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Top 10 Tips for Success at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo

We look forward to seeing you in a few days at the 2024 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in Fort Worth, Texas, your one-stop shop for networking, education and professional development and fun! Follow these steps to have a successful visit in Fort Worth:

  1. Pick up your badge or register beginning Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Fort Worth Convention Center in the lobby. Registration hours are below, and fees can be viewed here.
    • Sunday, Nov. 17: 12–6 p.m.
    • Monday, Nov. 18: 7 a.m.–6:15 p.m.
    • Tuesday, Nov. 19: 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 20: 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
  2. Download our NAAA Expo App, which is the most up-to-date program on-site.
  3. Don’t have a smartphone or tablet to download the app? No problem. Simply pick up an Ag Aviation Expo Program at the NAAA Registration desk, as well as your attendee bag, which is filled with great items from our sponsors.
  4. Earn CEUs! Currently, over two dozen states are offering CEUs for the Aerial Application Technology Research Session and some states are offering credits for education sessions. CEUs are also being offered for Certified Crop Advisors. Don’t forget to bring your license (we cannot submit your attendance without the license number)! Visit the NAAA website to view the states offering CEUs and the app. Even if your state is not offering CEUs, don’t pass up the opportunity to learn about new technologies, programs, and services in the industry.
  5. Educate yourself at the Kickoff Breakfast, General Session and many education sessions. View the schedule here. Hear from Kevin Humphreys at the Kickoff Breakfast. Kickoff Breakfast is sold out. The General Session will feature an insurance mock trial and H2A foreign worker program.
  6. Conduct business for your operation at the two-day NAAA Trade Show featuring 155-plus exhibitors and five aircraft on the floor inside and six more outside.
  7. New and low-time ag pilots should attend Compaass Rose on Sunday and “Ask the Expert” Speed Mentoring on Monday afternoon. These sessions are designed specifically for those interested in the industry or for those with five or fewer years of experience. This is your opportunity to talk with industry experts in a small setting.
  8. Ladies! The Ag Aviation Expo isn’t just for men. Check out the fun Support Committee Programming to network, learn from other support staff in the industry and have some fun, including Monday’s event at Billy Bob’s and Wednesday’s Relationship Drift and Athena presentations.
  9. Purchase equipment, parts, services and even goodies you might need while supporting NAAA programs at the Live and Silent Auctions. Bid on items in the Live Auction Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and during the Silent Auction. The Silent Auction opens at noon on Tuesday and closes at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. There is no eBidding this year; please bid in person at Booth #931.
  10. Visit with old friends and make new ones during the Kickoff Breakfast (sponsored by BASF), Welcome Reception (sponsored by UPL North America), Transland Breakfast, Live Auction Reception (reception sponsored by Syngenta), Pratt & Whitney Reception, Farewell Reception and Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet.

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Flying in the Wire and Obstruction Environment Course, Saturday, Nov. 16

After two years of popularity, NAAA and NAAREF are bringing back the Flying in the Wire and Obstruction Environment Course on Saturday, November 16 beginning at 7:30 a.m. in Fort Worth, Texas. This course will be taught on the Saturday before the start of the 2024 Ag Aviation Expo, Nov. 18-21. The Tylor Johnson Legacy Foundation and Johnson Family are graciously sponsoring the registration fees of each operator and pilot attending this year’s course. NAAA and NAAREF thank the Johnson Family and the Tylor Johnson Legacy Foundation for providing funding for ag pilots to attend this essential training complimentary.

Tylor Johnson was a third-generation aerial applicator whose life was cut short after his airplane struck a guy wire. It was a harsh reminder of the dangers aerial applicators face daily. In the wake of this tragedy, the Tylor Johnson Legacy Foundation was established to honor Tylor’s memory, advocate for increased safety measures that protect other pilots, and continue his legacy of care and commitment to the community. Tylor was known for his infectious energy, unwavering optimism, and remarkable ability to inspire everyone around him. He believed in the power of community and was a driving force in bringing people together. 

While registration fees are complimentary, registration is still required here.

Flying in the Wire and Obstruction Environment Course, acclaimed by professional airplane and helicopter operators worldwide. This year’s course will be a full-day course again. The instructors give low-altitude aviators the essential skills needed to safely operate an aircraft in wire and obstruction environments. This course is for both aircraft and helicopter pilots. Learn how to identify signs of wires and why ag aviators hit wires they already knew were there. This course may very well save your life – wire strike accidents continue to harm the ag aviation industry. The most common cause of accidents in 2023 were wire strikes. They accounted for 28% of the total accidents and 67% of the fatal accidents.

The course will be taught by Utilities / Aviation Specialists Inc. (UAS), a unique group of aviation safety practitioners who provide safety auditing, specialized training, installation of safety management systems, and technical aviation consulting. They provide mission-specific expertise in specialized applications that require skill sets above those found in most routine transport operations. Sponsored by Tylor Johnson Legacy Foundation, Old Republic Aerospace and AssuredPartners Aerospace.

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Tenth Annual Red Apple Golf Tournament

The 10th Annual Golf Tournament at the Red Apple in Heber Springs, Arkansas, was a resounding success this year! A total of 64 golfers participated in the tournament, and 95 guests joined for dinner.

The festivities kicked off Friday evening with a fantastic reception at the home of Mark and Lucy Smith on Eden Isle. Doug and Amy Gibson treated everyone to a delicious spread featuring beef tenderloin along with a variety of other meats and accompaniments. The golf committee also provided a selection of tasty dishes for all to enjoy.

This year, the tournament raised funds to make donations to the Scott Rainey Scholarship and the William Austin Scholarship at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.

The event provided plenty of opportunities for laughter, conversation, and fun on the course, all while soaking in the perfect weather at a beautiful venue.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again next year for the tournament, set for the third weekend in October!

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Stay Updated with the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo App: Your Essential Guide to the 2024 Ag Aviation Expo

Do you want the latest information on-site at this year’s 2024 Ag Aviation Expo in Fort Worth? We have it for you on the NAAA Expo App, which will feature the most up-to-date information right on your device! Our mobile app takes your Expo experience to a new level and allows attendees who don’t want to carry a paper program guide the opportunity to have all the Ag Aviation Expo information stored directly on their devices. Users of the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo App will have the most up-to-date information right on their mobile devices. If prompted for an invitation code, use naaaexpo2024.

Download Instructions:

• From iTunes or Google Play, download the Whova App
• Search for NAAA
• Enter Organizer Code: naaaexpo2024
• App can also be viewed online here

Features of the app include:

1. The complete event schedule with details and location of sessions.
2. Trade Show map and a list of exhibitors
3. A full list of the CEUs offered this year.
4. A list of auction items and companies supporting NAAA and the aerial application industry through sponsorship.
5. Notifications about networking opportunities and other breaking event news pushed directly to your device via our Push Notifications.

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AD Proposed for AStar/TwinStar Helicopters 

The FAA has proposed adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus AS350 (AStar) and AS355 (TwinStar) Helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a manufacturer assessment that determined additional actions are necessary to improve particle detection for main gearboxes (MGBs) with certain planet gear bearings installed. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the MGB bevel wheel for the presence of particles, repetitively inspecting the MGB magnetic plug for particles, and prohibit installing an affected MGB unless certain requirements are met. These actions are specified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0044. 

You can view the proposed AD here. Comments are due by December 20, 2024. 

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In Case You Missed Last Week’s NAAA eNewsletter

Click here for the November 7, 2024 eNewsletter to read:

  • Guardian Agriculture featured in Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2024; NAAA Sends Letter to the Editor Regarding Inaccurate Statements
  • Avoiding Inadvertent IMC – New Course Available! 
  • Many Auction Items Up for Bid at NAAA Live Auction; Letter of Credit Required for PT6A-34AG Engine
  • Juror Volunteers Needed for Aerial Drift Mock Trial at NAAA Ag Aviation Expo General Session
  • Saddle Up for Fun: Join NAAREF’s Bucking for PAASS Fundraiser to Raise Money for NAAREF & PAASS!
  • ADs Issued for Bell 204/205/210 and 212/412 Tail Boom Attachment Components 
  • AD Issued for Lycoming Connecting Rod Bushings 
  • AD Issued for R22/R44 Governor Controller 
  • SAIB Issued for R44 Belt-Tension Actuator Gearmotor Assembly 
  • 2025 NAAA Membership Renewal Now Open

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