Port of Ephrata to host ag pilots Friday

EPHRATA — The Port of Moses Lake will play host to the Association of Washington Aerial Applicators for the group's 2nd Annual Fly-In today from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The goal is to show the community what agricultural pilots do for the region. 

“That’s one of the big pushes for the event, is to kind of make it an educational outreach event for agricultural aviation,” said Anthony Root, an AWAA representative.  

The public is welcome to attend the event which starts with a pancake breakfast at about 8 a.m. and will continue with several elements throughout the morning and into the early afternoon. Once breakfast finishes up, pilots will be re-validated for their respective certifications by the State Department of Agriculture. There will be live displays of aerial application testing spray patterns using dyed water rather than agricultural treatments.  

Port of Ephrata Director David Lanman said this is the second year the port has hosted the event put on by the association.  

Root said a key element of the event is simply making sure people understand that ag pilots contribute to dinner tables across the region and elsewhere by helping farmers grow healthy, hearty crops.  

Visitors will get to take a look at the aircraft close up, including an air ambulance that will visit the event. 

Barret Aircraft will be selling burgers for lunch starting at 10 a.m.  

“And then, right after lunch, we’ll be having kind of an aviation town hall with the Department of Agriculture, (Washington State University) and the (Federal Aviation Administration) all making presentations,” Root said.  

More information, including a video of a helicopter spraying aerosol at a prior, similar event may be found on the Port of Ephrata’s website at portofephrata.gov and clicking on the EVENTS link.  

Parking for the event will be just south of Barrett Aircraft with signs posted along Airport Street and Division Avenue directing drivers to parking, according to information from the port.