Positive Publicity

George Tidwell, Mark Hartz, Todd Hartley and Tommy Anderson have been involved in several projects since the convention. Recently, Mark Hartz did a demonstration for Nancy Cole and her photographer with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The pictures and articles were good. One article was about planting rice by ag planes and the other about soybean rust threat. Tidwell has given numerous interviews with the papers as well as the Delta Farm Press. These guys all came to the Capitol to speak and support issues important to the AAAA.

Hartley and Hartz are still working with Mike Thompson, Arkansas State Plant Board Pesticide Division Director, regarding EPA Propanil concerns. We appreciate the ASPB for allowing the AAAA to be involved with this concern. Arkansas was the only state that had aerial applicators participating in the EPA phone conferences.

Mark Your Calendar ….

2006 AAAA Convention
January 8, 9 & 10
Wyndham Riverfront Hotel
North Little Rock, AR 72114

AAAA Membership

142 Operators
138 Pilots
22 Ground Crew
67 Associates
3 Life Time

The AAAA is as strong as it’s members and numbers. If you have not paid your 2005 dues please complete a membership form. An operator pays only operators dues. If we do not have your email or we should have your email but you have not been receiving email from us please email us your address. This information helps us with TSA.

Antitrust Bullet Points
Memorandum From: Hilburn, Calhoon, Harper, Prusiski & Calhoun Attorneys at Law

The rising price of fuel prompted a suggestion that we have a meeting to talk about application pricing. I asked the Hilburn Law Firm what could or could not be said at such a meeting. The following is the memorandum; there will be no meeting.

• The Sherman Antitrust Act was passed by Congress in 1890.
• The Act prohibits a “contract, combination or conspiracy” which unreasonably restrains trade.
• Price-fixing agreements are illegal under the Act. No Excuses
• The purpose of the antitrust laws is to lower prices for consumers. In your situation, the consumers are the farmers. Suggesting that applicators charge a “fair” price could be characterized as price fixing. An agreement among competitors to limit interest-free grace periods is price-fixing.
• The purpose of the antitrust laws is NOT to protect competitors. In fact, the purpose is the exact opposite, i.e, to make businesses “sweat” and to encourage efficient operators.
• Unlike a Last Will and Testament or a prenuptial agreement, a contract or agreement under the antitrust laws does not require that every “t” be crossed or every “i” doted.
• In fact, the exact opposite is true. Under the antitrust laws, a tacit understanding is a “contract.” A wink, nod or nudge is a “contract.” Verbal Communication is not even necessary. As one court put it, “a knowing wink may mean more than words.”
• Trade associations and their members get sued for price-fixing “agreement” based on oral statements made at meetings.
  In fact, individuals who get caught price fixing frequently “do time.”

Whatever you say, do NOT encourage you members, directly or INDIRECTLY, to raise their prices because of fuel costs.
Simply encourage your members to stay out of each others’ “territory” constitutes “price fixing”. NO EXCUSES.
Do NOT exchange price information. This is risky.

So what can you say? You can talk about efficiency because that is what the antitrust laws were designed to encourage. But again, efficiency benefits consumers and efficient operators. No mention, however indirectly, about increasing prices.

Remind your members they have “fixed” cost such as bank notes, personal property taxes and depreciation. Talk about ways to reduce “variable” cost such as fuel cost and unnecessary employee overhead.

Again, any implication that prices should be increased is off limits. This includes staying out of each others’ territories or encouraging “mergers.”
 

Collins Heads State FSA

Dotson Collin has been named by President Bush as State Executive Director United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency Arkansas State Office. The AAAA appreciates Dotson and his work for the ag community. He is a true friend of the ag aviation industry.
 

AAAA Welcomes Steve Stewart
New Policy Advisor Office of the Governor

I earned my law degree in Fayetteville at the University of Arkansas School of Law, and was recognized in Who's Who Among American Law Students.  My first real job after law school was as a Legislative Aide to the then Pro-Tem of the Texas Senate.  After that, I spent 3 years on Congressman John Boozman's staff as the Projects Director.  I handled all state & local policy issues for the Congressman, including agriculture, the environment & economic development.

When I got the chance to work strictly on policy for the Governor, I was excited about the opportunity.  To be the Governor's policy advisor for Agriculture (the state's leading industry with $7 billion in ag sales & related economic activities, plus 25% of all Arkansans involved in agriculture), as well as Natural Resources Affairs (being the Natural State and all) is a huge honor & an important job.  

The overlap between agriculture & the environment is huge, but most of the rules & regulations out there come at it from one side or the other.  Knowing what good stewards of the land farmers are is important, but being able to bring that knowledge to the environmental folks so that agriculture is well represented may be the biggest opportunity to serve the Governor and Arkansans.  Plus, folks involved in agriculture are the best to work with because they are so down to earth.

I'm excited about the position, & look forward to the opportunity to work for Arkansas agriculture.

Steve Stewart
Policy Advisor
Office of the Governor
501-682-3587 Fax 501-682-3596

 

Don’t tap your tiger on the nose with your microphone!
By John Boatright
FAA Southwest Region Safety Program Manager

A recent tragedy involving Roy Horn of the famous Zigfreid and Roy magic show in Las Vegas, NV could serve to teach us all a lesson.

One version of the incident indicated Roy had one of their famous white tigers on stage when he gave him the command to lie down. The tiger did not respond so Roy tapped him on the nose with a microphone to get his attention. The tiger then proceeded to grab Roy by the head and throat and drag him off stage.

The point here is that at the time that tiger did not care how many years Roy had been doing that act, how famous Roy was, how much money he had, how famous he was or how many white tigers Roy had worked with in the past. He just knew that at that moment Roy had tapped him on the nose just one too many times. That tap on the nose took that particular tiger beyond what he was willing to tolerate and he reacted in a potentially deadly manner.

The aircraft you operate is very much the like Roy’s tiger…it doesn’t care how many hours you have logged, how many ratings you hold, how successful you are in your business, how good a person you are…it just knows that if you “tap it on the nose” and take it beyond its designed and/or aerodynamic limitations, it will grab you by the head and neck and drag you of stage with it.

As Pilot in Command, you are the only one that can review all the risks associated with a flight and make a decision if you are going to “go, or not to go”, which is the question. A good way to evaluate these risks is to consult what I call the “Big APE” of pilot decision-making. Using the acronym APE think about:

Aircraft: is it airworthy, does it have the equipment to make this flight, do you know its limitations as far as runway length for takeoff/landing, weight & balance? Do you know how much fuel you have and how much it will take to make this flight? Are you over or under familiar with this aircraft? Both can be a problem.

Pilot: This in the one that only YOU have direct control over. Do you know what your limitations are? Have you established a realistic set of personal limitations relating to weather, runway length limitations, stress level, proficiency and recency of experience? How familiar are you with the aircraft, the route of flight, the terrain and weather?

Environment: Did you obtain a good weather briefing? Do you really understand what the briefing told you? Do you have a contingency? What are the surface winds at departure and destination? Are there any airspace concerns (TFRs, MTRs)? Are there any NOTAMS for airports and/or navaids you will be using? Can you find your way if your GPS fizzles out? Have you been in that field before? Is there a wire there today that wasn’t there yesterday?

Remember, just like Roy’s tiger, the aircraft you operate does not care how much flying experience you have, how important you are, or how successful you are at what you do. It just knows that if you “tap it on the nose” one too many times and take it beyond its designed limits, it will grab you by the head and throat and drag you off stage. Learn your limitations and the limitations of the aircraft you fly; treat it with respect, and it will lead to a more enjoyable experience.
 

WNAAA Spring Board Meeting
By Janice Everett

I have to admit that my participation as the WNAAA Arkansas Director was an eye opening experience. I attended the Spring Board meeting in Washington D.C. in February and was enlightened as to the amount of work and effort that goes on behind the scenes in our national organization. We, as a group, are very lucky to have so many that are willing to work on issues on our behalf. So many of these issues directly affect each of us in our business and industry.

I was on the Communication/Public Relations committee and we discussed many issues. The way we portray our business within our community, with our neighbors, and the local media is critical to our survival. The media kit sent to all members recently has some excellent ideas and press releases to share with your local papers, radio stations, and organizations in our areas. In our area, several flying services have submitted these to our local paper as a group. We thought a cooperative, united front might be a positive thing. There is also a new updated video coming out, AG AIR FORCE. This will be available to share with your local schools or other organizations and it will be an opportunity to promote a positive impression on our youth or other community members. Lindsey Barber at the NAAA office is a great contact person for more information on this and other media related information.

I also served on the scholarship committee. The theme for this year’s essay is “AGRICULTURAL AVIATION’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD’S FOOD SUPPLY”. I encourage all NAAA members to sponsor an application for this scholarship. The competition is open to children, stepchildren, grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law or spouses of any member. The deadline is August 15, 2005. First place will receive $ 2000.00 and second place and honorable mention may be awarded as well. Covington Aircraft has agreed to donate $1000.00 on the scholarship fund this year. Full details and guidelines are available in the NAAA magazine.

I encourage all of you to make plans to attend the NAAA and AAAA meetings at the end of the season and become involved if your time allows. If you can’t volunteer for a position, be sure your representatives are aware of how you feel about issues you care about. Our industry is dependent on active membership and the voices that speak for us on a state and national level. We are certainly not in this business alone. Be involved.
 

The winners are …

Randy Everett –
Operator Of The Year

Randy is a lifelong resident of Holly Grove and has been AG Flying for 23 years.  He is the owner/operator of E & M Flying Service and is located at the Holly Grove Municipal Airport.
E & M operates one AirTractor 602 and two AirTractor 502's.  Randy has been a member of AAAA and NAAA for the past 17 years.  Randy and his wife Janice live at Maddox Bay.  They have two children, Brandon and Breanne.  Brandon is also an Ag pilot at E & M, is married to Misty and they have two daughters, Katie and Kinsey.  Breanne will graduate in May from Arkansas State University and will start graduate school this summer.

Travis Worthington –
Pilot Of The Year

Travis Worthington is married to Stacey and they have two children Bryant 14 yrs and Gracey 6 months.  He is a second generation Ag-pilot, his father Robert operated a flying service for 30 yrs in N.E. Arkansas his father and mother, Hilda, are retired and live in Trumann.    Travis has a BME from Arkansas State University and taught school for 6 yrs prior to becoming a ag-pilot in 1993.  He is a A&P and enjoy working on the ag-planes in the off season.  Worthington is in his 3rd season working for Quinn Aviation in Jonesboro and they operate a AT-602 and AT-802.

Jason Hammock –
Safety Award Winner

Jason has been doing agricultural flying for eleven years, and has been an owner/operator for nine years. He has always had a love for flying and has been around agricultural aviation from a young age. Jason started out as a loader boy hopping the wing and packing fertilizer. He started flying as a young teenager and soloing at the age of sixteen.  Jason enjoys spending time with his wife, Kim, and three daughters, Katelyn, Kaylie, and Hannah. They attend the United Methodist Church and Jason is a volunteer firefighter for his community. Jason believes in promoting the AAAA and has hosted fly-ins in support of their efforts. Jason is greatly honored by receiving the safety award. He contributes this award on good work ethic, attending PAASS programs, Pratt & Whitney workshops, and listening to the speakers of these programs and coming away with knowledge that he can apply to make is job safer.  Ultimately the safety award is an honor however, it does not distinguish one pilot form being better than the next, we all can be subject to mechanical or human error.  Jason chooses not to fly on Sundays. He uses this as a day of rest to spend in church and with family. He recognizes that this is a hard decision to make for many pilots, especially with the pressures pilots are put under given the time frame they have to make a living. Jason made that decision three years ago and his business has continued to prosper. In closing Jason would like to wish everyone a safe and prosperous year.

Lou Stokes WNAAA President

Lou has been the AAAA Women’s Chairman for several years. She became WNAAA president in December. She had done a tremendous job as in a variety of leadership roles such as preparing the WAAAA agenda and making it happen, doing all that is needed to make the auction a success, preparing and purchasing the radio, TV and newspaper ads for the ag aviation as the season begins plus attending the NAAA Board meetings and training. Lou had contributed endless hours on the AAAA behalf. Lou did training last year and this year on behalf on the NAAA. All these hours, days and weeks she gives is in addition to what she contributes to Stokes Flying Service. The association appreciates all the time and energy that has helps make the ag aviation industry better and more involved.

Karen Nash has helped Lou as well as Paulette Quinn with the auction for several years. It is great these women get involved. The association appreciates all the time and energy that has helps make the ag aviation industry better and create ways to better inform the public.

Needed Hosts for Week S.A.F.E. Workshops & Monday Evening Educational Programs

Do you want more work and lots of people, planes and other issues that need attention? It only last a week with some prep time a must. If you would like to host a fly-in with all that comes with it, give us a call or email. 501-376-3233 rharrod@sbcglobal.net
 

Rumors are not always what they seem …

• Glyphosate can be applied by air … read the label
• There is a Section 24C Command® 3ME Herbicide
• There is the possibility of a study by persons with preconceived notions. Like you fly too many hours, you may not make good food choices, lack exercise and have too much stress; be careful if asked to participate in a study that could add to your regulatory burdens.
• ESD - The eligibility of aerial applicators employees to draw unemployment benefits has not changed. Operators may be receiving a letter to opt out of any proposed changes.

AG Pilot & Plane For Hire

Ag-Pilot and S2R-600 Thrush for hire. If any one needs help this season meeting a contract or needing another plane and pilot, I am willing to travel. I have been working for Farmers Air East (Phillips County) for 4 years and ag flying for 1 year. I had been working in farming industry all my life. I am 27 years old, married with 1 child. Call Blake Johnston @ (870)-995-2031 or (870)-572-5020

THOUGHTS FROM THE PLANT BOARD
By Micheal Thompson

For those of you who did not make the Monday night sessions at the fly-ins, you missed some extremely informative sessions. The topics are always relavent and the food .... well I think I ate too much of it. This was particularly so at Darryl Riddell’s where I consumed more fresh pork rinds in one evening than the total of all pork rinds I have consumed in my life to that date. Jeff Goode, a pork rind connoisseur, told me he would never be able to eat pork rinds out of bag again.

I assume you are all aware by now that the 24 © for Command by air is in place. You need to be sure to read the new label because the tank mix partners for 2005 are slightly different than they were for 2004. Just a word of caution to each of you. The number of drift complaints involving aerial application of Command was up for 2004. Remember that your chance to apply this product by air is due to the conscientious efforts of the Arkansas aerial applicator to control the product. Do not let your guard down.

Arkansas and many other states in the central US are sitting and waiting to see if the Asian Soybean Rust problem becomes as big as it is feared it will. Numerous products are available for the treatment of this new rust. Under Section 3 registration are the products Quadris, Bravo Weather Stik, Echo 720, Echo 90 DF, and Headline. Under Section 18 emergency exemption are the products Tilt, PropiMax EC, Bumper 41.8, Folicur, Laredo EC, Laredo EW, Domark 230 ME, and Stratego. You are encouraged to read the labels carefully. A number of these products are very toxic to fish. The label will either give specific information or will refer you to the county Endangered Species Bulletin. If the latter is true, contact Charles Armstrong of the Plant Board staff and request a copy of the bulletin for the county in which you plan to make an application. Some products are toxic to migratory birds and will require a decision by the US Fish and Wildlife or possibly Arkansas Game and Fish as to wether bird habitat exists near the field of application that will preclude application at that site. Work closely with your producer or his consultant to avoid making an application at a location that is not in accordance with the label. The old phrase I know you all know well is “read the label”. This has never been more important than now.

Most of you are aware that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed to restrict the aerial application of propanil to rice to just 5000 acres per pilot in a seven day period. This decision was based on two sets of exposure data EPA had in its possession. One was “old” and the other data set was collected in 2003. This latter project was one in which Mark Hartz participated. After about a two hour conference call with Mark, Todd Hartley, and Dr. Bob Scott present we succeeded in convincing EPA that since Arkansas plants three times as much rice each year as its next closest competitor, this would be an unreasonable limitation and that the data on which they were making there decision may not be as current as it should be. The EPA agreed to delay any such action for two years while they studied the situation even more. They are now looking at requiring the use of closed cockpits and closed delivery systems for propanil loading while continuing the research. We are in discussion with EPA about exactly what this means. The Plant Board will try to keep you posted on the progress of these discussions.

One last topic I would like to bring to your attention. During the Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association’s (AAAA) annual meeting in January, Dr. Bob Scott, Weed Scientist, with Extension talked to your association about some symptomology training that will be available in June of this year. Dr. Cal Schumway with Arkansas State University and Dr. Bob Scott have been putting on this annual training in Jonesboro for about eight years now. The first day of the training is for the Plant Board Inspectors and the second day is for Extension Agents and Consultants. Dr. Schumway will plant test plots of crops and landscape plants commonly grown in Arkansas and then treat them with drift rates of commonly used herbicides. The product is an excellent spectrum of commonly found symptoms observed by the Plant Board Inspector when working a complaint. During his presentation at the AAAA annual meeting, Dr. Scott invited the group to attend the upcoming training. I would like to echo that invitation. The formal training session that is open to the commercial applicator is on June 16th. The 17th is reserved for consultants and Extension Agents. However, if you cannot make it to the formal session, Dr. Schumway will leave the plots in place with placards for several weeks and you may go by the test plots at your convenience. If you decide you want to attend the session on the 16th, please let Jeff Goode know so he can give Dr. Schumway a count so he will know how many persons he will have to feed.

The Plant Board always appreciates the opportunity to visit with the Arkansas Aerial Applicators at the AAAA’s annual meeting and at the fly-ins. It is an opportunity for Plant Board staff to meet with your membership on a more informal basis.

Let me close by reiterating something I say each year. The rumor mill is always more interesting than what is really going on. So let me encourage each of you to not act on a rumor about what the Plant Board is doing. You are always welcome to call our office and verify any rumors that you hear.

Learn More About Soybean Rust go to the United States Department of Agricultural web site. www.usda.gov . You will note the Soybean Rust Icon bottom/middle of the page. The next page let’s you select where the observation, scouting and finding have been in the US. You can learn more from the site. It has a link to Extension Service. We have a link from the agaviation.net website to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service where you can use their educational pages. www.uaex.edu

The AAAA appreciates the educational information & programs provided by Dr.Bob Scott, Dr. Clifford Coker, Dr. Cartwirght, Dr. Dennis Gardisser and Ples Spradley -Pesticide Assessment Specialist.
 

Hartley 2006 Leadership Program

Todd Hartley, Hartley Flying Service operator, has been selected to be Arkansas participant in the 2006 NAAA Leadership Training Program. Marc Mullis, Dennie Stokes, Wayne Keahey, Mark Hartz, Jeff Tidwell and Rusty Johnson have been through the course. The training sessions are conducted at the the NAAA Spring & Fall Board Meetings and Convention. One training section is communication that our graduates have used in presenting various points through many medias. Marc Mullis and Mark Hartz has served as NAAA treasurer and Dennie Stokes has been NAAA President.

AAAA FAA Safety Counselors

Wayne Keahey
Dennie Stokes
Mark Hartz
David Duch
Dr. Dennis Gardisser

Do you have questions or concerns? You may want to contact a Safety Counselor. They attend FAA training sessions each year.

WNAAA 23rd Annual Scholarship Essay

The Women of the National Agricultural Aviation Association are sponsoring their 23rd Annual Essay competition for a $2,000 scholarship. They announced that Covington Aircraft Engines has generously agreed to sponsor a $1,000 scholarship.

2005 Essay Theme is “Agricultural Aviation’s Contribution to the World’s Food Supply”

The competition is open to the children, grandchildren, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or spouse of any NAAA operator, pilot member, retired operator or pilot who maintains an active membership with the NAAA. It is open to those listed above that are allied industry members. Each allied industry company is allowed only one eligible family member, drawn from those listed with the industry in the 2005 NAAA Membership Directory. Dues must be paid by the organization or individual member on or before June 15, 2005.

You can contact the NAAA or AAAA, Janice Everett or Lou Stokes for specific essay guidelines.