Desda la Cabina | Bill Lavender

DESDE LA CABINA

Bill Lavender bill@agairupdate.com

Bye Bye 2020

The year 2020 is now gone and for most, thankfully, with a brighter outlook for 2021. But, isn’t that the very nature of an ag-pilot? A not-so-good season passes and we always believe and look forward to a better season next year. I suppose that is a good degree of optimism.

The same is true for the National Agricultural Aviation Association’s Ag Aviation Expo held last month in Savannah, Georgia. When given lemons, make lemonade, as the old saying goes. The staff at NAAA did exactly that and perfectly. With only about half the attendance of operators, pilots and vendors, the Ag Aviation Expo was a success despite that. Most who did not come was because of the Covid-19 issue, as best I could tell from talking with others. I hesitated to attend, not so much as a concern for the virus, but the disdain for wearing a mask! Gee, most of us don’t hear very well anyway and the mask surely hinders that even further.

Of course, I didn’t recognize many people simply because they had on masks. However, I must say mask wearing was a non-event. NAAA cordially asked through signage all to wear a mask if they could not social distance themselves. I saw more without a mask then with. Hopefully, by the time you read this editorial, a significant number of Americans will have been vaccinated and all will be good with Covid-19 behind us, just like 2020.

If you missed this year’s Ag Aviation Expo, or even if you attended, be sure to visit agairupdate.com for a photo review. Even though attendance was down, there was still good “action” in the exhibit hall. For those vendors selling complex products or services that required time to explain, they did really well. They had more time to spend with their customers. The auction was the highlight of the end of the first day. Many items sold for thousands of dollars, including a PT6A-34AG engine that sold for over $420,000. Pratt & Whitney made the engine available to the NAAA at a reduced cost that greatly benefited the association. You can read more about the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo held in Savannah last month in this edition’s feature cover story.

It is going to be a lonely North American winter for me. I say that tongue-in-cheek, meaning that I’ll be home for most of January and February. Typically, Graham and I work multiple state trade shows these two months. However, all state trade shows for January and February have been cancelled; a first in the history of ag-aviation. Attending the state shows was always rewarding. I had the opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones. They helped me stay in the loop, whatever that is. My next trip is back to Brazil in the last week of February. Maybe by then I will have taken the China flu vaccine. My last trip to Brazil, only a couple of months ago, was very successful and without getting sick. Of course, Delta Airlines required me to wear a mask during the entire overnight flight to Sao Paulo and the return flight. That is, except while eating or drinking and you already know the resolution to that requirement!

From my visit to Brazil last October, there will be a series of articles coming. I made five visits of which four were operators and one a supplier to our industry, Zanoni. I also attended a customer appreciation dinner hosted by Zanoni. That was unusual with masks and social distancing. But, it was a huge

success and I know it was enjoyed by all.

Back to the lonely months, I have an aversion to cold weather. It is one of the reasons I live in the southern U.S. I don’t understand how my cold weather friends can tolerate it. If the weather gets below 60°F (15°C) and add a little wind, I’m miserable. That means during these lonely months, whatever I do, or wherever I go, it will need to be an “inside job”, or be located further south than Georgia. Maybe there’s an operator in The Keys. It is unfortunate for me that Graham has already visited EOS (turbine engine facility) for an article in the Miami area. That would have been a good trip to make in January or February.

I’ll close this editorial wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Although 2020 is behind us, it will never be forgotten. A prayer or two is in order for the families that lost loved ones this year regardless of how. And, another prayer is in order for the first responders that have faced this pandemic bravely. Take care all.

Keep Turning…

PRÓXIMOS EVENTOS

www.agairupdate.com/calendar

Julio de 2021 Congresso da Aviação Agrícola do Brasil 2020 – Sindag e Congresso Mercosul da Aviação Agrícola 2020

Sertãozinho – SP – Brasil. +55 51 3337.5013 sindag@sindag.org.br www.congressoavag.org.br

27 de Mayo de 2021 Dia Internacional do Piloto Agrícola

19 de Agosto de 2021 Dia da Aviação Agrícola Brasileira

6-9 de Diciembre de 2021 NAAA’s Ag Aviation Expo

Palm Springs Convention Center Palm Springs, California EEUU information@agaviation.org

- Recorrida General (OVERHAUL) - Inspección de zona caliente (HSI) - Light Overhaul - Inspecciones periódicas - Análisis de vibraciones - Inspecciones no programadas - Testeo de válvula bleed - Testeo de Inyectores - Inspecciones boroscópicas

Atomizadores rotativos UK: Micron Group

(Gotas Controladas) de bajo volumen para aplicaciones aéreas Atomizadores rotativos (Gotas Controladas) de bajo volumen para aplicaciones Atomizadores rotativos Tel: +(44) 1885 482397 Email: enquiries@micron.co.uk USA: Micronair Sales & Service UK: Micron Group Tel: +(44) 1885 482397 Email: enquiries@micron.co.uk UK: Micron Group Salud pública Forestal Control de peste migratoria Plantaciones Agricultura en general Tel: +(1) 512 266 9044 Email: micronair@aol.com Brasil: Agrotec Tel: +55 (53) 3026 2903 Email : agrotec@agrotec.etc.br aéreas Salud pública Forestal Control de peste migratoria Plantaciones USA: Micronair Sales & Service Tel: +(1) 512 266 9044 Email: micronair@aol.com Brasil: Agrotec Tel: +55 (53) 3026 2903 Email : agrotec@agrotec.etc.br (Gotas Controladas) de bajo volumen para aplicaciones aéreas Salud pública Forestal Control de peste migratoria Tel: +(44) 1885 482397 Email: enquiries@micron.co.uk USA: Micronair Sales & Service Tel: +(1) 512 266 9044 Email: micronair@aol.com Brasil: Agrotec Tel: +55 (53) 3026 2903

Agricultura en general Plantaciones Email : agrotec@agrotec.etc.br www.micron.co.ukAgricultura en general