Calendar of Events | See What’s Happening B1 Insights | National Agricultural Aviation Association B8 Spreading the Facts | Michelle Miller B12 Craymer’s Counsel | Robert Craymer B22 Regina’s Perspective | Regina Farmer B32 Wing and a Prayer | Carlin Lawrence B34 Low and Slow | Mabry I. Anderson

Puerto Vallarta, México adriana.garduno@ aviacionagricola.com.mx 55-55712072 ext 107 WhatsApp 5539777805

Hyatt Regency Monterey Terry Gage 916-645-9747 terry.gage@caaa.net caaa.net

Official Hotel Information Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview 400 W. Douglas Wichita KS 67202 (316) 262-5000 Rhonda McCurry 316-650-6857 kaaa@ksagaviation.org ksagaviation.org

Isle of Capri Casino Bettendorf, IA United States Wes Sharp wes@agritechaviation.com (515) 240-0560

Island Grove Event Center Conference Rooms, 501 North 14th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631 Jessica Freeman 970-217-5239 jessica@coagav.org www.coagav.org

agairupdate.com/calendar

Knoxville Convention Center Knoxville, TN Lindsay Barber Tel: 202-546-5722 Fax: 202-546-5726 information@agaviation.org

Cape Girardeau, MO United States Eric Blair ericb802@yahoo.com (573) 283-5590

Custom Farm Service of Arizona Stanfield, AZ United States Brittany Armstrong barmstrong@agairusa.com (520) 705-9692

TBA Kim Cash 512-476-2644 kimcash@thetexascapitol.com

Wyndham Gettysburg Gettysburg, PA United States Ed Carter businessoffice@northeastaaa. org (609) 820-7987

TJ Willey’s Tiffin, OH United States Brian Gibbs gibbsaerospray@gmail.com (419) 332-1724

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Biloxi, MS United States Vicki Morgan vickimorgan@msaaa.com (662) 299-7836

Heritage Inn Great Falls, MT United States Alyssa Stromberg alyssastromberg16@gmail.com (406) 480-3965

TBA Sue Stewart dandsaerial@aol.com (940) 864-2456

Golden Nugget Casino Lake Charles, LA Kim Brown LAAGAVIATION@outlook.com (225) 436-3199

TBA Katherine Holmstrom 501-503-3310 Katherine@araaa.org www.araaa.org

TBA Sandy Wells 405-431-0381 sandy@okaaa.org

TBA Colleen Campbell 406-781-6461 www.montanaaerialapplicators.org

TBA Sue Stewart 940-864-2456 dandsaerial@aol.com www.nmagaviation.org

Double Tree by Hilton Nashville, TN United States Shanda Allen flyallen@sccoast.net (843) 358-3583

TBA Leslie Craft ncaaa@ncagaviationassoc.com (252) 312-5723

Regina, SK Canada Phone: +1 780-413-0078 Fax: +1 780-413-0076 info@canadianaerialapplicators. com canadianaerialapplicators.com/ conference

Banff, AB Canada Phone: +1 780-413-0078 Fax: +1 780-413-0076 info@canadianaerialapplicators. com canadianaerialapplicators.com/ conference

by Ted Delanghe

In 2008 Chad Vanderbyl started Fly’n Dutchman Ag Ltd. out of Melfort, Saskatchewan, providing aerial application services for agricultural and forestry needs. The company name is both a tribute to his Dutch ancestry and a reference to the fabled Flying Dutchman ship of naval lore. For Chad, it was the culmination of a childhood dream.

It’s been said that important traits for a successful business include hard work, patience, and persistence. While Chad didn’t give up on becoming a pilot, he realized he needed to find an alternate career.

“I was on the farm and liked working the land and the many facets of agriculture, so I looked around for opportunities to combine farming with aviation. I enrolled in a geophysics program at the University of Saskatchewan. I thought airborne geophysics was where I could combine flying with the study of the land.” As in many walks of life, timing can also be an essential element.

In the summer, Chad worked as a mixer/loader for various ag aviation operators who would come to fly off the Melfort airport. It was another important step toward him starting his own ag spraying business. During those summers, his interest shifted from continuing his studies to focus on the ag aviation business.

While developing a solid client list, Chad also brought aboard his cousin as part of the flying team. As well, the fleet was upgraded to two Thrush 510 H80s. ➤

“When I first started, the focus was on insecticide applications, and in the second year, we added a little bit of fungicide work. Gradually year after year, we made more and more fungicide applications. Then about six or seven years ago, we started desiccating by air. That slowly ramped up to where it’s now a whole new season for us and a good way to end the regular season.”

Chad has served on the Canadian Aerial Application Association (CAAA) Board of Directors on various committees over the years and, in 2020, took on the reins as President.

“You quickly learn there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than appears at first glance. Keeping in touch with the various committees and CAAA members across the country is a major priority for me. In working with Transport Canada, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), and other regulatory bodies, it is critical to keep up to date on what’s going on and what’s coming down the pipe.”

As with any industry, both long-standing and shortterm issues must be addressed to keep the ag aviation business thriving. A lot of attention is spent working with government and corporations to find the best solutions that today’s technology can bring to the fore. “We are currently working with the PMRA on compliance with the water volumes designated on labels. Part of that process is working with registrants to encourage them to evaluate their labels as they were developed years ago under what appears to be some archaic tools. Agricultural aviation is continuing to grow. We are becoming less 911 and used more as another tool in the producer’s toolbox, given the aircraft’s speed as timing is now everything in agriculture. Crop prices are increasing, but so are the fuel, fertilizer, and other input costs. We have to bring cost savings to the farmers to help them be more cost-effective in their operations.”

In any business associated with aviation, it is critical that the channels of communication with Transport Canada remain open and active. On behalf of its members, the CAAA continues to work with Transport in seeking solutions to a continuing evolution in the regulatory landscape.

One example has to do with lightweight data recorders (LDRs). On December 20, 2021, Transport Canada issued a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) to amend subpart 605 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) to require (1) retrofitting of existing aircraft for the installation of LDRs and (2) the mandatory incorporation of LDRs into new aircraft. ➤

Top Left: Ag TRuck 2008, Chad with Jim Vanderbyl (dad).

Top Right:At 401 Chad Vanderbyl.

Bottom Left: Chad qith son Huson on thrush.

Bottom Right: Chad refuiling Ag Truck.

“The issue is not as straightforward as first appears. What we are talking about here is not simply adding a single piece of hardware to the aircraft. It involves a lengthy design, certification, production, and installation process. If Transport mandates the LDRs, all these costs will get passed to the operator, which will be significant. We are asking if LDRs are needed in our ag-air industry for accident investigations. Our aircraft are still stick and rudder; they are not overly complex flying machines. It’s very rare not to be able to determine what factors were involved in most circumstances.”

The aerial application industry also continues to emphasize continual improvements in overall safety and application efficacy. From annual spray pattern testing clinics to new emerging technologies, there is a continuing evolution in studying the dynamics of aerial application to achieve the very best results possible.

“Every year, we continue to seek ways to ensure our applications are conducted safely and effectively. An important part of that process is constantly monitoring and evaluating our application systems. We run both CP nozzles and atomizers, atomizers for fungicides and insecticides, and CPs when we get into herbicide applications. We used to run atomizers year-round with my Thrush that had winglets, and we never had an issue. As soon as we started flying the H80, which didn’t have winglets, we were getting spray on the windscreen. We moved nozzles around and narrowed our swath width to keep our spray out of the wingtip vortices.” ➤

Top: Loading Ag Truck at the Melfort airport. Chad, Sherman Boland mixer-loader.

Bottom: Ag Truck at the Melfort airport 2018. Jim Vanderbyl, left, Chad Vanderbyl, middle, Tim Sjolvold (mixer-agronomist) right.

Right: Thrush near Melfort.

Precise aerial applications are crucial to successful pest management. Pulse width modulation (PWM) is an emerging technology that provides precise, site-specific applications under changing weather, field, and pest conditions while minimizing potential off-target movement.

“It’s what most new ground sprayers are running now, and I think we should explore PWM systems for our aircraft, especially for as much herbicide as we’re doing now. Also, a 50% boom shutoff works well for drift mitigation. It’s an emerging technology that looks pretty good and can help stay on target with products.”

It’s hard to look anywhere these days without coming up with a news article or advertisement on drones. Part of the discussion involves looking at ways that they can be used as an additional tool in the monitoring of crops and treatment of pests.

For many operators, family members form an integral part of the team. ➤

“To use drones for any broad acre amount of spraying is something I don’t see happening real soon. Just considering new regulations that must be in place means it’s going to take a while to get caught up in that department. Then add to that the studies required to include drones on labels. I can see value in drones where they could be used for crop monitoring and evaluation, or even doing some spot spraying, but again there are a lot of bridges to cross before that becomes mainstream.”

“My wife Kendra is an essential part of the business. She does all the books and billings, brings three meals a day for everybody working here, and helps us get organized in the mornings or the evenings as to which aircraft is going where and when. We’ve got three young kids who like coming to the strip when she brings meals, which is the only way I get to see them in the summer because I’m gone at four and not back ‘til ten.”

An often-overlooked part of the aerial application business is finding partners to work within continuing studies of various aspects of the business.

“One new development we are looking forward to is working with the University of Saskatchewan. Recently we presented the ag air industry to a class of ag engineers, and then we had a tour of the U of S. Then we had an opportunity to meet some engineering professors. It was exciting in that we could see working with them on a range of projects, maybe starting with drift mitigation studies or water volume studies. Hopefully, it leads to something down the road.”

As in every business, consumers must be educated on products and services and the value they can bring.

“There are still a number of myths about aerial application, but I am in the unique position of being a commercial ag air operator and a farmer. If, as a farmer, I have invested in all this training and equipment and aerial spray my fields, it proves that aerial application works and works very effectively since I’ve continued to grow our business.”

In looking ahead to the 2022 spray season, Chad is very optimistic about the continuing growth of Fly’n Dutchman Ag and the entire ag aviation industry.

“I try to do the best job I can for our farmers and run my business and my airplanes with the idea that if this were my field, would I be happy with the job that’s getting done right now? I know that our members feel the same way, and I’m looking forward to working with them as CAAA President in our continuing efforts to improve what we do and how we do it.”

Productive Aeroagricola operational base. The company has been providing aerial application services in the world’s main sugar and ethanol hub for ten years.

Produtiva Aeroagrícola is an aerial application company located in São Joaquim da Barra, in the northern part of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, the largest ethanol and sugar producer in the world. Incorporated 10 years ago by Marino de Andrade Neto, an agricultural pilot since 1991, the company has a fleet of six aircraft: three Ipanemas 202A, one Cessna Agtruck, one AirTractor 402A, and one Thrush 510G.

Marino started to work in firefighting with his turbo planes, mainly in the sugarcane plantation, operating conventional gate boxes. He told us a little about the evolution of his work:

“We are working on developing the market to add aerial firefighting to our agricultural operations, as we realized that there could be demand for this consolidation of our existing ag customers. We also publicize firefighting activity extensively, directly to customers, as well as on social media.

We serve individual rural producers, producer associations, sugarcane mills, and municipalities. We have not yet implemented daily shifts or with a minimum of hours of avialability, but we are trying to make customers aware of this need. For now, we are working on-demand.”

One of the services provided last year in the region of Morro Agudo (30 km from its base), where the company was hired for two days by the local farmers’ union. In addition to rural producers, the operation had the support of agribusiness companies in the region, the fire department, and the municipal and state civil defense. As there were areas that were difficult to access, the aircraft’s work was critical to the operation’s success.

Marino Neto, an agricultural pilot for three decades, highlights the fundamental role of advertising carried out by aerial application companies, thus helping the development of the aerial firefighting market in Brazil.

In 2021, Marino installed his first fire gate on his Thrush 510G. The aircraft was the second Thrush in the country to have the hydraulic equipment of a Brazilian manufacturer installed. The company helped Zanoni develop the technology: ➤

AVIATION CO.

, Hundreds of Kits Available

2 Duplication Program Second to None

3 Custom Built, TSO-Certified Stratoflex Hose Assemblies

Phone: 866.413.2780 ext. 293 Fax: 618.931.1102 E-mail: sales@aerohoseshop.com Website: www.aerohoseshop.com SEND HOSES TO: 3701 Highway 162 Granite City, IL 62040 -:tarkar

Hydrovant is a water-based polymer solution with unique activator and super sticker properties never seen before in an adjuvant. This advanced technology enhances efficacy by ensuring that pesticides stick around long enough (even through wetting events) to do their job. Hydrovant is proudly developed and manufactured in the USA.

Top: Thrush 510G with a 13” hydraulic gate. Marino points out that the versatility of the equipment is a crucial feature for operators in the state of São Paulo, who often intersperse pesticide application work with firefighting.

Bottom left: Productiva’s Thrush 510G during an aerial firefighting operation. The company has provided services to associations of local producers and municipalities.

Bottom right: Marino leading a hopper discharge with a fire gate. The company helped the Brazilian manufacturer to develop the new equipment.

“Sergio and Lucas Zanoni stayed here for two days, making the necessary adjustments to install the gate on our aircraft. It was a new development and it is serving us well. In addition to greatly improving the discharge over a common gate box, the equipment stays on the aircraft for spraying work. This is a fundamental element for aerial application companies, as we work almost all year round also with agricultural operations”.

Like other operators in the region, Produtiva was encouraged to work with firefighting in the sugarcane sector. Farmers and mills are starting to invest in hiring this type of service to protect their assets - it’s a win-win with the aircraft able to protect with spray applications and fire suppression. The result has been not only the reduction of financial losses but gains for society as a whole. In addition to reducing the emission of polluting gases in the production of these commodities, agricultural aircraft also started to help fight fires in forest reserves (private and public), becoming a fundamental tool for natural defense and sustainable agriculture.

“Let there be no fires, but if there are, we will do our best to contribute to the fight and thereby minimize losses.” The company’s motto is a great representation of what the agricultural aviation sector has been doing in Brazil.

PIQUA, Ohio, May 17, 2022 – Hartzell Propeller, the leading aircraft propeller manufacturer, has implemented an engineering leadership transition. Vice President of Engineering and Flight Safety Bruce Hanke is retiring in July, with his duties being assumed by 21-year veteran GE Aviation engineering leader Doug Washburn, who recently joined Hartzell Propeller.

“Bruce Hanke, with over four decades of engineering and leadership experience, leaves a legacy of many achievements during his 20 years at Hartzell,” said Hartzell Propeller President JJ Frigge. “Bruce’s accomplishments include development of composite-bladed propellers, light weight Bantam and Raptor series propeller systems, compact governors, in-house propeller deice and anti-ice system design and manufacturing, and improvements in the flight safety of Hartzell products,” Frigge added.

Frigge added, “He spent his first years at GE in testing, with a focus on instrumentation and airfoil vibration, so his background integrates well with Hartzell’s future objectives.” Using an innovative blend of sophisticated engineering analytics, certification skills and world class manufacturing technologies, Hartzell is working closely with many OEMs within emerging industries to fine-tune propeller applications. “We have dedicated tens of thousands of engineering hours to electric, hybrid and hydrogen powered aircraft since 2019. We continue to make advancements in tooling, manufacturing processes, and lightweighting materials,” said Frigge.

Washburn’s experience at GE Aviation includes numerous engineering management roles with skills in mechanical design, analysis and testing, organizational leadership, project management, fiber optic systems, and team building. He has a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University, both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University. He also holds a Six Sigma Black Belt certification.

Hartzell Propeller is the global leader in advanced technology aircraft propeller design and manufacturing for business, commercial and government customers. The company designs next generation propellers with innovative blended airfoil technology and manufactures them with revolutionary machining centers, robotics, and custom resin transfer molding curing stations. Hartzell Propeller and sister companies, Hartzell Engine Technologies LLC, Quality Aircraft Accessories, and AWI-AMI (Aerospace Welding Minneapolis, Inc., and Aerospace Manufacturing, Inc.) form the general aviation business unit of Tailwind Technologies Inc. For more info on Hartzell Propeller, go to www.hartzellprop.com.

National Agricultural Aviation Association

Attention, higher-education students: Don’t miss out on the opportunity to vie for a combined $3,000 in educational scholarships. NAAA is accepting submissions for the 2022 Support Scholarship Media Contest through Sept. 15. Prizes include a $2,000 scholarship from the NAAA Support Committee and a $1,000 scholarship, courtesy of Covington Aircraft Engines.

The theme for this year’s contest is “What role does ag aviation play in producing a local commodity?” The competition is open to anyone sponsored by an NAAA member. The scholarship is not restricted to pursuing a “flying career.” Any educational pursuit beyond high school is eligible.

Entrants must be a senior in high school or registered in higher education by the fall semester of 2022. Previous winners are not eligible to compete.

Submissions must be an essay of at least 1,500 words or a five-minute multimedia presentation based on the contest’s theme. Entrants’ submissions will be judged on content, theme development, clarity, originality and proper grammar. Personal opinions are encouraged.

Submissions should be sent as an email attachment by Sept. 15 to information@agaviation.org.

Visit AgAviation.org/ SupportScholarshipContest for more information about eligibility requirements and contest guidelines.

From L-R, Thomas Wiltz, Kolby Pfyl, Weston Meise and Autumn Smith each received $5,000 flight-training scholarships after applying for the NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship in 2021. This year, four more scholarships are available thanks to educational grants from BASF and Thrush Aircraft. Visit AgAviation.org/ scholarship to apply.

How does $5,000 sound to help someone pursue their dream of becoming a professional ag pilot? Thanks to the generous support of BASF and Thrush Aircraft, $20,000 in aid is available through the 2022 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program to assist four aspiring ag pilots in their journey.

NAAA’s “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program seeks to strengthen the aerial application industry by helping operator members bring new pilots into the profession and help fund their training. Applicants must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator member. Scholarship recipients may use the proceeds for flight training or aviation or ag-related coursework at a university, college, community college or other institution of higher learning. A stipend for a trainee in an NAAA Operator-sponsored apprentice program is also permissible. ➤

This year, NAAA will award up to four scholarships valued at $5,000 each. Investing in aspiring ag aviators is a win-win for NAAA Operator members and individuals seeking training funds to support their pursuit of becoming a professional ag pilot.

To be considered for the 2022 scholarship, along with completing the two-part application, every applicant must submit:

A letter of recommendation from the NAAA Operator member sponsoring the applicant.

An essay of 250 words or less explaining why the applicant wants to pursue a career in agricultural aviation and how they would use NAAA’s “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship to further their education and training.

A one-page résumé or list of activities detailing all agricultural and aviation experiences, education and training.

Last year NAAA awarded $5,000 scholarships to Weston Meise of Moses Lake, Washington; Kolby Pfyl of Orland, California; Autumn Smith of Cozad, Nebraska; and Thomas Wiltz of Lafayette, Louisiana. NAAA will announce the recipients of the 2022 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarships in December at the Ag Aviation Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee.

To learn more about the 2022 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship, review the application instructions at AgAviation.org/scholarship. The application is available for download from the same scholarship webpage. Please contact NAAA at (202) 546-5722 or information@ agaviation.org for clarification about any application requirements.

While the applicant must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator member, NAAA membership is not a prerequisite for applying for the scholarship. Still, becoming an NAAA Associate member is an excellent way for candidates to learn more about the industry and augment their training.

The deadline to apply for the 2022 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship is Aug. 31. The program is administered by NAAA and funded by educational grants from BASF and Thrush.

Do More In Less Time

Toll-Free 877-686-7401

ALEXANDRIA, VA – May 23, 2022 – America’s aerial applicators — or crop dusters as they are known in older jargon — are primed and ready to support farmers in need of fast, timely and effective applications this growing season. If they don’t have an existing relationship with an aerial applicator, farmers in need of an aerial application service provider should search NAAA’s “Find an Aerial Applicator” database at AgAviation.org/findapplicator to look for one in their area.

After a productive 2021 spraying season, the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) expects demand for aerial application services to be even greater this summer as farmers strive to protect their crops from yield-robbing weeds, disease and insect pests in an effort to bolster the global food supply.

NAAA conducted an industry survey toward the end of the 2021 spraying season. It found that 4 out of 5 aerial applicators flew the same or more hours and treated the same or more acres than they did in 2020, including 57% that treated more acres and 54% that flew more hours than the year before. Several signs point to aerial applicators being even busier this summer. Leading pesticide manufacturers recently informed NAAA that they believe fungicide applications could be 20% higher than in 2021 when 55 million acres of plant health products were sprayed. Furthermore, even with tight supplies and higher input costs, farmers will be counting on aerial applicators to help them maximize their crop output while commodity prices remain high.

Agricultural aviators treat 127 million acres of cropland in the United States each year. That doesn’t include the 7.9 million acres of pasture and rangeland treated by agricultural aircraft annually. Aerial pest control for managers of forests, waterways and public health also adds to these many millions of acres — 5.1 million acres of forestland and 5.2 million acres of mosquito and public health applications are treated annually.

When disease, weeds or insects threaten a crop or it needs nutrients or seeding, aerial application is the fastest and most economical way to aid farmers. It permits large areas to be treated rapidly, far faster than any other form of application. When wet soil conditions, rolling hills or dense vegetation prevent terrestrial equipment from treating an area, aerial application is often the only or most economical method for timely pesticide applications. Additionally, aerial application is conducive to higher crop yields since it does not disrupt the crop or cause soil compaction, improving soil health and the amount grown per acre.

Data from a Texas A&M University economics study calculated that the aerial application industry’s value to farmers, input suppliers, processors and agricultural transportation and storage industries for corn, wheat, cotton, soybeans and rice production alone in the U.S. is about $37 billion annually. That figure is expected to grow substantially and in importance as food prices increase and food production becomes an issue of growing importance due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply and demand issues, and a growing global population.

America’s aerial applicators are ready to assist farmers with timely applications. NAAA’s “Find an Aerial Applicator” database helps farmers find them. The search tool is especially handy for farmers that don’t already have an existing service relationship with an aerial application operation. At AgAviation.org/findapplicator, users can conduct a radius search by city/state or zip code for distances ranging from zero to 25 miles away up to 250 miles away. All aerial application companies in the database are members of the National Agricultural Aviation Association and must abide by NAAA’s Member Code of Conduct to operate in a manner that reflects the professionalism and ethical nature of the aerial application industry.

Farmers, ranchers, foresters, agricultural co-ops and crop advisors are encouraged to visit AgAviation.org/findapplicator to find an aerial applicator near them.