2025-2026 PAASS - Montana AMAA

Randy grew up in the Ag Aviation industry. His father R.W. Hale began Hale Dusting Service in 1955 near Corpus Christi, Texas. The company moved to its present location in 1962 when the local law enforcement officers decided to stop the “crop dusters” from using the county roads as landing strips. Randy began flying during high school and earned a private pilot license in 1977. It was either drive a tractor on the farm or mess with the airplanes and, well, the tractors just weren’t fast enough. He started his ag aviation career in 1981 in a 600 Thrush and now flies the company’s Air Tractor 502. Randy became President of the company in 1991 after his father’s death.

 
Randy is a long time member of the Texas AAA and NAAA and has been active in both. He served on the TAAA Board from 1994 - 2006 and was TAAA President in 1999. Service to the NAAA came when he was named the TAAA representative to NAAA and also graduated from the Leadership Training Program class of 2000. Randy was elected NAAA Vice President in 2003 and was honored to serve as President in 2006. Since his term as president ended Randy has represented NAAA’s interests in front of a variety of audiences including government regulators, ag aviation groups, politicians and international organizations. He served as NAAREF President in 2009 and 2010 and has been a PAASS presenter since 2008.
 
Randy and his wife Renee have four children, Josh, Joey, Amy and Scott and four grandchildren, Aiden, Weston, Jayce and Summer. They are the reason he is sold on the PAASS training. “We need to do all we can to make sure every ag pilot has the resources to stay safe and make it home at night.”

Rod Thomas is an Idaho farm boy who still lives just three miles from where he grew up. By age eleven, Rod and his older brother Dale were operating a custom hay-stacking business. With their background in custom farming and their passion for aviation, agricultural aviation was a natural fit.

In 1975, they founded Thomas Helicopters in Gooding, Idaho, starting with a single Hughes 300 helicopter and one truck. Over the years, they expanded to a fleet of up to five helicopters used for a wide variety of operations under Part 135, including coyote hunting, wild animal darting and netting, firefighting, heli-skiing, sling work, construction, and movie stunt work—all while continuing agricultural flying year-round.

In 1979, they established High Range Aviation, an FBO in Gooding, offering full maintenance and fueling services. The company has since grown to include hangar construction and hydraulic door installations nationwide. In 2018, they launched High Desert Aviation, a government contracting application company that continues to operate today. After selling Thomas Helicopters a few years ago, Rod and Dale shifted their focus to new directions. At that time, their fleet included three Air Tractors and one AStar helicopter. They currently own about half a dozen aircraft used for a variety of missions across their two companies.

Rod has been deeply involved with both the Idaho Agricultural Aviation Association (IAAA) and his local community for many years. He has held every office within the IAAA and has served as Idaho’s director to the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) for many years. His company was named Operator of the Year by the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Aviation Association in 1999.

Rod and Dale have hosted numerous agricultural aviation fly-ins and safety clinics while promoting the industry through print and television media. Their company has also partnered with local schools, using helicopters to support science projects and hosting airport field days that have introduced hundreds of students to the wonders of aviation.

Rod has long served on the NAAA and NAAREF boards and committees, contributing in many capacities. He is a past recipient of both the NAAA Falcon Club Award and the Outstanding Service Award, and he has served as Vice President and President of both NAAA and NAAREF in recent and past years.

A dedicated NAAA member since 1975, Rod strongly believes in the value of association membership and continuing education. He has been a PAASS Presenter since 2001.