AFS-12-163-E April 11, 2012

Exemption No. 8480E Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2005-20109

Mr. John W. Hazlet, Jr. Vice President, Safety and Standards Ameriflight, LLC 4700 Empire Avenue Burbank, CA 91505

Dear Mr. Hazlet:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 8480, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the revised

conditions and limitations.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated January 11, 2012, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Adm inistration (FAA) on behalf of Ameriflight, LLC (Ameriflight), for an extension of Exemption No. 8480, as amended. That exemption from § 119.3 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations allows Ameriflight to operate certain Embraer Brasilla EMB-120 airplanes with a maximum payload capacity greater than 7,500 pounds in all-cargo service under part 135.

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 and we do not disagree. However, we have clarified Limitation No. 5 due to some past confusion regarding certain components of it applicability.

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 Ameriflight.2

Our Decision

The FAA has determ ined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 8480, 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. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the revised conditions and

limitations listed below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. Prior to conducting operations under this exemption, Ameriflight must obtain amended operations specifications that include this exemption.

2. Operations under this exemption are limited to EMB-120ER airplanes modified into dedicated freighters under supplemental type certificate 00598WI or to aircraft

model EMB-120FC.

3. A copy of this exemption must be carried onboard each EMB-120 airplane operated under this exemption.

4. EMB-120 airplanes operated under this exemption must be maintained in accordance with the maintenance requirements set forth in § 135.411(a)(2).

5. Ameriflight must institute a flight following program in accordance with § 121.125. However, mandatory compliance with § 121.125(a)(1) is limited to the following subparagraphs of part 121 subpart U:

 Section 121.597

 Section 121.599(b)

 Section 121.603

 Section 121.631(b), (c), and (d)

Other applicable sections of part 121, subpart U may be met by compliance with the appropriate analogous part 135 sections or authorized Ops Specs.

6. Ameriflight must compute the increase in weight, in excess of 7,500 pounds, by determining the difference between the certificated maximum zero-fuel weight (MZFW) and the actual empty operating weight plus crew weight. No increase to the certificated maximum takeoff weight is authorized under this exemption.

7. All operations conducted under this exemption must be conducted with EMB-120 airplanes that are equipped with cockpit voice recorder, flight data recorder, traffic alert and collision avoidance system, ground proximity warning system, and autopilot.

8. Prior to conducting any operations under this exemption, Ameriflight must amend its approved training program in a manner acceptable to its principal operations inspector to include training with the additional equipment listed in Condition and Limitation No. 7 and any other differences.3

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the term ination date of Exemption No. 8480, as amended, to April 30, 2014, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/ Raymond Towles Acting Director, Flight Standards

Service