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 in2

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 re quest to the certificate-holding district office (CHDO) for an amendment to its Cla ss 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:3

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.4

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