AFS-11-340-E 

June 30, 2011 

 Exemption No. 9531B 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2001-8987 

Ms. Lori M. Kingsley 

Supervisor, FAA Coordination 

The Boeing Company 

P.O. Box 3707 

Seattle, WA 98124 

Dear Ms. Kingsley: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 9531, 

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 June 2, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of The Boeing Company (Boeing) for an extension of Exemption No. 9531, as 

amended. That exemption from § 91.515(a)(1) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations 

permits Boeing to conduct noise measurements tests, Ground Proximity Warning System 

research and development, and aircraft certification tests at altitudes less than 1,000 feet 

above the surface or 1,000 feet from any mountain, hill, or other obstruction. 

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 Boeing. 
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Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 9531, as 

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

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 following conditions 

and limitations. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. For flight operations between sunset and sunrise, the holder of this exemption must 

comply with all of the requirements of § 91.209. 

2. Boeing must designate, in writing, the maneuvers and specific airports and areas of 

operations to be used for these maneuvers. This information must be presented to the 

Northwest Mountain Regional Flight Standards Division, after coordination with the 

Air Traffic Division, for approval. 

3. The appropriate FAA air traffic control facility must be notified of the operations 

being conducted prior to the beginning of each operation and at the termination of 

each operation. 

4. The aircrew of aircraft operating at an airport that does not have an operating control 

tower must monitor the designated common traffic advisory frequency. The 

exemption holder must obtain approval from the airport manager for all operations 

into, from, or less than 3,000 feet over an airport without an operating control tower. 

The exemption holder must comply with the recommendations in Advisory 

 Circular 90-66A and Advisory Circular 90-42F. 

5. Pilots conducting flight operations authorized under this exemption must be flight test 

pilots employed by either Boeing or the FAA. The pilots conducting these operations 

must be briefed and familiar with the terms of this exemption and the specific areas of 

operations to be used. 

6. The aircraft used for flight operations authorized under this exemption must be owned 

or operated by Boeing. 

7. At all times, the holder of this exemption must comply with all of the requirements of 

§ 91.119. 
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The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 9531, as amended to October 31, 

2013, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John W. McGraw 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service