Saskatchewan Aerial Applicators
Update Mar 19/2020
Saskatchewan Aerial Applicator Member Map
Welcome to our 2020 Member Map. Search your location to find a Saskatchewan Aerial Applicator in your area.
2020 Memberships are now open. To be displayed on our Map, visit the Canadian Aerial Applicators Website
Are you Graduating from Aerial Application Training?
2019 & 2020 Graduates are eligible for a free one-year SAAA membership!
Contact: saaa.administration@sasktel.net
Presidents Message
Saskatchewan Covid-19 Update
April 7, 2020
Dear SAAA Members
During this time of the COVID-19 lockdown, the SAAA board has been working very hard to ensure the upcoming season. We have been in contact with Saskatchewan Pesticide Inspector; Danielle Neisz. Danielle has stated that anyone needing a pesticide license renewal, shall still be granted. If someone (a Pilot) is up for there 5 years training renewal and is short some or all credits, they will be granted a one- year extension on the training requirements. You must still renew your license. If someone is having issues with renewals, please contact a board member and we will work to help get the right people on it.
Any new licenses will still need to pass the Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Pesticide Applicators Course. Kevin Patrick from Saskatchewan Polytechnic has stated that they are currently working on putting all courses online. He is unsure when the Pesticide Applicators Course will be up and running but once it is, we will be informed. Contact with Saskatchewan Polytechnic is to be done by email.
All Operators needing to renew a Pesticide Service License you can still and must still renew. Renewals for both Service and Applicators license email is payments will be taken over the phone.
For the Temporary Foreign Worker’s, we have been in contact with the Saskatchewan Government and have been told it is a Federal matter and so we are teaming up with the CAAA to help operators get pilots in. If anyone is needing some help please let us know, we will do our best to help out any way we can.
Our spray season is slowly approaching, and things are changing rapidly for our province and our country. Our goal is to be ahead of any issues pertaining to Covid19 before the season starts. The SAAA and CAAA are working on making sure we are listed as essential services to ensure we will not be grounded. This being said, it is all of our responsibility to be professional throughout this. We must use social distancing and proper procedures to ensure not only your safety but the safety of your employees and customers. Our hope is these times will be in the past before the 2020 spray season begins. If anyone needs help or sees any issues, please notify any board member as soon as possible.
Looking forward to a great season, I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Chad Vanderbyl SAAA President
News
Crop Spray Challenge
May 2020
STARS
To help offset immediate fundraising shortfalls at STARS due to Covid-19, Colin Bevan – Kindersley Air Spray is challenging all other Sask. Crop Sprayers to raise some extra funds for STARS.
STARS is a charitable, non-profit helicopter air ambulance organization that works with community partners to save lives through rapid and specialized emergency medical care and transportation. Throughout these challenging times, STARS’ air medical crews, pilots and helicopters continue to be mission-ready 24/7, available to fight for the life of the next patient in need.
Kindersley Air Spray is donating $0.10 per acre. What can you do?
If you wish to take part in this and would like to support STARS, please contact Tammy Beauregard at STARS tbeauregard@stars.ca 1(306) 659-1508
AgAir Update and Dr. Stan Musick release COVID-19 Poster for AgAviation
April 3, 2020
Written by AgAir Update
In cooperation with Dr. Stan Musick, a regular columnist for AgAir Update, we have developed this poster to be displayed at your operation. Every subscriber will receive one in the mail in the coming days.
Download PDF here.
Transport Canada COVID-19 Update
March 19, 2020
Transport Canada
The following message to Canada’s aviation community has been issued by Transport Canada:
COVID-19 poses a significant challenge to Canada’s healthcare system. Regulatory bodies at all levels of government are working to limit the strain on the system.
To that end, all persons who currently hold a valid Transport Canada aviation Medical Certificate (MC) expiring on or before June 1st, 2020 may continue to exercise the privileges of their permits, licenses, or ratings until August 1st, 2020 subject to the conditions listed in the Exemption notice dated 17 March 2020.
Furthermore, no medical examinations for new aviation MCs will be conducted until at least May 1st, 2020.
All aviation MC holders shall continue to comply with the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) in all respects, and the CARs continue to apply in all respects other than the Exemption noted. Aviation MC holders are reminded that they shall not exercise their privileges if they cease to hold a valid MC by meeting any of the circumstances set out in section 404.06 of the CARs.
A copy of the official Transport Canada communications is included below, including Section 404.06 of the CARs.
March Celebrates Women in Ag Aviation
Laura Lawrence, a Saskatchewan Aerial Applicator member was recently interviewed for AgAir Update March edition that Celebrates Women in Ag Aviation. Laura has been flying for Provincial Airways based out of Moose Jaw and has recently joined the SAAA board.
When it comes to aviation, it always helps if a parent is your aviation mentor. Canadian ag-pilots Laura Lawrence's father flew in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a flight instructor in the PC-9. He was a pilot for the Canadian Snowbirds Air Demonstration Squadron. He later became a captain fir WestJet. While Laura was growing up, she often flew "right seat" with him.
Laura got her chance at an aviation career by working at a local ag operators airport on the ground crew while earning her Commercial Pilots License and later flying a C-172 for aerial photography work. She decided to become an ag pilot and attended Battlefords Airspray school for her training. She started her first season in a C-188 Ag Wagon in 2017. in 2018, she flew the AT-401 and now has thee seasons completed.
Laura agrees on something that is very common for women flying as in: Growers arrive at the airstrip and ask her,
"Where is the pilot?" and she replies, "I'm the pilot."
Growers feel a little embarrassed and surprised. They are not used to seeing a woman flying a spray plane. It’s only a matter of time and the surprised faces are replaced with a more natural look, "Hi aviatrix! Are you the pilot spraying my field today?"
Unmarked Tower Update
November 1, 2019
We have been recommended to report any unregistered cell or meteorology towers that exceed 50' AGL to NAV CANADA.
In the past, creating a tower database was extremely challenging. New technology like ForeFlight has created the ultimate tool that every pilot should have in their cockpit.
ForeFlight has the ability to filter and magnify low-level obstacles in your area and will for-warn pilots if they're approaching a low-level hazard.
If Foreflight doesn't recognize a tower you have spotted. Nav Canada may be unaware of it.
"NAV CANADA is committed to becoming the world's most respected air navigation service. Our main focus is operating a safe and efficient system, however to ensure that we are meeting your expectations we want to hear from you. NAV CANADA is listening."
NAV CANADA Customer and Stakeholder Services provides customers with a single point of contact to express concerns or to obtain answers to your questions about NAV CANADA.
The hours of operation are from 8:00 to 18:00 EST, Monday to Friday.
There are several ways to contact NAV CANADA depending upon the nature of your question or concern. Please select one of the following:
Telephone
1-613-563-5588
North America
1-800-876-4693
Toll-free fax line
1-877-663-6656
HEAD OFFICE
Address
77 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, ON K1P 5L6
Mailing Address
NAV CANADA
P.O. Box 3411 Station 'T'
Ottawa, ON K1P 5L6
Local Company Pays it Forward to STARS
A local company, which has been a part of the community since 1971, is giving back to STARS, in more ways than one.
Kindersley Air Spray, which is owned and operated by the Bevan family in Kindersley, had a goal of giving back this season as they pledged to make a donation per application. They started tallying donations in June and ended up raising $14,500 for STARS Air Ambulance.
Colin Bevan, owner-operator of Kindersley Air Spray, said the idea to raise money for STARS came easily.
“We have always thought of STARS as a highly valued service to the community and are thankful to have it and we just wanted to help out and give back.”
The monetary donation is not the only way Bevan and his company pay it forward to STARS. As of last year, Kindersley Air Spray supplies jet fuel for the STARS fleet when they are called out to emergencies in the west-central area.
“Over a year ago, we started supplying jet fuel for STARS, which during the incident at Tervita last summer, having that fuel, they were able to get the man that was injured – they were able to get him to the hospital quicker and let him get the care he needed as soon as possible.”
Bevan explained that moving forward, with STARS' new fleet alignment, although the new aircraft may be better suited for the role, he said they are short on range. In turn, this creates a need to have local fuel available for when an Air Ambulance gets dispatched to our area, a need that Bevan said he is happy to fill.
Bevan, on behalf of Kindersley Air Spray, said he will look to present the cheque for $14,500 to STARS in the coming days.
Colin Bevan and his family business, Kindersley Air Spray, will be presenting a cheque to STARS Air Ambulance for just under $15,000, thanks to their per application donations this season.
(Photo Courtesy: Kindersley Air Spray)
Syngenta Leadership At Its Best
August 26 ,2019
LAIB has been training future leaders for more than 30 years —4,500 people trained so far, and counting.
Congratulations to our Vice President Chad Vanydbyl who has been chosen as one of the NAAA participants in Syngenta 2020 Leadership At Its Best Conference (aka The NAAA Leadership Program). This is an invaluable experience that offers the prospect of personal and professional growth and the opportunity to make many new friends and contacts within the agricultural aviation industry.
The 2020 Leadership At Its Best Conference will start in Raleigh N.C Jan 27th - 29th and finish the second half in Washington D.C January 30th - 31st.
Each year, a diverse class of about 48 growers, processors and retailers attend LAIB to develop the skillsets required to be confident ambassadors of agriculture. LAIB alumni have gone on to be leaders in their organizations, spokespersons for American agriculture, and government officials.
Upcoming Events
28
OCT
30
OCT
DEC
7
10
DEC
18
FEB
20
FEB
Wings of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Inn & Conference Centre
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Ag Aviation Expo
Savannah Convention Center
Savannah, Georgia
AGM, Conference and Trade Show
Delta Hotels by Marriott Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan