“We’re not just a sleepy country airport that occasionally flies gliders. We are in a growth mode.” — Dave Lanman, Executive Director, Port of Ephrata

EPHRATA — The Port of Ephrata will serve as the venue for the third annual fly-in pancake breakfast, hosted by the Association of Washington Aerial Applicators, on Saturday, Oct. 4. This event is set to showcase the role aerial applicators play in Washington’s agricultural industry while offering community members an engaging opportunity to learn about low-level aviation.

The pancake breakfast will kick off at 8 a.m. and is priced at $20 per person, with children under 10 eating free.

The event is open to the public at no charge, said Dave Lanman, executive director of the Port of Ephrata.

“I don’t want people not coming out, thinking they’ve got to pay 20 bucks to come out to see the planes. No, that’s not true,” Lanman said. “If you want to eat, you have to pay but otherwise this is free for the public.”

Lanman explained that the fly-in event has evolved from its initial format.

“The first two (events) were strictly on Fridays and were more centered towards the annual aerial applicators certification flights, where Department of Agriculture inspectors would be there to watch each pilot qualify for the forthcoming year,” he said.

This evolution to open the event to the public aims to promote the aerial application industry and foster community engagement, allowing residents to connect with aviation professionals and learn more about their work, Lanman said.

The Saturday program is expected to feature numerous attractions, including static displays of aircraft from various organizations, flight demonstrations from the International Aerobatic Club and a guest speaker session with the president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, among others.

“We are trying to promote aviation ... We’re not just a sleepy country airport that occasionally flies gliders,” Lanman said. “We are in a growth mode. We have a lot of things planned for this airport.”

AWAA representative Anthony Root noted that the event serves not only as an educational opportunity but also as a platform to promote transparency within the aerial application industry.

“Agriculture affects everyone’s lives, and there are always pesticide regulations coming through Olympia pushed by people who are afraid of what agriculture and pesticide application represent to them,” Root said.

He emphasized the need to break down barriers and showcase the professionalism of the industry.

Root elaborated on the event’s structure, saying Oct. 3 will focus on the traditional aerial applicator certification and calibration of spray patterns through a clinic called Operation Safe.

“We actually bring in a certified analyst out of Idaho, and he comes up with his crew and equipment, and then we put just water and fluorescent pink dye in the spray tanks,” Root said. “Each aircraft flies a sequence of passes across a string and across water-sensitive cards.”

The results are then analyzed and shared with the pilots, allowing for improvements in application effectiveness for the upcoming season.

As part of the expanded offerings for Saturday, participants can expect displays from the Seattle Glider Council, Civil Air Patrol, and live flight demonstrations.

“We want to showcase the agricultural industry in a positive light,” Root said.

Attendees will also have the chance to view various aircraft closely, although rides aboard the aircraft will not be offered due to operational restrictions.

Despite this, Root assured participants that they could engage with industry professionals and have their questions answered.

“It helps to break down suspicion and showcase the agricultural industry in a positive light,” he said.