AERIAL APPLICATOR DRIFT MITIGATION PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY AND FOR THE INDUSTRY

News Date December 11, 2007

       As part of a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pesticide Programs, the NASDA Research Foundation (NASDARF) is pleased to announce its sponsorship of a pesticide drift mitigation and education project for aerial applicators.  Over the next two years, the NASDARF will fund the drift mitigation module as part of the professional education program being developed by the National Agricultural Aviation Association Research and Education Foundation (NAAREF) as part of their Professional Aerial Applicators Support System (PAASS).  Sponsorship of this program is part of the ongoing commitment of the NASDARF to promote workplace safety through education.
       The PAASS program is designed to be interactive and improve critical decision-making skills sensitive to environmental factors.  Within the industry, the PAASS program is considered the single relevant recurring training source for the modern agricultural aviation pilot and is often required by companies providing insurance to agricultural aviators.  The NAAA initiated the program in 1996 as an industry-based collaborative educational effort focusing outreach to pilots and operators of aerial applicator businesses.  With the primary goal of reducing the number of pesticide drift incidents from the aerial application of fertilizers and pesticides by fostering professionally sound decision-making, the PAASS program drift mitigation module is provided free of production charges to more than 1,700 applicators each year during industry regional and state conferences. 
       The PAASS program is developed by and for the industry.  With more than 1,300 members in 46 states, the NAAA relies heavily on its membership as well as academia to generate, refine, and present the PAASS program.  Members presenting the drift mitigation program attend a train-the-presenter session to assure that the material is provided in a manner consistent with promoting audience involvement.  The PAASS organizers acknowledge that the educational value of the program lies is in the clear, concise, and accurate presentation of the material, and the active participation of those attending the training.  Statistics show that aerial application accidents and drift incidents have notably declined since the PAASS program first hit the stage over a decade ago.  The NASDARF looks forward to working with NAAREF on this important national stewardship project and continuing this safety trend in the aerial application industry.  (Contact: Dick Herrett)