AFS

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January 12, 2015

Exemption No. 11144 Regulatory Docket No. FAA

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Mr. Jayson S. Wilson Vice President Flight Operations

AAR Airlift

2301 Commerce Park Drive

Pal m Bay, FL 32905

Dear Mr. Jayson :

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. It transmits our decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, including the date it ends.

Th e Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated April 26 , 2013 , you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on

behalf of AAR Airlift ( AARA ) for an exemption from § 91.9(a) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to a llow AARA to operate Sikorsky S

- 92A (S

- 92A) helicopters with limited exposure to engine failure during takeoff and landing while carrying up to 19 passengers between land

- based facilities in austere environments during day, night, visual flight rules, and instrument flight rules.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detri mental to AARA

.

The FAA has issued a grant of exemption in circumstances similar in most respects to those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 10507 (copy enclosed), the FAA found

that operations to offshore facilities present a unique operating environment that requires special consideration in operations, training, and standardization, but also recognized there may be very short periods of time during takeoff and landing in which a safe forced landing2

may not be possible due to environ mental or other factors. Notwithstanding, the FAA

concluded th ose petitioners ’ proposed operational controls were consistent with those in OpSpec H100 and was in the public interest because the use of the S

- 92A provides its passengers with safe transporta tion, while maintaining an efficient transportation system to
and from elevated helidec k s.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that

—

 they are similar in most respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed Grant of

Exe mption No . 10507 . The sole significant difference is that operations will be conducted by AARA from land based helicopter landing sites, in austere environments, at or near limiting density altitudes and weights above which the helicopter may not be capabl e of climbing at 150 feet per minute when at 1000 feet above terrain;

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No . 10507 also apply to the situation you present; and

 a grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our De cision

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. §§ 106, 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant AAR Airlift an exemption from

14 CFR § 91.9(a) to the extent necessary to allow AARA to operate its Sikorsky S

- 92A (S

92A) helicopters with limited exposure to engine failure during takeoff and landing while carrying up to 19 passengers between land

- based facilities in austere environments during day, night, visual flight rules, and instrument flight rules , subj ect to th e conditions and limitations

described below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. This exemption is limited to operations conducted in AARA ’s S

- 92A helicopters.

2. This exemption is limited to operations conducted between land

- based facilities in

austere environmen ts

.

3. This exemption is not valid for operations in foreign airspace without the prior authorization of the Civil Aviation Authority with jurisdiction over that airspace.

4. AARA must make available and provide access, upon request by the FAA, to its engine r eliability historical data for the S

- 92As in its fleet in order to provide ongoing surveillance of engine reliability.

5. Performance c omputations for the approach and departure profiles must demonstrate the planned “Performance Class 2 with limited exposure to engine failure” profile will

not result in an exceedence of the I nternational C ivil A viation Organization standard of 9 seconds of exposure to an unscheduled touchdown due to engine failure

.3

6. Operations will not be conducted unless (at the current aircraft weight, pressure altitude

, and temperature )

, performance planning conducted in the S

- 92A Rotorcraft Flight Manual, ensure s the ability to climb 150 feet per minute at 1,000 feet above the takeoff surface with one engine inoperative and the remaini ng engine at maximum

continuous one

- engine inoperative (OEI) power.

7. AARA must, in addition to other routine preflight computations, comply with the procedures cited in the S

- 92A Rotorcraft Flight Manual, Part 2, Section III, Supplemental Performance Dat a, page III

- 1

- 50, contained in the paragraphs titled “Elevated Helideck Takeoff and Landing

– Limited Exposure

– (At Figure 3

- 22 WAT)” and the paragraph following titled “Vertical Takeoff

– Elevated Helideck.”

8. Operations under the provisions of this exem ption must be flown by two pilot crews that are qualified and current in the operation of the S

- 92A.

9. AARA ’s approved training program must include provisions for training of appropriate crews on the profiles associated with a Performance Class 2 with limi ted exposure takeoff and arrival, including performance planning. AARA must document the conduct and completion of that training for appropriate flight crewmembers.

10. Proficiency in the use of the profiles described in Condition No. 9 must be

demonstrated satisfactorily by flight crew members prior to application of these profiles and thereafter during r ecurrent evaluations required by §§ 135.293 or 135.299.

11. AARA must establish parameters for takeoff and arrival at land based helicopter landing facilities for its flight data monitoring program and provide ongoing surveillance of those operations.

12. A ARA must advise all S

- 92A flight crewmembers of the provisions of this exemption,

and document that notification.

A copy of this exemption must be carried onboa rd each S

- 92A utilizing these provisions.

This exemption terminates on February 02 , 201 7 , unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan Director, Flight Standards Service