2024-2025 PAASS - NOT FOR CREDIT
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The 2024-2025 PAASS will open with a review of the 2024 agricultural aviation accidents. The review will include many suggestions on accident avoidance, including how to avoid mid-air collisions based on recent fatal mid-air accidents. Studying agricultural aviation accidents allows participants to understand how to avoid similar accidents while conducting aerial applications at their own operations. The accident review will lead directly into the human factors segment, which will be on controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. CFIT continues to be a major accident cause in the aerial application industry, particularly for fatal accidents. CFIT accidents include collisions with wires, towers and guy wires, trees, other objects, and the ground itself.
PAASS will review updated statistics on CFIT accidents and hear from several pilots who have experienced these types of accidents firsthand. The interviews will focus on the factors that led to the accident so that attendees can avoid similar situations. Participates will learn about the true cost of wire strike accidents, which includes not only the repair costs but also the loss of work income while the aircraft is being repaired. The results of an FAA focus group study of agricultural aviators who had had wire strike accidents will also be covered. This study reveals risk factors that contribute to wire strike accidents, including both situational and personal risks. Study participants provide information on actions they could have taken to avoid the collision.
The environmental professionalism segment will cover two subjects. The first will be an overview of the USDA-ARS Aerial Application Technology Research Unit’s (AATRU) aerial droplet size models to maximize efficacy and mitigate drift. The four versions of the model and how to use them to calibrate an agricultural aircraft for both GPA and droplet size will be covered. The second part of this segment will be a detailed example of how to use EPA’s Bulletins Live Two! (BLT) to determine where, when, and what mitigations are needed to protect endangered species when applying pesticides. A scenario will show applicators how to locate the target area on BLT, determine if the application will occur within a pesticide use limitation area (PULA), download the bulletin with required mitigations, and comply with the additional restrictions. The example will include both determining where buffer zones are required and setting up the aircraft for the correct droplet size.
The security segment will describe a vandalism incident that occurred to an agricultural aircraft. While no serious damage was done, the situation could have been much worse, highlighting the need to remain constantly vigilant to secure your aircraft, chemicals, and other assets. An aviation medical examiner will cover how to avoid medications that can impact flying and how to stay properly rested to avoid fatigue. The role distractions, particularly those related to technology in the cockpit, potentially play in accidents will also be covered.
Registration/Pricing
- NAAA Members - Free Access
- Non-members - Unavailable
Credits
No credit or certificate will be provided
Course Details
This is a self-paced course, with a total duration of approximately 4 hours. It is provided for review only and permits free navigation of topics. The content was recorded from a PAASS program presented 30-Jan-2025.
Damon Reabe
Dairyland Aviation Inc. / Reabe Spraying Service Inc.
Damon is a third-generation aerial applicator from Wisconsin who grew up on the family airport and farm. He was taught to fly by his grandfather Roy Reabe who started the family business in 1945. Damon left the family farm and business after high school and graduated from Mankato State University with a BS in Aviation and Marketing. At the end of his colligate studies Damon launched a 15-year career as corporate pilot flying jet aircraft throughout the world. As a corporate pilot, Damon worked his way from line pilot to being one of only three flight standards pilots of the largest corporate aircraft management company of the time. He was responsible for developing, implementing and ensuring compliance of company safety procedures.
Damon got his start as an aerial applicator in 1997 under the tutelage of his father, Tom Reabe, and began helping out as a part time pilot. In 2009, Damon resigned his position as a flight standards pilot and took his father’s place as President of Reabe Spraying Service, a Wisconsin aerial application company. Over the past twenty seasons Damon has been actively spraying in Piper Pawnees, AT-400’s, AT-502’s, S2R-660, Bell 206 and an AT-802. Damon served the Wisconsin Agricultural Aviation Association as President from 2010 until 2016 and currently serves on the NAAA Board of Directors as the Wisconsin representative. He is currently serving as chairman of the Government Relations Committee.
During the winter of 2016-2017, the family executed a succession plan allowing Tyler Reabe and Curt Meister to become part owners in Reabe Spraying Service and forming Dairyland Aviation which operates out of Waupun, WI. Damon is the President of both Dairyland Aviation and Reabe Spraying Service.
Damon is fortunate to have met and married his wife of 13 years, Mary Reabe, who does the book keeping for both companies. They are raising their two children, Caroline and Max in Ripon, WI. Damon says, “I have been very lucky to have a spouse that not only puts up with the demands of this job and industry, but supports participation in safety programs such as PAASS.”
Brian Townsend
On Target Applicators
Brian is a second generation aerial applicator that grew up around fixed winged and rotary winged aircraft. His dreams of flying over the corn in a helicopter began very young. He was enamored from the beginning with helicopters. He earned a fixed wing license immediately after high school graduation. He graduated from Purdue University in Dec. of 1997 with a degree in Aviation Administration Technology but his dream was still to fly helicopters and at the suggestion of his dad, he joined the Army and became a Warrant Officer. He enjoyed a 10 year Army Aviation career flying the AH64D Apache with 2 combat deployments.
Upon completing his obligations to the military, he joined his father in 2010 for his first season in the Bell 206. From there he moved into the turbine thrush, 602, and then the 802. He purchased the helicopter and a truck and trailer rig from his father in 2018 and began On Target Applicators flying alongside him. Since then he spends the majority of his application time in the helicopter. In the fall months he's spent a lot of time applying cover crop with the 802.
During the off season he handles the logistics of maintenance and spends time with his two kids Ella, Zackrey, and his dog. He enjoys being out in nature. Specifically, fishing and golfing occupy his free time.
Scott Bretthauer, PhD
National Agricultural Aviation Association
Scott grew up on a farm in northern Illinois before attending the University of Illinois, where he received his Ph.D. He spent 14 years an Extension Specialist in Application Technology with the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Scott’s work focused on providing technical assistance on pesticide application equipment, nozzle selection and usage, drift reduction technologies, and sprayer calibration.
Since 2017, Scott has served as the Director of Policy, Education and Safety for NAAA. He assists with protecting aerial applications during the pesticide registration review process, creating the PAASS program, and other NAAREF safety efforts. Scott is an Operation S.A.F.E. analyst and conducts the fly-ins for Illinois as well as other locations.
Scott has been involved with PAASS program development since 2004 and has been a PAASS presenter since 2008. He is honored to help deliver the program. While he is not an agricultural pilot, Scott has a strong belief in the importance of the industry and is committed to helping enhance the efficacy and safety of aerial application.