by Paul Dale,p> That is what the California AAA did on July 30 and 31 to over sixty representatives from the world of authority in regulations with which we must operate. They provided proof positive that aerial application could be provided to agriculture safely and effectively. The CAAA of California has a version of the WRK system that has been improved to the point that justified the formation of ADAP; Aerial Deposition Alliance Program, with the CAAA President Clarence Williams being the driving force. Dr. Dennis Gardisser of WRK was engaged to assist the Association with this project.

In the dozen or so years since the advent of the WRK system, it is still basically the same system utilizing color-dyed material, fluorometers, computers, etc. It has been improved to the point where it is scientifically accurate, exceeding everything the butcher paper did, plus much more!

The CAAA invited applicators to a fly-in of two days for the purpose of swath analysis of their aircraft. Over sixty representatives of the EPA, Cal State Davis, California Food and Drug Administration and farmer groups, amongst others, attended. The demonstrations took place at the immaculate facilities of Farm Air Flying Service north of Sacramento.

On the second day there was a demonstration of swath runs by a rotary wing and a fixed wing aircraft with introductory comments made by Dr. Dennis Gardisser and Clarence Williams. The audience was divided into three groups of about a dozen each. Three information stations with ag aircraft were established, which each group visited in rotation; Clarence at station one with an Ag Cat, Dennis Gardisser at station two with another Ag Cat and Russ Stoker with a Cessna having a unique boom arrangement. Every twenty minutes the attendees would rotate to the next station, where they were free to question the operators on mixing, loading, and safety and deposition equipment. The day was closed with Dennis and Clarence fielding further questions aided by visual explanations excellently prepared and posted on the inside of the hangar door.

Each pilot and the attendees were given a four-page analysis of an aircraft that had made three runs with the final page being an analysis and a graphic composite representation of the ability of aircraft to safely work in agriculture.

In particular, this attachment is significant in that a D-model Ag Cat with full length booms achieved a near perfect sixty-foot swath with no evidence of droplet fines. Also, there was no evidence of wing tip vortices or other indications of driftable droplet fines being generated. The success of the demonstration was immediate from the questions asked by the attendees and their reaction to the responses given. This, in turn, caused those having a part in the demonstration to reflect an attitude of proud satisfaction. --