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NAAA Attempts to Reverse EPA Decision Banning Certain Types of Aerial Applications on New Herbicide Formulation
NAAA submitted comments to the EPA at the end of last week on a proposed registration for a new herbicide, glufosinate-P. While EPA is treating glufosinate-P as a new herbicide, it is in fact a new formulation of an existing herbicide, glufosinate. It is intended for use on both conventional and glufosinate resistant crops.

The proposed registration memorandum and label from EPA allowed for aerial applications of glufosinate-P on glufosinate resistant crops but banned aerial from all other applications including burndown and non-crop uses. The EPA’s concern was due to potential risk to endangered species. NAAA strenuously objected, pointing out that EPA used the inaccurate and antiquated Tier 1 AgDRIFT model for its risk assessments. EPA has recently announced they will be taking NAAA’s recommendations to modernize their aerial drift modeling process in order to improve the accuracy of their drift estimates, so NAAA suggested EPA redo the risk assessments for glufosinate-P using the new process.

NAAA also recommended EPA require burndown and non-crop aerial applications be made with a larger droplet size and a shorter boom length to further mitigate drift. When combined with the wind-directional buffer zones EPA did propose, NAAA pointed out that due to the drift potential that was considerable reduced using the updated model and new, safer aerial application set up practices there was no reason to ban any type of aerial applications of glufosinate-P.

NAAA also took exception to several label statements for the glufosinate-P product, including requirements for nozzle selection and setup that are based on outdated science. The label also requires a minimum GPA for aerial applications that actually reduces efficacy and increases the risk of drift. Click here to read NAAA’s comments.
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Uncrewed Aircraft Operators, Register for the “Professionalism and Safety in UAS Part 137 Operations” Webinar, June 25th at 8:00 PM EST

It is imperative for uncrewed aircraft operators to ensure the safety of the low-altitude airspace for the well-being of other, manned aircraft and for the reputation and professionalism of commercial drone operations. Proper certification, abidance of safety and environmental regulations, and continuing education facilitates safety and professionalism in the uncrewed space. As such, please register for the FAA FAST webinar June 25th at 8:00 PM EST titled “Professionalism and Safety in UAS Part 137 Operations.” During this webinar the presenters will discuss 14 CFR Part 137 statistics, aircraft / drone collisions and near misses, professionalism, safety, and expectations from the FAA. There will also be a question-and-answer session at the end of the webinar. To register for this webinar, click here.
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Hugh Mattingly Lost in Third Fatal Ag Accident of 2024

The members and staff of NAAA offer their condolences to the family and friends of Hugh Mattingly, who passed away on May 28, 2024. Hugh was born on April 19, 1961, and was 63 years old when he was killed in the third fatal ag accident of the season.

Hugh was the youngest of nine children and was raised in Biggs, CA. He graduated from Chico State University and went on to a 36-year career as a banker, working at several different banks during his career. After losing his home in California’s 2018 Camp Fire wildfire, he left the banking world to pursue his dream career of being an ag pilot. He had obtained his private pilot’s license while in college. He obtained his commercial pilot’s license in 2019 and became an ag pilot in March of 2021.

Hugh was very involved in local community activities and his children’s lives. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and sons-in-law, two grandchildren, seven siblings, and numerous cousins. Hugh’s family requests that those who wish to honor his memory do so by making a donation in Hugh’s name to the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles, the Paradise Rotary Club, or a charity of your choosing. Click here to read Hugh’s full obituary. Please keep his family in your prayers as they mourn his loss.
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Deadline to Apply for 2025 Leadership Training Program is July 15

2024 Leadership Training Program graduates.

Since 1995, NAAA has offered a Leadership Training Program (LTP) sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection. More than 365 NAAA members have benefited from this training over the course of 28 leadership classes, including NAAA’s 2024 graduates. The deadline to apply is July 15.

The program includes training that enables its participants to develop a strong ability to clearly communicate the important role aerial application plays in the production of our country’s agricultural products to the public, media and government. The training also involves teaching managerial philosophy to help the participants in their own businesses and to more effectively serve as a leader while serving industry organizations, such as NAAA and state agricultural aviation associations.

The February 2025 NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings will take place in Montreal, Canada, which will not allow for Leadership Training Program participants to be trained in visiting with congressional leaders in person on Capitol Hill, which is one of the primary goals of the course. Because of that, NAAA and Syngenta have agreed that the 2025 program participants will attend Syngenta’s larger Leadership At Its Best (LAIB) program February 3-6, 2025 (this is a change from last week’s email stating the program would take place February 10-13, 2025). LAIB participants receive the same training that they would receive during the NAAA Leadership Training Program with the added benefit of meeting participants from other commodity groups and ag associations. Due to the size of LAIB, NAAA will only have four seats for the 2025 LAIB program with the plan that Syngenta will provide a larger NAAA-only leadership training program once again in 2026 when our February NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings are located back in Alexandria, VA.

To select the four applicants for the 2025 LAIB program, each state/regional association, plus the Canadian Aerial Applicators Association, may submit one candidate of their choice for possible entry into the program. Since the number of applicants will likely exceed the number of positions available, a selection committee will be formed by the NAAA President to select the four most qualified candidates.

How to Apply for the Leadership Training Program
If you would like to be considered for the 2025 Leadership Training Program, contact your state or regional association executive director. NAAA’s state/regional agricultural aviation association partners can only nominate one candidate for the 2025 Leadership Training Program. Applications must be submitted by July 15.

Criteria and selection process information are as follows:

  • Industry Involvement – Must be involved in an agricultural aviation business or a related allied industry organization as deemed appropriate by the nominating state/regional AAA. This includes partial or total ownership of at least one agricultural aircraft; and/or a managing employee, stockholder or pilot of an agricultural aviation business; and/or an employee of an Allied Industry member company or State Association.
  • Leadership Involvement – Must have leadership experience developed from past involvement in regional or state industry associations, community service involvement, and/or school or professional organizations.
  • Industry Future – Must indicate intent of future involvement in the aerial application industry.
  • NAAA Membership – Must be a member of the appropriate state/regional agricultural aviation association and NAAA in the applicant’s own right—both in 2024 and 2025. Acceptable NAAA membership categories that a Leadership Training candidate could come from include: Operators, Pilots, Affiliated Operators, Support, International Members (in the case of Canadian AAA), Allied Industry Members and Affiliated Allied Industry Members, and State/Regional Organization Members.

If you have any questions about the 2025 NAAA/Syngenta Leadership Training Program, please contact Lindsay Barber.
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Please Complete FAA’s 2023 GA Survey if Invited to Participate – Data is Critical for Aerial Application Industry
The FAA’s 46th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (GA Survey) continues. Emails and post cards have already been sent out to those aircraft owners selected to participate. Surveys were sent in mid-March. Please note that you should not share your survey link publicly or with anyone else. It was only shared with the survey sample, and not every aircraft owner will be able to access the survey. Sharing it will cause confusion as to why some individuals cannot access it.

The survey is for collecting aviation activity for the calendar year 2023. The GA Survey is the only source of information available that provides reliable data on the GA fleet, including number of aircraft and hours flown. The data is used by the FAA, other government agencies, and the aviation industry for a variety of things, including assessing safety and understanding the economic impact of aviation.

Note that not everyone will be invited to participate – the survey reaches about 30% of GA aviators every year. If you are selected to participate in the GA Survey, you will receive an email or postcard invitation asking you to complete the survey online. For those who chose to not complete the survey online, a mail survey is sent which includes a postage-paid return envelope. The information is confidential and will only be used for statistical purposes and will not be published or released in any form that would reveal an individual participant. It only takes 10-15 minutes to complete the survey. You may be asked to participate two or more years in a row. If you are contacted, please respond to the survey even if you did not fly your aircraft during 2022, sold it, or if the aircraft was damaged. If you own three of more aircraft, there is an abbreviated survey form you can use instead of needing to complete a survey for each aircraft.

The GA Survey is especially critical to the agricultural aviation industry. NAAA uses the results of the GA Survey, in conjunction with NTSB accident numbers, to calculate an overall accident rate and a fatal accident rate for Part 137 operations. This allows NAAA to track and document the safety of the agricultural aviation industry and provide evidence to the FAA and NTSB that PAASS and other safety programs are working to reduce Part 137 accidents.

If you have questions, please contact Tetra Tech, the independent research firm that conducts the GA Survey for the FAA, toll-free at 1-800-826-1797 or by email at infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com. Results from prior surveys can be found here.
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In Case You Missed Last Week’s NAAA eNewsletter

Click here for the June 6, 2024 eNewsletter to read:

  • Air Tractor’s 50th Anniversary Soirée Honors a Legend and a Legendary Ag Aviation Company
  • NAAREF In-Season Safety Session a Success – Recording Available
  • NAAA CEO Andrew Moore Interviewed for DroneLife.com Article

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