If your GROWSAFE® Pilot Chemical Rating is due to expire this year the following information will assist you. Total Business Training Australasia Limited (TBT) has been contracted to organise revalidation of this qualification.

A series of revalidation courses have been scheduled for different venues as follows. Confirmation of courses will depend on the registrations received:

Apart from the course set for the 27 July in Palmerston North, dates are subject to change. The Palmerston North venue has been set to co-incide with the AIA and the NZAAA Conferences being held the week of 26 July – 30 July.

If you intend to attend the pilot revalidation course this week you must advise TBT by 30 April 2010 to be eligible. There is a limit to 18 people for this course.

Ideally it is preferable to run each course at an operator’s base – exactly which bases are still being finalized. If you are prepared to offer your base as a venue please advise Penny Guy at TBT as soon as possible. The minimum number needed is 10 and the maximum number we can have at any one course is about 20 people so we need space to do that. It might work to run courses at a nearby hall for example – all we need is tables and chairs for attendees, and power.

Current CAA regulations mean that you must revalidate your rating within one month before the expiry date . After the expiry date you are unable to undertake any spraying until the rating is revalidated. From this year on, the expiry date for all pilots will be 31 July of any given year.

Following a successful revalidation, TBT will issue a logbook sticker and the GROWSAFE® certificate which is valid for a further 3 years. You will be invoiced by TBT once your registration form has been received. This invoice amount covers your resource material and a trainer fee. You will also receive an invoice from NMIT for a course fee.

Please note: Pilots wishing to revalidate their GROWSAFE® qualification must hold or have held a Pilot Chemical Rating. If you do not hold a GROWSAFE® Certificate stating your Pilot Number then evidence must be supplied to TBT of an Initial Pilot Chemical Rating before a logbook sticker or certificate is issued. Evidence includes your original Pilot Chemical Rating Results.

To check your rating expiry date and get your GROWSAFE® P number visit www.growsafe.co.nz and look under Registration then Aerial Contractors.

A couple of points regarding Ground Crew courses:

• GROWSAFE® Introductory Certificate ( Endorsed ground crew) need to contact TBT. Please note: A basic GROWSAFE® Introductory certificate is not approved for aerial operators. It must contain the endorsement to be acceptable.
• The Ground Crew certificate will last for 5 years
• For those wishing to obtain their Initial rating, the Endorsed Ground Crew certificate is a pre- requisite

PROCESS FOR REGISTRATION FOR YOUR PILOT CHEMICAL RATING REVALIDATION

• Please complete the registration form with your preferred course venue and return by post or fax to TBT no later than 30 APRIL 2010. These can be downloaded by clicking here or electronic copies are available on request. (For those requiring the courses in March and May, registrations must be received by 12 February 2010)
• Registrations received after this date may not qualify for the course dates set and pilots will need to make arrangements for a one-on-one visit at full cost recovery if this is the case.
• Once registration forms have been received, you will be given full course details, including venues, times and cost.
• For further information please contact TBT on 09 294 6758.