FALCO N 

AVIATION ACADEMY 

Dear Sir or Madam, 

My name is William C. Ellerbee. I'm the Chief Flight Instructor at Falcon Aviation Academy in Newnan, 

Georgia. Our main campus and business office is located at 95 East Aviation Way, Newnan, GA. 30263. 

We also operate two satellite bases located at 5 Falcon Dr., Peachtree City, GA. 30269, and 1040 Ben 

Epps, Dr., Athens, GA.30605 respectively. 

All of our locations are FAA part 141 approved and approved under the Civil Aviation Administration of 

China, CCAR-141. Our Newnan, GA. facility is also a CATS testing facility. 

Petition for exemution to 14 CFR Part 61.35(a)(2) and 14 CFR Part 61.156(b)(1) 

In accordance with Title 14 CFR, part 11.61(b), Falcon Aviation Academy, LLC, holder of Part 141 Air 

Agency Certificate U4PS758K is petitioning for exemption from 14 CFR Part 61.35(a)(2). 14 CFR Part 

61.35(a)(2) states that "After July 31, 2014, for the knowledge test for an airline transport pilot certificate 

with an airplane category multiengine class rating, a graduation certificate for the airline transport pilot 

certification training program specified in 61.156" 

14 CFR 61.156(b)(1) states that "At least 6 hours of training in a Level C or higher full flight simulator 

qualified under part 60 of this chapter that represents a multiengine turbine airplane with a maximum 

takeoff weight of 40,000 pounds or greater." 

Extent of relief and reason for exemption 

Falcon Aviation Academy is seeking relief from the "max. takeoff weight of 40,000 pounds or greater" 

required by 14 CFR 61.159(b)(1) and the subsequent graduation certificate required by 61.35(a)(2) for our 

Chinese airline pilot cadets. The exemption is only requested for Falcon Aviation Academy Chinese 

program students, and only requested at the Falcon Aviation Academy CATS testing facility located at 

our main base in Newnan, GA. The students enrolled in the Falcon Aviation Academy China program are 

Chinese national, airline cadets, completing flight training in U.S. Upon completion of the course of 

training, they return to China, complete a conversion of their U.S. pilot certificates and airline initial 

training. Upon completion of initial airline training in China, they serve as an observer for several months, 

eventually moving into a first officer position. At any one time Falcon Aviation Academy provides 

training for up to 165 Chinese students. These students complete 6 months of extensive English training, 

80 hours of Private Pilot ASEL ground, 65 hours of Private Pilot ASEL flight, 40 hours of Instrument 

ground, 45 hours of instrument flight, 40 hours commercial AMEL ground, 120 hours of commercial 

AMEL flight, 40 hours ATP ground, 132 hours of high performance aircraft ground training, 10 Pilot 

flying /10 hours Pilot not flying in a king air 200 level D simulator, and 10 Pilot flying in a king air 90 

prior to graduating our program. All programs are completed under FAA 141 regulations. The king air 

200 Level D simulator is representative of a multiengine turbine aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight 

of 12,500 pounds. These student receive training well in excess of 14 CFR 61.156 except for the 

maximum takeoff weight. 

Falcon Aviation Academy, 95 East Aviation Way, Newnan. GA 30263 

Phone: 770-486-5561, Fax: 770-304-3695 

www.faa-air.com 

info@falconaviationacademy.com 
FLcO'N 

f1viATION fACADEMY 

How this Repuest will benefit the public as a whole 

Falcon Aviation Academy is a small business that employs over 110 people. The Chinese program 

students have a considerable impact on the local economies and surrounding communities. Falcon 

Aviation Academy rents local apartments for student housing, uses local food vendors for student 

lunches, student uniforms are provided by a local uniform shop, and health insurance is from a local 

insurance provider. Fuel sales at the local FBO are at an all-time high. Chinese students, on average spend 

$2,000 -$5,000 for shopping and entertainment during their time at Falcon Aviation Academy. Falcon 

Aviation Academy is one of several U.S. flight schools approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of 

China, to train Chinese pilots. Combined these school train approximately 2,623 Chinese student per year. 

The training these students complete has a direct impact on the U.S. economy. I would estimate the 

impact to be about 262.3 million dollars annually. Due to the recent change in the ATP written 

requirements, the CAAC is not approving additional flight schools in the U.S. There's a potential for the 

CAAC to redirect future students to approved schools in Canada, Australia, or France. 

Reason why the exemption would not affect safety or provides safety at least epual to existing rule 

The exemption would not affect safety as it a request for a reduction in max takeoff weight for a 

simulated airplane, in order to take a written exam there would be no flight involved. The exemption is 

requested only for Chinese nationals, which have graduated from the FAA/CAAC approved ATP and 

high performance training program at Falcon Aviation Academy, which by far exceed the requirements of 

14 CFR 61.156, other than max takeoff weight. This exemption is only requested for the FAA CATS 

testing facility at Falcon Aviation Academy, Newnan, GA. The Chinese students will not seek an FAA 

ATP airman certificate, they only need to pass the written exam. The request is for exemption to take the 

written exam only. 

Summary 

Falcon Aviation Academy, a FAA 141 and CAAC 141 approved flight training provider in Georgia, is 

seeking exemption from 14 CFR Part 61.35(a)(2) and 14 CFR Part 61.156(b)(1) 

We are seeking exemption from the maximum takeoff weight of 40,000 pounds or greater as required 

by14 CFR 61.156(b)(1) and the subsequent requirement of a graduation certificate required by 14 CFI 

61.35(a)(2), stating the applicant meets the requirements of 61.156, only for Falcon Aviation Academy 

Chinese national, airline pilot cadets that have graduated our FAA 141/CAAC 141 ATP and High 

Performance program. This exemption is only requested for the CATS testing facility at Falcon Aviation 

Academy, Newnan, GA. 

Respectfully, 

William C. Ellerbee 

Chief Flight Instructor 

Falcon Aviation Academy 

(770)486-5561 ext. 214 

Falcon Aviation Academy, 95 East Aviation Way, Newnan. GA 30263 

Phone: 770-486-5561, Fax: 770-304-3695 

www.faa-air.com 

info@falconaviationacademy.com