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.

NAAA represents more than 1,600 members in 46 states. 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.

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NAAA represents more than just Ag Pilots and Operators. Allied Industry, Support Personnel and Academics are all key pieces of the association.

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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.

Presentation – How NAAA Works with You to Enhance the Industry

Membership Advantages

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 $12,512,500 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: Stay up to date on important issues happening in the industry with news delivered right to your email inbox.
  • Copy of Agricultural Aviation magazine
  • Listing in and access to NAAA’s Membership Directory, including an annual printed copy
  • Access to NAAA’s Media Relations Kit: Before media interviews, field days or congressional visits, review talking points and background information
  • Free listing in NAAA’s Job Board, 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 Scholarships for you and your family or friends
  • Networking opportunities
  • Potential insurance discounts
  • Compaass Rose & “Ask the Expert” Speed Mentoring, which are mentoring programs 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.

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