United States

In July of 2014 NAAA reported that we had submitted a First Draft Proposal to suggest changes to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) Standard 407 For Aircraft Fuel Servicing which set a policy against hot-fueling. Many of NAAA's proposed changes to allow the practice in the ag aviation industry...

/* unvisited link */ a:link {color: blue !important;} /* visited link */ a:visited {color: purple !important;}/* mouse over link */ a:hover {color: blue !important;}/* selected link */ a:active {color: blue !important;} Editor's Note: The following is a commentary written by the California Agricultural Aviation Association's President, Terry Gage. September 11,...

Cascade Aircraft Conversions CEO Doran Rogers announced today the receipt of the PT6A-41/42 STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) from the FAA for the Thrush Aircraft. This STC for Thrush aircraft is a 100 horsepower increase over the factory PT6A-34 powered Thrush. The 850SHP upgrade to the 500 gallon Thrush aircraft will...

The 2016 502XP American Expedition, a nationwide tour of Air Tractor's new 502XP kicked off with demonstration flights and bar-b-que at Lane Aviation in Rosenberg, TX. Representatives from Air Tractor, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Lane Aviation were on hand to answer any questions about the new aircraft, and to...

Often a farmer will be faced with a decision as to whether to treat their crop by ground application or aerial application. Aerial Application has a number of advantages over ground based application. These include: Advantages: • Timeliness of operation • Zero soil compaction • Zero disease transfer • Zero...

The status of Greece’s aerial fire-fighting armada is in crisis after the Hellenic Air Force endured its third major CL-215/415 disaster since 2014. On June 26, 2016 at 11:09 GMT, the piston-engine, fire-fighting aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force, the Canadair CL-215, crashed close to the village of Stefani, near...

IN MY OPINION, this little dissertation is a mild case of venting for me, as well as other ag pilots who have expressed similar feelings. It is also mildly sarcastic. For AgAir Update readers, I have “cleaned” it up considerably (use your imagination). Over the years that I have been...

The increasing use of fungicides and other products applied late in the growing season has kept many ag planes in the air longer. Now, new technology promises to extend the aerial application season even longer. AgAir Update has learned of a new product that can be applied aerially that few,...

The Bee Informed Partnership takes an annual survey of commercial and backyard beekeepers in order to track health and survival rates of honey bee colonies. The latest results show that colonies declined 44 percent during the year spanning April 2015 to April 2016. That sounds alarming, and it is in...

I hope my girls love me like I love you Dad. I hope there's things that will always make them think of me, as I do of you. As a kid I couldn't wait to hear that AgTruck buzz the house and see "Prop" chasing you. I'd hear it go...