AFS-11-255-E 

May 6, 2011 

 Exemption No. 4371L 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2000-8093 

Lt. Colonel Timothy M. Kersey 

Chief, Flight Standards Division 

HQ AFFSA/A3OF 

6500 S. MacArthur Blvd. 

Bldg. 4, Rm. 124 

Oklahoma City, OK 73169 

Dear Lt. Col. Kersey: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 4371, 

as amended. It explains the basis for our decision and describes its effect. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated April 4, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of the Department of the Air Force (USAF) for an extension of Exemption No. 4371, 

as amended. That exemption from §§ 91.177(a)(2) and 91.179(b)(1) of Title 14, Code of 

Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows the USAF to conduct low-level operations without 

complying with en route minimum altitudes for flight under instrument flight rules (IFR) or 

direction of flight requirements for IFR en route segments in uncontrolled airspace. 

In your petition, you indicate that there has been no change in the conditions and reasons 

relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption. 

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

in the Federal Register because the requested extension of the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to the USAF. 

Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 4371, as 

amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. 
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Therefore, under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the conditions and 

limitations listed below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Operations under this exemption must be conducted at an altitude of at least 250 feet 

(with Terrain Following/Terrain Avoidance (TF/TA) Radar Systems) above the 

highest obstacle along the route of flight or 500 feet (without TF/TA) above the 

highest obstacle within 3 nautical miles (nm) of the course to be flown over 

mountainous and other areas. Rotary wing aircraft may operate at an altitude of at 

least 100 feet (with TF/TA) above the highest obstacle along the route of flight. 

2. Operations under this exemption must be conducted under the procedural 

requirements of a letter of agreement (LOA) between the wing originating the route 

and the air traffic control facility with jurisdiction over the airspace of the route 

segment for which this exemption is exercised. 

3. Operations in Class G airspace may be conducted only if procedures have been 

established in an LOA that include the § 91.126(d), “Communications with Control 

Towers,” requirements. 

4. The LOA must include at least the following information: 

a. The route definition in geographical coordinates and the maximum route 

width; 

b. The route alignment that avoids Class B airspace; 

c. The route alignment that minimizes disturbance to persons and property on the 

ground; 

d. Provisions for military aircraft to flight check approved routes to ensure 

compliance with all provisions; 

e. The maximum altitudes for all route segments; 

f. Radar flight following or position reporting procedures, as applicable; 

g. Provisions for lost communications procedures; and 

h. The procedures whereby aircraft that are unable to continue the mission under 

the authority of this exemption are able to comply with the route and altitude 

requirements of part 91. 

5. Operations may not be conducted under the authority of this exemption until a Notice 

to Airmen (NOTAM) concerning the exempted activity has been in effect at least 6 

hours. The NOTAM must be issued regardless of the actual or forecast weather 
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conditions along the route segment for which this exemption is exercised. The 

NOTAM must include at least the following information: 

a. The name of the city or town nearest the route segment and the State; 

b. The date and time period of the planned activity; 

c. The number and type of aircraft expected on the route; 

d. The ingress and egress points of the route segment expressed in 

fix/radial/distance from a very high frequency omnidirectional range; and 

e. The altitude at which the aircraft will be flown. 

6. The maximum route length authorized under this exemption is 40 nm. 

7. Any environmental assessments associated with operations conducted under this 

exemption are the responsibility of the USAF. 

The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 4371, as amended, to 

July 31, 2013 unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

Raymond Towles 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service