Description: Instrument meteorological conditions are those weather conditions with low visibility, particularly fog, that require use of cockpit instruments for safe flying. Inadvertently flying into these instrument conditions occurs when a pilot, not rated or equipped to fly with instruments, finds himself flying from clear weather conditions into low/no-visibility conditions requiring instruments. From 2011 to 2020 there were a total of six agricultural aviation IIMC accidents, five of which were fatal. IIMC results in a degraded visual environment followed by spatial disorientation, which likely leads to an accident. The best strategy for IIMC is to avoid flying in such conditions and this course will go over the factors that aerial applicators need to consider before taking off. Of immense value, this course will also present stories from agricultural aviators who survived IIMC encounters, shared so others may learn first-hand from their incidents.

Duration: 2 hours

Year: 2025

Course ID: 25-HF-01

Availability: NAAA Members (Free), Non-Members ($200)

This course's content falls within the following sections of the Agricultural Airman's Guidelines (AAG):

137.II - Preflight Planning
-- C - Weather Forecast

137.IV - Takeoff
-- A - Weather Considerations

137.V - Ferry and Approach to the Working Area
-- B - Current Weather En-Route and at Target Site

137.VIII - Approach to the Airstrip Environment
-- A - Current Weather

This course's content falls within the following sections of the National Aerial Applicator's Manual (AAM):

Chapter 2 - Operation and Application Safety
-- 2.3 - Application Safety

Description: The basics of vision science and why wires need to be treated as an invisible hazard. Learn how to use support structures and hardware to determine the location of wires and ways to respond correctly. Classroom and dual cockpit instruction video provide supplementary training on how to scout for wires and apply safely around them. This course is based on the 2022-2023 PAASS Program's Human Factors module.

Duration: 2 hours

Year: 2024

Course ID: 24-HF-01

Availability: NAAA Members (Free), Non-Members ($200)

Note: If you are seeking C-PAASS credit, note that in-person completion of the Flying in the Wire and Obstruction Environment course (at Expo, a state meeting, etc.) satisfies this requirement and taking this online course is NOT REQUIRED. You will submit a copy of your in-person course completion certificate (provided by Utilities / Aviation Specialists) with your C-PAASS application. 

This course's content falls within the following sections of the Agricultural Airman's Guidelines (AAG):

137.V - Ferry and Approach to the Working Area
-- C - Working Area Assessment

137.VII - Application
-- A - Determination of Flight Pattern
-- H - Obstructions
-- I - Trim Passes

137.XII - Special Emphasis Areas
-- A - Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

This course's content falls within the following sections of the National Aerial Applicator's Manual (AAM):

Chapter 2 - Operation and Application Safety
-- 2.3 - Application Safety
Chapter 6 - Making an Aerial Pesticide Application
-- 6.2 - Checking the Application Site

Description: This video from the 2020 NAAREF Safety Session features Fran de Kock of Battlefords Airspray in Canada. He graciously allowed NAAREF to film him instructing his students on emergency dumping procedures. In agricultural aviation the goal of course is to apply the load in the hopper to the intended target area. Situations can change, and it is important the pilots know how to conduct an emergency dump, and just as importantly how to safely practice doing it. Fran was filmed both in his classroom and in a dual-seat AT-504. He covers the topic in depth, including the difference between how dumping is typically practiced versus how it will occur during an actual emergency.

Duration: 25 min

Year: 2020

Availability: NAAA Members (Free)

This course's content falls within the following sections of the Agricultural Airman's Guidelines (AAG):

137.IV - Takeoff
-- F - Other Takeoff Techniques
-- G - Takeoff Emergency Response Plan

137.V - Ferry and Approach to Working Area
-- C - Working Area Assessment

137.VI - Emergency Procedure Considerations
-- A - Jettison a Load

Description: This video from the 2020 NAAREF Safety Session features Fran de Kock of Battlefords Airspray in Canada. In this video he describes how to land with a fully loaded aircraft. In agricultural aviation the goal of course is to apply the load in the hopper to the intended target area. Situations can change, and it is important the pilots know how to land with a fully loaded aircraft and just as importantly how to safely practice landing fully loaded. Filmed both in his classroom and in a dual-seat AT-504. Don't miss this chance to improve your knowledge about landing with a load.

Duration: 20 min

Year: 2020

Availability: NAAA Members (Free)

This course's content falls within the following sections of the Agricultural Airman's Guidelines (AAG):

137.VI - Emergency Procedure Considerations
-- B - Landing with a Load

Description: Agricultural aviation operation security is a critical, yet more recently overlooked topic. The events of 9/11 sparked an intense tightening of security amongst all aerial applicators; faced with pressure and scrutiny from multiple fronts including the federal government, the aerial application industry rose to the challenge and persevered through those tough times. Despite the many geopolitical threats today, there has been a distinct relaxation in the expectation for terrorism and organized crime. This course serves to remind operators of the ever-present security threats to their operation and demonstrates basic measures and tools to mitigate these threats.

Duration: 30 minutes

Year: 2025

Course ID: 26-SC-01

Availability: NAAA Members (Free), Non-Members ($50)

Description: A spray application (platform-agnostic) primer in droplet size terminology and industry standards. Topics covered include droplet size statistics, droplet spectrum categories, coverage and drift potential. As the first course in a same-titled series, it lays the foundations for more in-depth courses centered around optimizing aerial spray applications.

Duration: 30 minutes

Year: 2024

Course ID: 24-EP-01

Availability: NAAA Members (Free), Non-Members ($50)

This course's content falls within the following sections of the Agricultural Airman's Guidelines (AAG):

137.II - Preflight Planning
-- B - Product to be Sprayed
-- J - Spray System Calibration, Characterization and Measurement

This course's content falls within the following sections of the National Aerial Applicator's Manual (AAM):

Chapter 3 - Preventing Pesticide Drift
-- 3.1 - Factors that Contribute to Drift

Description: Building on the fundamentals from Part 1, this course introduces the aerial atomization models and the five key factors in determining droplet size: airspeed, nozzle type, orifice size, deflection and pressure. The models are used to illustrate the impact each factor has on droplet size, cementing the understanding required to effectively utilize the models in configuring a spray system for a target droplet spectrum category.

Duration: 30 minutes

Year: 2025

Course ID: 25-EP-01

Availability: NAAA Members (Free), Non-Members ($50)

This course's content falls within the following sections of the Agricultural Airman's Guidelines (AAG):

137.II - Preflight Planning
-- B - Product to be Sprayed
-- J - Spray System Calibration, Characterization and Measurement

This course's content falls within the following sections of the National Aerial Applicator's Manual (AAM):

Chapter 3 - Preventing Pesticide Drift
-- 3.1 - Factors that Contribute to Drift
-- 3.2 - Minimizing Off-Target Drift

Chapter 4 - Aerial Pesticide Dispersal Systems
-- 4.1 - Dispersal System Requirements
-- 4.2 - Liquid Dispersal System Components

Description: This video is a must-watch for any safety-minded ag aviation operator or pilot. Air Tractor’s former Chief Test Pilot Mike Rhodes and AeroShell Aerobatic Team member & veteran ag pilot Steve Gustafson offer an in-depth look at safe ag aircraft turns and maintaining a margin of safety. Also, hear from USAF Colonel Mike Mullane (Ret.), former NASA Space Shuttle astronaut, about the dangers of Normalization of Deviance and how it relates to the ag aviation industry.

Duration: 40 minutes

Year: 2023

Availability: NAAA Members (Free)

This course's content falls within the following sections of the Agricultural Airman's Guidelines (AAG):

137.VII - Application
-- B - Making Safe Turnarounds (Fixed-Wing)

137.XII - Special Emphasis Areas
-- B - Stall/Spin Awareness and Avoidance

Description: This video features Wayne Handley, a 25-year ag pilot and subsequently world-renowned aerobatic instructor pilot. Wayne explains and demonstrates, with an aerobatic plane and an AT-502B, various maneuvers that can result in a stall along with helpful advice on how to recover if you find yourself in this situation. He stresses the importance of not pushing an ag plane beyond its safety envelope, and shows that safe turns do not hinder productivity.

Duration: 15 minutes

Year: 1996

Availability: NAAA Members (Free)

This course's content falls within the following sections of the Agricultural Airman's Guidelines (AAG):

137.VII - Application
-- B - Making Safe Turnarounds (Fixed-Wing)

137.XII - Special Emphasis Areas
-- B - Stall/Spin Awareness and Avoidance