Editorials

I have been monitoring the continued push by drone-affiliated companies to enter the ag aviation marketplace. Having been in ag aviation for over 50 years, I feel there are some of them that are trying to break into the industry the right way and some that are living in an...

Have you noticed the surprising number of ag pilots receiving the FAA's Master Pilot award? It seems like an inordinate number just recently received this award, including my "old" friend Mark Gary of Mississippi. There have been several others in the last couple of months. It is almost as if...

One of the more difficult tasks a business owner has to face is increasing prices, typically for the same services and products as before the increase. I have never met anyone who looked forward to raising their prices. It invites an open door for the customer to leave. At a...

I trust everyone had a fantastic Christmas holiday. All was good with my family; we should all be thinking about the loved ones that have left us this past year. The holidays can be extra challenging for their families and friends. It doesn't get any easier for them with the...

I have three topics that I would like to cover in this November editorial. I will start with the first of the three, the Celebration of Life for my longtime friend, Grant Lane. On October 13 and 14, Grant’s life was celebrated at Lane Airpark in Rosenberg, Texas. Friday, Grant’s...

Wire Strikes   I find it unusual that wire strikes this year have taken the spotlight for ag aviation accidents. However, one cannot deny the facts; wire strikes are rising. Several of the ten fatalities (so far) this year can be attributed to the aircraft coming in contact with a...

How do I start this editorial without seemingly being self-serving? I’ll take a chance and simply go for it. By now, most know that 50 years ago, on August 15, 1973, I soloed my first aircraft, a Cessna C-150. That day started a long aviation career despite a few bumps...

Where does one start when writing about the loss of one of your closest friends and an industry leader? I’ve written about many in the ag-aviation industry that have gone before us. This one is tough, my friend Grant Lane.   I first heard of Grant over 35 years ago....

Forty years ago, I believe, in 1983, I met a distinguished gentleman from Louisiana at the spring NAAA board meeting in Washington, D.C. Unknown to me since I was a newcomer to being an NAAA representative for the Georgia Agricultural Aviation Association, the gentleman was Mr. Jack Keahey. We were...

As time passes by, one begins to realize the impact of aging. Several years ago, when it was not as important as today, I noted that there would be a mad rush to the heavens at some point. I felt it was a mathematical thing. When an industry has an...