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Arkansas
Agricultural Aviation Association
March 2005
Up-Coming S.A.F.E. Workshops & Monday Educational
Programs
We hope you will participate in a workshop and the Monday
Educational Programs. Dr. Dennis Gardisser will conduct
three full week workshops and one two days.
• Robert Hick and Bob Rice are the host for the two days at
Walnut Ridge
March 10 –11
The weekly hosts are:
1. Stokes Flying Service at Earl for the North Region March
28—April 1
2. Riddell Flying Service at West Helena for the Central
Region April 4—April 8
3. Fred’s Ag-Aero and Moss Flying Service at Dumas for the
South Region
April 11—15
We hope you will make plans to attend. Caleb Rice, FAA ASPM
Safety Program Manager, will conduct an Agricultural
Aviation Maintenance short course each Monday 3:30—5:00.
Caleb has noted that Human Factors and the 2004 P.A.C.E.
Findings will be a part of the Monday meetings.
Rice and FAA personnel will conduct an “Ag PACE” Program
Tuesday and Wednesday each week. This is a Pilot and
Aircraft Courtesy Evaluation. This is an excellent time to
make sure all your records are up-to-date. Rice will discuss
this during our Monday Evening Educational Program. There
are no repercussions for any defaults.
The Monday Evening Educational Programs will begin at 6:00
pm. The meal sponsors are: Mid-continent Aircraft Corp,
Riddell Flying Service and Knox Nelson Oil Company. The
Arkansas State Plant Board, FAA, the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) and Dr. Dennis Gardisser will
Discuss items like; variable rate nozzles, soybean rust,
boom research.
A certificate will be given to those attending. You will
note that all the educational programs for the South Region
will be at the Dumas Convention Center. The other region’s
meetings will be at the flying services.
You can review the enclosed sheet for the fly-in
requirements. If you have questions contact Dr. Dennis.
Read & Follow The Label
Early February we sent out an email notice regarding the
rumor circulation regarding the aerial application of
glyphosate in Arkansas. Mike Thompson, Pesticide Division
Director, let us know there was not a ban of aerial
application of glyphosate. He stated if the product label
allows aerial application then it is all right.
If you have email and did not receive the notice but wish to
receive alerts and other notification just email us your
address to rharrod@sbcglobal.net, the flying service and if
you are an operator or pilot. We use the blanket
notification alerts especially when the TSA let us know
there is a problem or we need to avoid a problem. The Email
will be from Ron Harrod or AAAA Flying Information. The
email does not show your address.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR CLIENTS
Micheal Thompson,
Arkansas State Plant Board Pesticide Division Director
By now you have probably heard all you want to hear about
Asian Soybean Rust. However, as you know, I usually do not
let that stop me. So let me share a little information with
you. Soon you will be seeing the Section 18 labels for the
products that have been approved by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) for use on soybeans to combat this
new very aggressive fungus. I encourage each of you to pay
close attention to the label.
Some of the products approved for use require that the
fungus be present before use, while others state that the
fungus must be in the area or that the product can be used
if atmospheric conditions favor development of the fungus.
Be sure your clients and consultants are aware of this. You
should also note that there are differences in the growth
stage at which the plants must be before treatment. There is
also a considerable difference in the pre-harvest interval
between products. To make sure your client gets the best
results from the application, be sure to check all these
factors before making the application.
Another issue that has come up, is language on some product
labels. Some of the labels contain language that makes
compliance with the Endangered Species Bulletins developed
some 13 years ago for approximately 30 Arkansas counties
mandatory. Until this language appeared on the labels,
compliance with the Endangered Species Bulletins was
voluntary. The Plant Board is seeking clarification from EPA
as to the intent. However, until we get this information,
you should take steps to protect yourself. If you do not
already have copies of these bulletins, you can go onto the
Plant Board’s web site (plantboard.org), select the
Pesticide menu and look for the link to EPA’s web site that
contains the bulletins.
As always, if you have any questions you think this office
can answer, call us before you take action based on rumor.
AAAA Appreciate Our Convention Educational Sponsors
Rebsamen Insurance
Frost Flying, Inc.
Watson Oil Company
BASF
Bayer CropScience
Davidson Solid Rock Insurance
Dow Agro Sciences
DuPont
FMC
Kimmel aviation Insurance
Monsanto
2005 Convention Summary
The Arkansas aerial applicators are to be commended for
their continued quest for keeping up with the latest
technology and training that benefit the industry. You may
be interested to know we had:
504 attending
292 PAASS forms returned
299 recertified with the Arkansas State Plant Board
208 attended the Tuesday’s Drift Mitigation Training
50 educational booths
We appreciate the various regulating agencies participating
in all of our educational programs:
Arkansas State Plant Board, FAA, Transportation Security
Administration, US Fish & Wildlife Service, The University
of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Arkansas
Department of Environmental Quality & the Department of
Aeronautics. You had a chance to visit with these agencies
personnel during the breaks as well as when the Exhibit Hall
was open.
Jeff Tidwell, Tidwell Flying Service and Ronnie Taylor of
Welsh, Louisiana, did a great job addressing the
Professional Aerial Applicators Support System training.
This included the ag aviation watch program; human factors
in ag aviation and spray drift reductions.
You no longer have the luxury that we were use to before
911. You can no longer leave a plane out with no one around.
You have to questions why someone is around observing or
asking questions especially, those you do not know. You must
make sure you have taken ever precautions to ensure your
facilities are secure including fuel and crop protection
products. We use to think it was neat when people stopped
and videotaped or took pictures, now that is not a good
thing.
We were pleased that Scott Schertz, 2005 NAAA President
could join us. He was in the first leadership training class
of 1995 that was sponsored by Zeneca. He has served on the
NAAA Board of Directors since 1996 and was elected Treasurer
in 1998. He has also chaired the Budget and Finance
Committee, the Government Relations Committee, and the
Constitution and By-laws Committee. You may have visited
with Scott when he was serving as NAAA treasurer.
The Exhibit Hall offers many opportunities for the aerial
applicator to learn what is on the cutting edge, how to
better use a product and what is the latest equipment
available. It offers another opportunity for those not
involved in the direct application another insight of the
many facets of the industry. We do appreciate the exhibitors
and their professionalism. Brent Short, Satterfield Aviation
Fuels, Inc., manages the Exhibit Hall. He does an
outstanding job.
You selected from the 3 AAAA regions to honor those that you
believed had done an excellent job for the industry during
the year.
2004 Outstanding Operator
Randy N. Everett, E & M Flying Service, Inc.
2004 Outstanding Pilot
Travis Worthington, Quinn Aviation, Inc.
2004 Outstanding Safety Award
Jason Hammock, Hammock Flying Service
2004 Outstanding Associate
Harold Powers, ABIDE Ag-Aero Corporation
2005 Outstanding Exhibitor Award
Bill Bracewell ARCO Sign & Decal
Bill Bracewell photo art was eye-catching and let anyone
passing by know that the ag aviation convention was in the
city. Also, we appreciate Bill taking the directory
pictures.
Check out the convention pictures at agaviation.net
Looking For A Seat
Wally Cook
828-652-1790
wallyandfenflylo@wnclink.com
Total Hours
25,000
Turbine 4,000
Brian L. Gilbert
662-382-7085
Alt. 515-266-0523
Total Hrs 10,498
Ag Hrs 4,947
Jason L. Robinson
318-281-9758
Lcdg4646@aol.com
Total Hours 9,300
Ag Hours 8,450
Mark Reed
870-892-5461
Pocahontas, AR
David Reynolds
501-268-4208
501-230-5366
Total Hours 6,000
AT602, AT502, S2R-6, G!64-6, ect.
Joe Samoge Jr.
731-499-2548
731-627-3669
Total Hours 9,100
Ag Hours 4,400 +
Scott Standridge
870-377-7678
Total Hours 748.9
Total AG Hours 538.8
Stephen J. Vincent
337-774-5443
337-277-9087
15 years experience
Notes
Congratulations! Skyler Collins, a Henderson State
University student, who won the Junior Aviator of the year
$1,000.00 scholarship several years ago. Skyler has been
selected to be a part of the 2005 edition of Who’s Who among
Students in American Universities and Colleges.
You can check out the Arkansas Junior Aviator of the Year
Awards Program. Agaviation.net has a link to the Little Rock
FAA web site where you can obtain the forms. There are 3
categories: 1 – ages 8-10; 2 – ages 11-14 and 3 – ages 15 –
18. The 3 category winners are honored at the Annual
Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in October. The past 2 years
Dr. Dennis & Richard Ham have taken the winners to an aerial
applicator’s operation.
Thank you so much for the memorial for Wayne, he would be so
pleased. He really enjoyed working with each of you.
He was working on the church building committee. The money
will be put in the building fund. Joy Rupe
Thank you so much for the plant and for the thoughts and
prayers. ..Whatever you did to console our hearts, we thank
you so much whatever the part. Karen – Dierks Nash Family
Covington Convention Course Certified
Ron Hollis
I would like to thank all of the Operators, Pilots and
Mechanics that attended the “PT6A Familiarization Training
Course” we were invited to put on at this year’s AAAA
convention in Little Rock! I hope the visual training aids,
parts and pieces brought for Show-and-tell as well as the
new “rigging bench” helped increase everyone’s understanding
of how this amazing little engine works! I had applied for
FAA Approval of the PT6A Familiarization Course but at the
time of the convention had not heard from the FAA. At the
end of the month of January I received a package from the
FAA certifying the course as an Inspection Authorization
Refresher Course! If any mechanic with an Inspection
Authorization attended the course (I think there were two in
attendance) and would like to have a copy of the letter from
the FAA stating “the material submitted meets the
requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR)
Section 65,93 (a) (4), for Inspection Authorization Renewal”
and a copy of the certificate itself, I will be glad to
supply it.
Covington Aircraft Engines, Inc. is in the initial stages of
enlarging its Turbine Engine Overhaul and Hangar facilities!
We are planning to slightly more than double the size of the
facility! A new 22,500 square foot hangar will be built
behind the existing facility and the turbine engine overhaul
facility will be expanded into the current 10,000 square
foot hangar space! A new attached 7,500 square foot T-hangar
/ field service vehicle garage and hangar maintenance shop
is also being added. Our focus in this endeavor is to
improve our turn time capability and expand our airframe
maintenance services capabilities.
On Radial Engine Front – We are now the proud owners of the
Air Tractor Crankshaft TC! We are negotiating with Roush
Manufacturing (owned by Mr. Jack Roush of NASCAR fame)
regarding when the shaft can be brought into production and
how much it will cost – keep your ears to the ground for
news on this project. We are also researching manufacture of
R-1340 cylinder stud assemblies! Cylinder price is, of
course, one of the deciding factors on whether or not it’s
feasible for us to produce new cylinders. That is in the
early stages so I can’t tell you much about how that’s
going, only that research is underway. Still no word on the
electronic ignition / fuel injection front!
Ya’ll Fly Safe!
Choosing the right equipment for your cotton customers
A high percentage of cotton growers depend on ethephon, the
active ingredient in at least six popular harvest aid/boll
opening products. But aerial applicators worry about this
chemistry causing equipment corrosion and degradation.
Understanding how to manage ethephon containing products
will allow you to choose products based on performance,
which is key to the success of you and your clients.
It’s possible to avoid these problems when using ethephon,
suggests Greg Schwing, senior research associate in the
application technology group at DuPont Crop Protection. It’s
true that all ethephon harvest aids are highly acidic. They
have a pH of less than 2, and labels carry a “Danger” signal
word, with the additional “Corrosive” description. Key steps
in preventing damage are to equip planes properly, then
perform daily cleanups.
“Check durability of on-board mixing and spray system
components,” Schwing suggests. “Some materials are very
susceptible to ethephon chemistry; others are quite
resistant.”
Stainless steel and fiberglass tanks and stainless booms are
not damaged by these harvest aids. Some — but not all —
aluminum alloys are safe, too. Alcoa’s aircraft aluminum
6061 alloy and 7075 alloy carry a much higher corrosion
resistance than 2024 alloy. 6061 alloy is normally used for
parts having direct contact with chemicals; 7075 alloy is
used primarily for air frames. Ideally, stainless steel
pumps should be used, and valves should have Viton, ceramic
or Teflon® seals. Stainless steel, polypropylene and nylon
nozzles are resistant to corrosion, but those made of
polyacetal, such as Delrin®, are susceptible to degradation.
“Daily cleanup is the best preventive maintenance,” Schwing
adds. “Ethephons are totally water soluble. If you
thoroughly flush out and hose down with water, the chemical
will dissolve and wash away. And spray lubricants and
corrosion inhibitors can be used to protect bare metal and
finishes.”
On-board flushing tanks are helpful. Once a load has been
applied, the complete spray system can be flushed and
rinse-aid applied to the treated field.
At the conclusion of the season or when aircraft will be
idle for extended periods, it’s well to neutralize systems
by flushing with a solution of baking soda (1 pound per 5
gallons of water) or household ammonia (1 quart to 5 gallons
water). At this time, exterior surfaces of planes should be
washed with soapy water.
Six popular products containing ethephon include CottonQuik®
harvest aid/defoliant, SuperBoll®, Prep, Finish 6 Pro,
Ethephon 6, and Boll’d.
“With proper equipment and daily cleanup, aerial applicators
can use these harvest aid/boll openers without fear of
corrosion or degradation,” Schwing concludes. ###
-Always read and follow all label directions and precautions
for use.
Super Boll®, Teflon® and Delrin® are registered trademark of
DuPont or its affiliates.
CottonQuik® is a registered trademark of Entek Corporation.
Viton is a registered trademark of DuPont Dow Elastomers
L.L.C.
Prep and Finish are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Bayer CropScience.
Ethephon 6 is a trademark of Micro Flo Company.
Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association 2005 Officers
President Todd Hartley
Vice President Barry Wilson
Treasurer David Glover
Secretary Randy Bolen
Past President Mark Hartz
AR State Plant Board Representative George Tidwell
N AAA Representative Wayne Keahey
Pilot Representative Tracey Stokes
Associate Representative Brent Short
Regional Chairmen
Central Region Tommy Anderson & Jerry Williams North Region
Randy Mink & Michael L. Wallin
South Region Fred Quandt & Robert Wilson
Arkansas Aeronautics Commission Representative
Darryl Riddell
AAAA Accountant Neal Keahey
Advisor Dr. Dennis Gardisser
Executive Directory/Lobbyist Ron Harrod
501-376-3233 Fax 501-376-4632
rharod@sbcglobal.net
agaviation.net
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up Coming Fly-Ins & Monday Programs |
