AFS-12-417-E 

 

August 19, 2014 

 Exemption No. 7118K 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2002-11655 

Mr. William E. Butts 

Intermountain Life Flight 

250 North 2370 West 

Salt Lake City, UT 84116 

Dear Mr. Butts: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 7118, 

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

and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated April 17, 2014, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Intermountain Life Flight for an extension and amendment of Exemption No. 7118. 

That exemption from § 133.45(e)(1) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 

allows Intermountain Life Flight to conduct Class D rotorcraft-load combination rescue 

operations with an Agusta A109K2 certificated for Category A operations in the normal 

category under part 27. Your petition requests an amendment to add the AgustaWestland 

AW109SP helicopter to the exemption. 

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 AgustaWestland AW109SP helicopter is certificated for Category A operations in the 

normal category under part 27. A review of the performance for this aircraft shows that it is 

One Engine Inoperative (OEI) hover capable at the operating altitudes for anticipated rescue 

operations. It is able to maintain an equivalent level of safety as a transport category 

helicopter. We have amended the conditions and limitations to permit rescue operations in 
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both the Agusta A109K2 and AgustaWestland AW109SP. Due to the similarity of the two 

aircraft models, some of the pilot in command (PIC) experience in one model may be credited 

toward total PIC time required to conduct rescue operations in the other model. Likewise, 

due to the similarity of conducting hoist operations in both models, some of the hoist 

operation experience in one model will be credited toward total hoist operation experience 

required in the other model. 

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 Intermountain Life 

Flight. 

Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 7118, as 

amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. 

Therefore, under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. § 106(f), 40113, and 44701, which the 

FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the following 

conditions and limitations.

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Intermountain Life Flight will conduct training for pilots and crewmembers in 

accordance with a Class D external load training program accepted by the 

Administrator before commencing the conduct of Class D rotorcraft load combination 

operations. The training program will include initial and recurrent training for pilots 

and other crewmembers, in accordance with § 133.37. 

2. Intermountain Life Flight must submit a request to the certificate-holding district 

office (CHDO) for an amendment to its Class D authorization and training program to 

allow the conduct of Class D external load rescue operations with these additional 

limitations. 

3. The rotorcraft used in such rescue operations (Agusta A109K2 and Agusta -Westland 

AW109SP) must be equipped with Arriel 1K1 turbine engines or Pratt & Whitney 

207C turbine engines respectively. 

4. The pilot in command (PIC) for such rescue operations must have a minimum total of 

25 hours of flight time as PIC in the Agusta A109K2 or AgustaWestland AW109SP 

(or any combination thereof) with 10 hours of flight time as PIC in the make and 

model to be flown. Additionally, each PIC must have successfully conducted a total 

of 20 separate rescue hoist operations (either simulated or actual) in the A109K2 or 

AW109SP (or any combination thereof), with 10 separate rescue hoist operations 

(either simulated or actual) in the make and model to be flown. Each of these hoist 

operations shall be conducted at an altitude that requires the aircraft to hover out of 

ground effect. Each hoist operation shall encompass the following elements: 
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approach to the pickup site; establishment of a hover out of ground effect; 

establishment of a hoist lift where the rescue target is hoisted from the surface and is 

retrieved to a position next to the aircraft; repositioning flight to the nearest suitable 

landing zone to land the rotorcraft and load the rescue target in the rotorcraft; and 

departure from the landing zone. Flights between the rescue location and the nearest 

suitable landing zone must be conducted at a speed that allows for maximum control 

of the rescue target during its time outside of the passenger compartment. 

5. This exemption is not valid for operations conducted below 2,500 feet mean sea level. 

6. This exemption is valid only for rescue operations undertaken to reduce or eliminate a 

significant imminent threat to human health or life and when no other civil aircraft is 

reasonably available that meets the requirements of § 133.45(e): 

a. In evaluating whether a threat is “significant and imminent,” Intermountain 

Life Flight, in consultation with appropriate and qualified rescue or medical 

personnel, must reasonably determine that a threat of serious injury or death is 

present; and 

b. In evaluating whether any other civil aircraft is “reasonably available,” 

Intermountain Life Flight must determine that, at the time of the rescue 

operation, no other civil aircraft meeting the requirements of § 133.45(e) is 

available and capable of responding to the threat in a timely manner. 

7. Prior to any flight conducted under this exemption, Intermountain Life Flight must 

conduct and document a risk assessment to determine that the operation can be safely 

conducted. A copy of each completed risk assessment must be retained for 2 years 

and made available on request to the CHDO. 

8. Intermountain Life Flight, in consultation with the appropriate rescue or medical 

personnel, must reasonably determine that an external load hoist operation is 

necessary to respond to the threat in that the rotorcraft external load hoist operation 

offers the best opportunity to reduce or eliminate the threat to human health or life. 

9. Transport of passengers rescued under this exemption must be conducted in 

accordance with the requirements of Intermountain Life Flight’s part 135 operating 

certificate (Certificate No. I7LA073J) and operations specification paragraph A021. 

10. Intermountain Life Flight must provide the FAA with current information on the status 

of its helicopter replacement project. This information must include an expected 

timeline for fleet replacement. This information must be provided to the CHDO on a 

yearly basis, beginning August 30, 2011. 

11. This exemption is not valid for operations outside of the United States. 
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The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 7118, as amended, to 

August 31, 2016, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

Michael J. Zenkovich 

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service