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About the Safety Requirement

 

Q)   What is the safety requirement?
A)   This applies to the owner/operator or the Chief Pilot on an annual basis: 
6-02-02-04.1. Aerial applicator safety instruction: For the safety and protection of persons and property, each operator of a business engaged in aerial application must receive the information provided by the annual aerial applicator safety meeting or attend  approved training by the North Dakota aeronautics commission. A chief pilot employed by an operator may attend the meeting in place of the operator. The meeting will be held in the first calendar quarter of each year and address aviation safety. An application for a license for aerial spraying under section 6-02-02-02 will not be approved by the commission unless the applicant's operator or chief pilot has attended the annual safety meeting in the calendar quarter preceding the date of the application or received substitute instruction or information provided by the commission.
 
 
Q)   How can I meet the safety requirement?
A)   PAASS is provided at the annual Tri-State Aerial Applicators Convention. Any PAASS meeting location is accepted, as long as it was attended in the calendar quarter preceding the date of the application.The Tri-State Aerial Applicators Convention is designated as the official annual safety meeting for the purposes of satisfying the annual aerial applicator safety instruction requirement. If you do not need to attend PAASS this year, you can choose an alternative safety requirement (mentioned below). Review the Policy Memorandum regarding the updated Administrative Rules and the annual safety instruction and maintaining documentation verifying completion of the training that was approved by the Commission on August 11, 2026.
 
 
Q)   What is PAASS?
A)   The Professional Aerial Applicators' Support System (PAASS) is created and presented by ag pilots. New content on relevant topics each year covers key safety and drift mitigation issues important to flying, modern agriculture and crop protection. Department of Agriculture Administrative Code 60-03-01-5.1(4) requires that all applicators seeking recertification must show proof of attendance at a PAASS Program at least one time every three years before recertification may be issued. Contact Alexis, Executive Director (NDAAA) with Tri-State or PAASS registration questions!
 
 
Q)   How can I prove I attended PAASS?
A)   If you attended PAASS, you can obtain an Attendance Verification Letter to provide to our office. It is a PDF with a unique ID showing the date and location of the program you attended. Letters for 2020-Present can be found in your Transcript in the NAAA Education Center. 
 
 
Q)   Do I have to attend both PAASS and an alternative safety meeting?
A)   No. To meet the safety requirement in the State of North Dakota, only one safety meeting is required annually for the Owner/Operator or Chief Pilot. (Unless otherwise directed by the Chief Pilot, a pilot only needs to have the FAA Pilot Certificate and a current ND Pesticide Applicator Certificate: Class - Air/Ground core, which may require attending PAASS [once every three years]. Contact NDSU.) 
 
 
Q)   How do I know which meeting I need to attend?
A)   Simply put...
  •  If you have to attend PAASS to renew your ND Pesticide Applicator Certification Number (Air/Ground core), you do not need to attend an alternative safety meeting.
  •  If you do not have to attend PAASS to renew your ND Pesticide Applicator Certification Number (Air/Ground core), you need to attend an alternative safety meeting.
→ The best resource for pilots who need to meet our annual safety meeting criteria is the FAA WINGS Program. Here are our recommendations.
 
Other alternative safety instruction could be:
  • Visit NAAA (National Agricultural Aviation Association) Education Center for valuable online courses (offered at no cost to NAAA members)
  • The Flying in the Wire and Obstruction Environment Course
  • Remote Pilots and Aerial Applicators Association (RPAAA)
  • Find seminars and webinars on the Event List on the FAA Safety Website
  • Drone Use in Agriculture
  • U-PASS 
The continuing education will need to be relevant to aviation safety, current, and verifiable.
 
 
Q)   What is the FAA Wings Program?
A)   This is a voluntary proficiency program that encourages online training for General Aviation pilots to improve their knowledge and skills. Most of these courses are free. You can read more about that here. Visit FAAsafety.gov to log in, or sign up for, the Wings Program. Reference the FAA's User Guide or the Quick-step quide if you need assistance signing up!
 
"The point of the FAA’s Wings program is to go above the minimums, keep your mind in a learning environment and refresh skills or concepts every 12 months, not 24 months." - Agaviationmagazine.org
 
 
 

Who Needs What?

  • Chief Pilot and/or Owner/Operator:
    • 6-02-02-04.1. Aerial applicator safety instruction. For the safety and protection of persons and property, each operator of a business engaged in aerial application must receive the information provided by the annual aerial applicator safety meeting or attend approved training by the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission. A chief pilot employed by an operator may attend the meeting in place of the operator. The meeting will be held in the first calendar quarter of each year and address aviation safety, business and operation security, and chemical storage. The commission will provide substitute instruction for operators and chief pilots who for good cause are unable to attend the annual safety meeting. An application for a license for aerial spraying under section 6-02-02-02 will not be approved by the commission unless the applicant's operator or chief pilot has attended the annual safety meeting in the calendar quarter preceding the date of the application or received substitute instruction or information provided by the commission.