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House Appropriators Advance 2025 Ag Spending Bill with Supportive Language for USDA Aerial Application Research

House appropriators advanced a fiscal year 2025 agriculture funding bill last week that includes NAAA advocated committee report language supportive of aerial application technology research. The supportive language in the House committee’s report is as follows:

Aerial Application.—The Committee recognizes the importance of aerial application to control crop pests and diseases and to fertilize and seed crops and forests. Aerial application is useful not only to ensure overall food safety and food security, but also to promote public health through improved mosquito control and public health application techniques. The Committee urges ARS to prioritize research focused on optimizing aerial spray technologies for on-target deposition and drift mitigation and to work cooperatively with the Environmental Protection Agency to update their pesticide review methodology.

Since 2002 through the current federal government fiscal year of 2024, NAAA has been successful in securing an additional $13,112,500 for the Aerial Application Technology Research Unit (AATRU) within USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). In 2011 Congress enacted a ban on earmarking money for specific projects; however, NAAA was able to keep aerial application research funding steady by having the supportive report language inserted into past appropriation bills and farm bills. NAAA is also currently working on inserting language supportive of aerial application research in the 2024 Farm Bill that has passed out of the House Ag Committee.

NAAA will continue to work for adequate USDA-ARS aerial application technology research funding so long as the research is equitably distributed toward the type of aerial applications conducted most. Favorable committee report language sends a strong message to the USDA to continue to sustain appropriate funding for aerial application research.
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Mike Hudolin Fatally Injured in Third Ag Mid-Air Collision of 2024

On July 11, Toney Mickel “Mike” Hudolin became the nineth person fatally injured in an ag aviation accident, the third in a mid-air collision, this season. NAAA members and staff offer prayers and condolences to Mike’s family and friends.

Mike was born on December 6, 1949, and was 74 years old when he died. He is survived by his wife, stepson, stepdaughter, grandchildren, and a sister. Mike’s visitation and funeral service were held on July 14 at the Macedonia Baptist Church in Oak Grove, LA.

Mike’s family requests memorials may be made to Pilots for Patients at 3127 Mercedes Drive, Monroe, LA 71201. Phone is 1-318-322-5112 or email is pfp@pilotsforpatients.org. Click here to read his full obituary. Please keep Mike’s family and friends in your hearts as they suffer through his passing.
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Firefighting Pilot Ronald “Van” Patton Lost in Airplane Accident

Ronald “Van” Patton was fatally injured last month in an airplane accident near Capitan, New Mexico. He was flying his SEAT firefighting aircraft from Texas to Oregon to help battle fires in that state. Van was a second-generation pilot who earned his pilot’s certificate as a teenager. He was also an aircraft mechanic who worked at building and maintaining various different aircraft throughout his career.

After spending time working for Boeing in Portland OR, he left to pursue a career in agricultural aviation. In 2023 he transitioned from ag to firefighting, recently being checked out in single engine scooper aircraft. NAAA members and staff offer their condolences to Van’s family and friends as they mourn his loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
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Ron Cline Celebrates Independence Day: Soaring High with the American Flag in His Helicopter

On July 4th, Ron Cline, NAAA Operator member of Central Valley Helicopters in Ellensburg, WA, took to the skies to honor his country by flying around his local valley with an American flag in tow. Ron flew to show his appreciation to all patriots and those who have served.

His patriotic flight celebrated Independence Day and fostered positive public relations for the agricultural aviation industry. Ron’s dedication to showcasing patriotism in the skies reflects the spirit of the holiday and the values of the agricultural aviation industry. For assistance with public relations tools for your business and sample press releases, please visit the NAAA Media Kit.
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The FAA has received three reports of R22 Beta and R44 II governor controller failures which resulted in underspeed or overspeed events, two of which resulted in hard landings which caused significant damage to the helicopter. Each of these separate incidents occurred after significant rainfall where the helicopter was exposed to those weather conditions.

Prior to these incidents, several operators notified Robinson of malfunctions of the governor controller. Subsequent investigation and testing determined the root cause for these malfunctions to be water intrusion in the circuit board of the governor controller.

In 2023, Robinson issued service bulletins directing replacement of an affected governor controller (P/N D270-1 Revision A through E inclusive) with one which provides additional moisture protection (P/N D270-1 Revision F and later).

Robinson Helicopter R22 Service Bulletin SB-121 (June 28, 2023)
Robinson Helicopter R44 Service Bulletin SB-114 (June 28, 2023)

The FAA is proposing an Airworthiness Directive (AD) to direct compliance with the above Service Bulletins, applicable to all Robinson Helicopter Model R22 Beta, R22 Mariner, R44 and R44 II helicopters with affected governor controllers installed. You can view this Proposed AD here. Comments are due Sep. 3, 2024.
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ACRC Ag Container Collection & Recycling Services Update

The Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC), as we reported in April 2024 is covering several new service territories within the southern US states and expanding its nationwide program. Those services and contacts are:

This year alone over 3,400,000 lbs. of plastic has been collected, according to the ACRC with a 2024 goal of 13,450,000 lbs. of plastic containers.

Please be sure you are responsibly disposing of your used ag containers and join the ACRC in meeting their goal for 2024.
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In Case You Missed Last Week’s NAAA eNewsletter

Click here for the July 11, 2024 eNewsletter to read:

  • FAASTeam Releases Notice to Ag Aviators in Response to High Number of Fatal Ag Accidents
  • NAAA Submits Comments to EPA to Protect Aerial Applications for Two Pesticides
  • UAS “Advanced Operations” Exemptions: The New Normal
  • Fatal Ag Training Accident Claims the Life of Alberto Lozano Alvidrez
  • Operation S.A.F.E. Analyst Training – October 2024 – Cleveland, MS
  • NAAA Hires Amy May as Manager of Communications & Meetings
  • Booth Sales Begin Today at 12 p.m. ET for the 2024 Ag Aviation Expo
  • AD Proposed for Lycoming Connecting Rod Bushings
  • AD Proposed for R44 Belt Tension Clutch Actuator Brackets

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