Building a better industry – Convention 2011

Widespread and unrelenting rains have reminded farmers of the critical role aerial application can play, protecting crops that would otherwise have been ravaged by pest and disease and which simply could not be treated from the ground.

While the wet end to the season compromised harvest and downgraded a lot of grain, water resources are now back to close to 100% capacity in almost all valleys, and the soil moisture profile is so full that farmers are already looking forward to the next crop.

This means that it is critical as we enter an industry rebuilding phase that the retains a strategic focus on locking in the benefits of significant upturn. As everyone in agriculture knows, the next drought is inevitable and it is important the industry does all it can to prepare.

A feature of every Convention is the high quality of speakers and this year will be no exception, with safety, fatigue management, aviation psychology and human factors all being featured. In addition, the Convention will be considering the future of aerial application training and what both operators and pilots will have to do to stay safe, efficient and productive.

This year’s Convention will also see the return of the popular trade show, with upwards of 30 trade exhibitors bringing the latest technology to the industry.

AAAA would like to thank those sponsors who have already signed up for Convention 2011: CASA, Field Air, Air Tractor and QBE Aviation.

Registration information is available on the AAAA website – www.aerialag.com.au

The Big 3 – New Safety Course Available

Wires, turns and take-off accidents make up most of the accidents in aerial application and have since 1948 when the industry began in Australia.

AAAA has developed a new safety course that looks at each of these accident types, identifies underlying issues and offers tools for pilots to use every day.

The new course includes a ‘refresher’ element of the successful AAAA Wire Risk Management Course, featuring human factors that are critical in the low level, single seat environment. The course also introduces new analysis of take-off and turning accidents as well as consideration of operations at heavier weights.

The course is recognised for the AAAA Professional Pilot Program and will earn participants two education credits.

Col Pay Scholarship

Applications are now open for the third Col Pay Scholarship and will close on April 30th.

Col was a stalwart of the air ag, firebombing and warbird communities and dedicated his life to aviation. Apart from owning Australia’s best known Spitfire, Col trained many ag pilots and was always willing to share his considerable expertise. Col was tragically killed while trialling experimental equipment for firebombing.

The Col Pay Scholarship was founded in 2009 with the generous support of the Pay family. The first graduate of the scholarship was Mr Iain Russel, who now has his agricultural rating and is back working with Atherton Tablelands Air Service in Atherton, Far North Queensland. Iain had worked with Tableland Air Service for some years as a mixer while completing his CPL.

Mr Glen Purdam was the 2010 winner of the scholarship and will be commencing his flying training for his agricultural rating in the near future. He has spent the last few very busy months working with Pays as a mixer, garnering invaluable experience on chemicals and their application. Glen also served with the AAAA office as the inaugural manager of the Aerial Application Management System Program – the industry’s newest integrated management system which is already being implemented by over 30 percent of the industry. He has also successfully completed his Batchelor of Aviation degree through the University of SA.

AAAA looks forward to receiving another high class field of applicants for this prestigious Scholarship.

Vale Leland Snow

The doyen of agricultural aircraft design and the man who made Air Tractor a main player in international aerial application, Leland Snow, passed away on Sunday, February 20, while jogging. He was 80 years of age.

Leland not only designed the full Air Tractor range, but he previously designed the very popular Thrush aircraft, which evolved from his first aircraft, the Snow S1 in 1951. The critical breakthrough with the Snow S1 was that it was purpose built, rather than adapted from an existing design.

Modern aerial application – from aircraft to professionalism and culture – owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Leland. His passing is a great loss to our industry.