TAAA Newsletter

September 19, 2016

Texas Agricultural Aviation Association | www.taaa.org

September 19, 2016

TAAA Newsletter

Via NAAA:

Must-See: How NAAA Responded to the Events of 9/11

To commemorate NAAA's 50th anniversary, the association has been exploring its history through a series of articles in Agricultural Aviation and in a documentary that will premiere at our annual convention in December. In advance of the full-length documentary, NAAA has produced a series of 50th anniversary "flashback" segments that highlight key moments and demonstrate why we need a strong national association for agricultural aviators. In our fourth flashback, Pat Kornegay, NAAA's president when the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, occurred, discusses how NAAA worked through one of the most difficult challenges in the history of U.S. agricultural aviation-a time when the industry's very existence was at stake due to security concerns. Read more here.

Via AgAviation:

PLEASE!! MAINTAIN ACCIDENT AWARENESS
DON'T BECOME A STATISTIC!!!!

The NTSB has reported 48 ag accidents with 12 fatalities in 2016. Please do your share to prevent serious accidents!

ANOTHER MEDIA BLOW. APPLYING AERIALLY AND GOING THE EXTRA MILE . . .

An aerial application of mosquito insecticide to combat West Nile and Zika virus in South Carolina resulted in bee deaths of 46 hives containing an estimated 2.5 million bees in one apiary alone. The aerial applications were used after several dozen cases of travel-related Zika were reported in the state.

The county notified the public of the intended spraying by newspaper and Facebook announcements. They also made phone calls to all but one beekeeper on their list in the area to be sprayed but many beekeepers did not realize the danger to their bees and did not cover their hives. The Washington Post article described the aerial application as "raining insect death from above."

Instances like this one make aerial application to combat life-threatening pests unpopular to people that do not have a thorough understanding of pesticide use. An applicator should do everything possible to prevent damage to persons, property and the environment. Even when regulatory procedures are followed, be aware of each application that you make and implement precautions that might not be required, but may be something that will ensure safety and enough to prevent an emotionally charged incident upon which the news media can use for public attention.

Remember TFR Awareness

Check Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) before flying! FAA recommends you obtain TFR NOTAMs from FSS. Make sure you have proof that you made the effort to comply as verified by briefing records at FSS or by DUATS log in.

Make a "Fly Safe" Resolution Now!

Reminder:

2016 Fall Board of Directors Meeting

Attention to all Board Members:

A friendly reminder to all board members of this years Fall Board of Directors Meeting next week, September 29-30, 2016 in Corpus Christi.

If you have not received an email regarding the meeting information or have any questions , please feel free to contact the office at 512-476-4405 or by contacting us here.

We look forward to seeing you all there!