2024-2025 PAASS - Nebraska ATA

Includes a Live In-Person Event on 02/25/2025 at 8:00 AM (CST)

The 2024-2025 PAASS program will begin with a review and analysis of agricultural aviation accidents that occurred during the 2024 application season. The human factors segment will focus on avoiding controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents and evaluating the true cost of wire strike accidents. The environmental professionalism segment will cover utilization of the USDA-ARS aerial droplet size models and EPA's Bulletins Live Two! (BLT). The security segment will discuss a vandalism incident that occurred to an agricultural aircraft. View Full Summary

Event Date
25 Feb 2025 -- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM CT

Event Location
Younes Conference Center North
707 Talmadge Street
Kearney, NE 68845

Brian Rau

Medina Flying Service

Brian and his wife Elly operate Medina Flying Service located in central North Dakota. They spray numerous crops including potatoes, wheat, sunflowers, soybeans and other minor use crops with a 500 gallon Thrush. They also spread cover crop for erosion control and assist with aerial fire suppression for their local fire department.

Brian has been involved in the aerial application business since 1979 and has been an NAAA member since 1985. He has held numerous offices in the NAAA including President in 2010. He has also served on the National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation (NAAREF) board of directors.

Brian is a commercial pilot with an instrument rating. He is the North Dakota Liaison to the Recreational Aviation Foundation.

Brian is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and works with his local volunteer ambulance service and is the chief of the Medina Fire Department. Brian farms with his 2 brothers and nephew in central North Dakota. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy from North Dakota State University.

Eric Klindt

Dakota Air Spray

Eric Klindt grew up on the family farm in Minnesota and when the farm was sold, he worked for other farmers in the area. Eric attended the University of Minnesota at Crookston where he received his commercial pilot’s license and aerial applicator training. He received his start in aerial spraying from David Yaggie where he started spraying in 1997 and has loved it ever since. Eric was previously employed by Wilbur-Ellis in Wahpeton, ND, where he flew an Air Tractor 802.

Eric stays busy in the aerial application off season with several jobs. He owns and operates a limo bus service and drives a truck in the winter for local farmers. He is currently a member of the Wilkin County Sheriff Posse.

Eric is married to his childhood sweetheart, Shana, and they have two young children, Elise and Cody. Eric and Shana are members of the NAAA and the Minnesota AAA where they are the state representatives to the NAAA and WNAAA. Eric served on the NAAA board from 2002 until 2010 and served as Chairman of the Membership Committee. He attended the Syngenta Leadership Training Group in 2002 where he realized how much is done by the NAAA and vowed to assist wherever he is able.