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: 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