Deciding to Distance or Distance from Deciding

FROM THE COCKPIT

Bill Lavender bill@agairupdate.com

I received an email recently from one of the state associations advising me that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s annual convention would be held “online” as CE sessions over a four to six-week period of time. I had already given thought to this option for having a convention when, a few months ago, the Brazilian national association (SINDAG) decided to delay its annual convention until 2021. It also decided to host its 2020 convention online as a series of Zoom webinars.

I have not formed an opinion on whether I prefer an online convention instead of no convention. I certainly have an aversion to wearing a mask during the entire convention, particularly during trade show hours. I fully understand the potential safety of wearing a mask, especially when social distancing is not an option. The recommended practice of maintaining six feet away from another person is probably not enough, anyway. All ag-pilots have a real good knowledge of drift and potential drift. If in fact aerosols of speech or coughing are anywhere near the micron size reported, I believe drift could occur darn near across the room.

Obviously that doesn’t happen, drifting across the room, or everyone by now would be infected. Maybe the aqueous nature of the drift helps the smaller droplets evaporate before they travel six feet and the larger droplets fall to the ground before then. Hmmm… that’s an interesting concept.

Regardless, state trade show organizers will soon have to decide if their convention will be held online, or some attempt at masking and social distancing. Depending on the state and the location, there actually may not be a bar open at the venue! Imagine that for an ag-pilot convention.

NAAA is moving forward with its plan to host its December 2020 convention in Savannah, as of the end of July. The demands of COVID-19 are dynamic and seemingly change daily. It is going to be a wait and see game as to whether there actually is a national convention in 2020. Assuming NAAA does have its convention, other state shows would be wise to send a representative to observe how it is done and return home with vital information about what works and what does not work for prevention of the spread of COVID-19 at a convention.

No matter how much planning and effort is made, a trade show during a pandemic is going to be challenging and require tremendous cooperation by attendees. In less kind words, that means if you are not going to abide by whatever rules are in place, don’t attend. Don’t ruin this effort by NAAA, or a state show, and for all the others that are trying to get through this mess.

Back to the masks - I’ve resisted wearing one, partially out of foolishness and partially because I resent being told what to do. However, if I step back and look at this act impartially, wearing a mask is as much for protecting those around me as for myself. I’m just not going to wear one while I am by myself driving my truck (I’ve seen this)!

Everyone has an opinion about COVID-19 formed by facts versus outright lies by politicians for political gain. For every person arguing for preventive measures, there are as many arguing against them. In my opinion, statistically everyone will eventually catch the virus, unless a vaccine is found. It is just a matter of time. The masks, social distancing, closing bars at 10 pm, limiting gatherings to a certain number and other preventive measures are only stop-gaps, slowing the spread, buying time while waiting on a vaccine. I don’t believe that opinion is arguable; it is simple logic.

SINDAG claims good responses to its online sessions. Basically, the association holds a Zoom session with different speakers scheduled over a period of months. Under the circumstances, that’s probably an acceptable way to relay educational information, but it won’t ever take the place of the face-to-face trade show experience.

In AgAir Update’s judgement, it acknowledges the limitation of the Zoom/online trade show platform. For its Latin American market, AgAir Update rebranded its convention Show Guide; our printed and digital edition that in the past was published and distributed 30 days prior to the convention, as well as distributed at the convention. The name of this rebranding is, The Navigator.

The Navigator opened up to its advertisers an abundance of free space associated with the size of the advertisement. Like in year’s past Show Guides, The Navigator allows the advertiser to use the free space to promote its products and services. However, with a generous amount of free space, the creativity of the advertiser is almost unlimited as an effort to help offset the loss of the trade show venue. We also offered a corresponding webpage for the advertiser to use for sharing.

At this time, AgAir Update plans to go forward with its 2020 NAAA Show Guide as in years past, as long as NAAA continues to plan on a “live” convention. If those plans change, then AgAir Update will regroup to accommodate.

Regardless how things develop with the national and state trade shows this year, let’s hope for it to be a one-time experience! Let’s also work together so as not to lose the valuable benefits an ag-pilot gains from attending an agaviation trade show; whether it be in attendance in Savannah, at the state level, or online.

This brings up a related topic, AgAir Update’s Hangar Party is usually held in conjunction with years the NAAA convention is held in Savannah. This year, 2020, would have been the fifth such celebration. Unfortunately, the hangar party will not be held this year. I could blame it entirely on COVID-19, which is a major factor. But, also during November and December, at the Perry Airport (PXE) there will be ripping up of taxiways, adding ramps and building a new terminal building, making access to our hangar difficult at best. At least the previous hangar parties were a huge success and inevitably, there’ll be another one day in the future.

Until next month, Keep Turning…