AJR-10-224-E 

April 16, 2010 

 Exemption No. 9695A 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2007-28302 

Colonel Robert T. Hess 

Aeronautical Services Agency 

U.S. Department of the Army 

9325 Gunston Road, Suite N319 

Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 

Dear Col. Hess: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption 

No. 9695. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the conditions 

and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated March 30, 2010, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of the United States Special Operations Command (USASOC) for an extension of 

Exemption No. 9695. That exemption from §§ 105.17 and 105.19(a) and (b) of Title 14, 

Code of Federal Regulations allows USASOC to conduct day and night parachute operations 

using parachutes with no illumination, through clouds, outside of restricted areas, at or below 

1,500 feet above ground level (AGL). Those operations would be conducted in Class B, C, 

D, or E airspace at Department of Defense (DOD) controlled/contracted drop zones, or DOD 

controlled airports. 

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 USASOC. 
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Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 9695 

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

authority provided by 49 U.S.C. § 40109, which the FAA Administrator has delegated to me, 

I grant your petition, subject to the following conditions and limitations. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. This exemption is limited to USASOC combat readiness parachute training 

conducted at the airports/drop zones listed in Condition No. 8b. 

2. Each airborne training operation: 

a. Must be: 

(i) Conducted with a dedicated observer, not performing aircrew duties, 

aboard each aircraft in a flight of two or more aircraft (non-pilot 

airborne observers); or 

(ii) Escorted by an aircraft serving as an observation platform dedicated to 

surveillance for non-participating traffic (pilot airborne observer) in the 

event the training operation only consists of a single aircraft from which 

parachutists will jump. 

b. In addition to the aerial observation, the operation must be conducted with 

personnel on the ground at the drop zone to conduct surveillance for 

potential conflicts with non-participating aircraft (ground observers). 

c. The operations must be conducted in such a manner as to enable the 

airborne and ground observers to survey the surrounding airspace for nonparticipating air traffic and relay the findings to all participants so 

operations may be terminated while any non-participating air traffic is in the 

area. 

3. Traffic notifications from the observers shall provide the flightcrew with 

information about the position and speed of the observed non-participating air 

traffic. 

4. When non-participating air traffic is in the area, the parachute training operations 

shall be terminated until the air traffic is no longer in the area. 

5. Unlighted parachute operations may not be conducted above 1,500 feet AGL and 

must be contained within the boundaries of the airport, listed in Condition No. 8., 

that is being utilized as a drop zone. This area must be established as an area of low 

density air traffic that does not infringe upon FAA-designated airspace areas and 

has been coordinated with the appropriate FAA Service Center System Support 

Group and region Flight Standards Division offices. 
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6. Unlighted parachute operations, through clouds, may be conducted only at airports 

listed in Condition No. 8 and only as necessary to meet the requirements of combat 

readiness training by members of the USASOC. 

7. Each pilot who will conduct operations for the USASOC under this exemption must 

be thoroughly familiar with its provisions. 

8. USASOC, or its designated representative, shall advertise the proposed parachute 

training operations to operators at all airports within 50 miles of the airport/drop 

zone area for 60 days preceding the initial use and 7 days preceding each 

subsequent use. 

a. Airports to be used for the drop zones shall be closed by NOTAM to nonparticipating air traffic. The control tower shall remain appropriately staffed 

during the day and/or unlighted night parachute operations to ensure nonparticipating air traffic remain clear of the airspace to be used. 

b. The following airports are authorized for use after permission has been 

obtained from, and a letter of agreement has been signed with, the airport’s 

management. Letters of agreement must be coordinated with the 

appropriate FAA Service Center System Support Group and Flight 

Standards offices prior to signing. 

1. Allen Army Airfield, Alaska 

2. Avon Park, Florida 

3. Biggs Army Airfield, Texas 

4. Blackstone Army Airfield, Virginia 

5. Boise, Idaho 

6. Butts Army Airfield, Colorado 

7. Cairns Army Airfield, Alabama 

8. Camp Blanding Army Airfield, Florida 

9. Campbell Army Airfield, Kentucky 

10. Cecil Field, Florida 

11. Duke Field, Florida 

12. Felker Army Airfield, Virginia 

13. Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington 

14. Forney Army Airfield, Missouri 

15. Godman Army Airfield, Kentucky 

16. Gray Army Airfield, Washington 

17. Grant County/Moses Lake, Washington 
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18. Grayling Army Airfield, Michigan 

19. Great Falls, Montana 

20. Hagler Army Airfield, Mississippi 

21. Henry Post Army Airfield, Oklahoma 

22. Hood Army Airfield, Texas 

23. Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia 

24. Hurlburt Field, Florida 

25. Indian Springs, Nevada 

26. Klamath Falls, Oregon 

27. Ladd Army Airfield, Alaska 

28. Lawson Army Airfield, Georgia 

29. Libby Army Airfield, Arizona 

30. Mackall Army Airfield, North Carolina 

31. Marshall Army Airfield, Kansas 

32. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 

33. Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho 

34. Muir Army Airfield, Pennsylvania 

35. North Airfield Auxiliary 

36. Pendleton, Oregon 

37. Phillips Army Airfield, Maryland 

38. Polk Army Airfield, Louisiana 

39. Powell Drop Zone, Washington 

40. Ray S. Miller Army Airfield, Minnesota 

41. Redstone Army Airfield, Alabama 

42. Robert Gray Army Airfield, Texas 

43. Roswell, New Mexico 

44. Sabre Army Airfield, Tennessee 

45. Simmons Army Airfield, North Carolina 

46. Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii 

47. Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield, New York 

48. Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Washington 
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49. Wright Army Airfield, Georgia 

9. USASOC, or its designated representative, must provide notice of proposed 

parachute training operations through NOTAMs/Special Notices disseminated at 

least 72 hours in advance of the planned training. The training airspace will be 

identified by name (if applicable) or by latitude/longitude. The NOTAMs will 

advise that during the course of flight planning, potential users of the operational 

area will be provided with information on the time and place of the proposed 

parachute training operations. The NOTAMs must be made available to the civil 

aviation community and must be capable of being disseminated among civil users 

of the National Airspace System. 

The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 9695 to April 30, 2012, unless 

sooner superseded or rescinded. 

All conditions and limitations of Exemption No. 9695 remain the same. This letter must be 

attached to, and is a part of, Exemption No. 9695. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

Elizabeth L. Ray 

Director of System Operations Airspace & Aeronautical Information Management 

Air Traffic Oganization