representation, education and safety programs and the personal connections you will make as you participate in association activities.

As the voice of the aerial application industry, NAAA is committed to creating a positive business climate, promoting safety and professionalism, improving the industry’s public image and influencing public policy in a way that is beneficial to aerial application. Here are some concrete examples of how NAAA benefits the industry and you as a member.

View this presentation to see how NAAA works with you to enhance the industry.

Membership Benefits

NAAA can help you achieve your goals!

NAAA works closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Congress, and state and local agencies to stop unnecessary and overly burdensome regulations.

Maintaining a presence in Washington, D.C., and on the national stage is vital to the industry. Industry surveys and ongoing contact with members consistently demonstrate that aerial applicators view government regulation as the greatest threat to their businesses. NAAA’s leaders have understood this since the association’s inception, but the legislative and regulatory battles at the federal level are becoming more time-consuming with each passing year. NAAA needs the continued support of all aerial applicators to educate policymakers about the critical role aerial application plays in American agriculture and to fight potentially harmful government policies.

As the only national organization representing aerial applicators before the federal government, NAAA has been an effective advocate on members’ behalf. Individual operators have saved thousands of dollars each year, and the industry as a whole has saved millions because of NAAA’s lobbying achievements.

  • NAAA has prevented costly user fees from being charged to ag aircraft by convincing lawmakers to exempt agricultural aircraft from user fees. 
  • NAAA successfully lobbied Congress to enact legislation providing more than $4 million in annual federal fuel tax relief for U.S. aerial applicators.
  • Agricultural aviators are saving thousands of dollars a year at a minimum as a result of these efforts—savings that are 10 times greater, on average, than your annual national and state association membership dues combined!

Since 2002 NAAA has been successful in lobbying the government for an additional $11,312,500 in federal funding for aerial application research to develop and test new aerial application technologies designed to mitigate drift and make applications more efficient and cost-effective.

  • NAAA uses a variety of means to foster a positive image and promote the aerial application industry, including outreach to national newspapers, radio and television stations, Congress and federal agencies.
  • NAAA worked behind the scenes for months to help shape a positive piece in The Wall Street Journal. The article, which examined the need for aerial application under the headline, “Flying Low is Flying High as Demand for Crop-Dusters Soars,” appeared on the front page of the Journal.
  • NAAA sent the DVD “Aerial Application’s Growing Role” to operators, ag pilots, ag media, flight schools, policymakers and agricultural organizations across the country to highlight the important role that aerial application performs in agricultural production.

NAAA keeps you up to date on the latest issues affecting your profession through Agricultural Aviation magazine, the NAAA eNewsletter and AgAviation.org, as well as events like NAAA’s Annual Ag Aviation Expo.

  • NAAA, along with its sister organization the National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation (NAAREF), works to strengthen applicator professionalism through programs like the Professional Aerial Applicators’ Support System (PAASS), which was created to reduce aviation accidents and drift incidents associated with the aerial application of crop protection products.
  • The PAASS Program has been successful in helping reduce both drift and agricultural aviation accidents. Data from two Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO) surveys, conducted before and after the beginning of the PAASS Program, found a 25.8% reduction in the number of drift complaints. Agricultural aviation accident rates have decreased from an average of 9.64 incidents to an average of 7.22 incidents per 100,000 ag hours flown since the PAASS Program first hit the stage in 1998. This is a 25.1% reduction in the number of ag aviation accidents since the beginning of PAASS.
  • NAAA membership coupled with participation in PAASS, Compaass Rose and Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-Ins offer ag aviators a way to earn possible CEUs and achieve discounts through their insurance providers. Ag pilots and operators also improve their professionalism by participating in these programs, as well as the Leadership Training Program.

The Law Office of John L. Wright, PC, out of Broomfield, Colorado will provide a minimum of a one-hour legal consultation to NAAA operator and/or pilot members on federal aviation laws, including federal aviation taxation issues and federal transportation laws.  

What’s in it for you?

When you join NAAA, you get instant access to wealth of information, resources and exclusive benefits, including:

  • Weekly NAAA eNewsletter
  • Copy of Agricultural Aviation magazine
  • Annual NAAA Membership Directory
  • Access to members only content on NAAA’s website, including NAAA’s online directory, eNewsletter and magazine archives, the NAAA Media Relations Kit and more
  • Free listing in NAAA’s Job Database, which matches operators and pilots
  • Discounted convention fees, whether you’re an attendee or exhibitor
  • Membership certificate recognizing your professionalism
  • Opportunity to participate in the Leadership Training Program
  • Eligibility for Scholarship Programs for members of your family or friends
  • Networking opportunities
  • Potential insurance discounts
  • Materials to use with your local officials or media
  • Handouts and videos for use with school and community groups
  • Compaass Rose, a mentoring program for new pilots
  • Someone to call when you need help

Those are some of the tangible benefits you get when you join NAAA, but that’s not why most members renew year after year. The real value of NAAA Membership runs much deeper. Supporting NAAA, not just financially but through your participation and talents, will have a lasting effect on your business and the aerial application industry. You will become a better operator and ag pilot by virtue of the personal connections you’ll make, the knowledge you will acquire and the skill you will gain when you become engaged in the association and take advantage of the many programs, services and resources NAAA has to offer.

Join NAAA

Member Resources

When you join NAAA, you get instant access to a variety of valuable resources.

  • Agricultural Aviation Magazine: The official magazine of NAAA features current information on industry regulations, business articles and other topics of interest to operators and pilots (published quarterly).
  • NAAA eNewsletter: Stay up to date on important issues happening in the industry with news delivered right to your email inbox.
  • View this presentation to see how NAAA works with you to enhance the industry.
  • NAAA Professional Operating Guidelines: Get assistance in establishing a model of operation that will assist in providing superior crop protection services, promote safety among the members and enhance the image of the aerial application industry and its members. 
  • Aerial Application’s Growing Role: 8-minute updated video, released in 2021, educates viewers about the history, benefits and importance of aerial applicators to agricultural and forestry production. Click here to watch the video.
    • We also have a 2009 DVD available for purchase, which is great for classrooms. $20 ea.
  • Turn Smart: A 15-minute video on safe turning techniques narrated by former ag pilot and aerobatics champion Wayne Handley. Produced by NAAREF’s PAASS Program. Free.
  • First Response: Responding to a Pesticide-Related Aircraft Accident: This 22-minute DVD from NAAREF is the perfect tool to educate emergency first responders about what to expect if they are called to an accident involving aircraft or other vehicles that may be carrying pesticides. Single copy price – $15 (includes shipping). Multiple copies are $10 each.
  • NAAA Membership Directory
  • CFR 14 Federal Air Regulations Part 137: Included in NAAA Membership Directory.
  • NAAA Media Relations Kit: Before media interviews, field days or congressional visits, review talking points and background information from NAAA’s Media Relations Kit.
  • NAAA Wind Tower Education Promotional Tools: NAAA has created a series of ad slicks and radio scripts for member use that raise awareness about the worrisome effects of wind energy development on agriculture and aviation. Learn more here.
  • Flying for Your Food Brochure: Introduces the public to the importance and need for aerial application. Great P.R. piece for media, field days and congressional visits. Free to members.
  • Agricultural Aviation Curriculum Guides
    – Elementary Curriculum Guide: Designed for use by classroom teachers or 4-H leaders (grades K–5)
    – Secondary Curriculum Guide: Designed for use by classroom teachers or 4-H leaders (grades 6–12)
  • Wing Pins ($10)
  • Fly into Your Future Bookmarks: Three versions
    – Radial Engine spraying alfalfa
    – Firefighting AT-802, red retardant dump
    – Firefighting AT-802, white foam dump

For more information about these items, contact NAAA at information@agaviation.org or by calling us at (202) 546-5722