21 May 2012

I am writing to seek an exemption from sections 61.113 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

§ 61.113 Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in command. (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (g) of this section, no person who holds a private pilot certificate may act as pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property

for compensation or hire; nor may that person, for compensation or hire, act as pilot in command of an aircraft.

I hold a private pilot certificate and am seeking this exemption to achieve the Coast to Coast Biofuel Airplane Project, a flight from Rhode Island to California that will take place in a Cessna 182 equipped with an SMA aviation diesel engine fueled with an ASTM approved 50

- 50 blend of renewable jet fuel mixed with petroleum Jet A.

The purpose of this flight will be to demonstrate the use of renewable aviation fuels and aviation diesel engines, to further aviation and aviation safety , and to educate both students and the general public on the benefits and potential of aviation and renewable energy. Both renewable aviation fuels and aviation diesel engines have numerous benefits to both aviation and aviation safet y. The benefits of renewable aviation fuel s include domestic production, no lead additives as in 100LL aviation fuel, and the potential to be sustainably produced. The benefits of aviation diesel engines include greatly improved fuel efficiency over traditional aviation engines in the range of 30

- 40%, and greater reliability and safet y over traditional aviation engines as they have no magnetos, spark plugs, or other ignition components that are subject to failure with avgas engines.

I am seeking this exemption to enable the use of funds to be rai sed for this project from sponsorships, including corporate and other sponsors, and other sources to be used to pay for the costs required to achieve the Coast to Coast Biofuel Airplane flight including cost per hour for use of the airplane, fuel costs, an d other costs associated with the flight such as food and lodging. I am also seeking the exemption to allow for the sponsorship and/or donation of equipment that will be used to achieve this flight. None of the pilots, private or commercial, fly ing the ai rplane during this flight will receive an y pa ym ent other than the expenses needed to meet the costs of this one time round trip from Rhode I sland to California and back.

As a science teacher at Ponaganset High School in Rhode I sland I have already safel y and successfull y achieved innovative renewable energy projects designed to provide outstanding educational opportunities to students and promote the benefits of clean, renewable energy technologies. My

first major project was Protium, the World’s First Fu el Cell Powered Band. This rock and roll band comprised of Ponaganset High School students powered the entire show using h ydrogen fuel cells and demonstrated fuel cell technology around the country at fuel cell conferences and other events. The success o f this fuel cell powered band led to the development of a Fuel Cell and Alternative Energy course at the school and to the next major project, a full size, street legal Fuel Cell Model T hot rod that cruises with an astonishing silence and produces

zero em issions. To demonstrate the benefits of biodiesel and engage students in real world, hands on learning, three students and I drove cross country using essentially

pure biodiesel on the Coast to Coast Biodiesel Pickup Project. The biodiesel fuel performed perfectly on the entireround trip over 7,000 miles and the project successfully demonstrated the reliability and feasibility of biodiesel. As with all these projects, educational is a primary goal and a great number of students benefitted from the learn ing. Thanks to extensive media coverage the educational component was brought to the general public as well.

In formation on these projects can be seen on the websites www.protium.us www.biodieselpickup.blogspot.com

The Coast to Coast Biofuel Airplane Project is based on the foundation of success built through these previous projects. While the education component is just as important, due to the nature of aviation projects this project will not be done through the school. The organizations involved with this project are the Paramus Fl yi ng Club, a non

- profit organization based in New Jersey
, and the Aero Energy

Association, a Rhode Island non

- profit organization.

Safety is the first priority of this project and this request will not adversel y affect safet y in an y way as the exemption only

addresses compensation for the costs needed to achieve this project. I have been working to achieve this project for over four ye ars and have done extensive research and planning to achieve this goal safel y and properly. The fuel used for this flight will be ASTM approved renewable jet fuel mixed in the ASTM approved ratio of 50% renewable jet fuel with 50% Jet A. The producer of this fuel is UOP, a company that was selected after discussion with FAA fuel specialist Mark Rumizen, whom Ihave been talking with since October 2009 and has been a major help. After ASTM approv al in 2011, the technical data on UOP’s renewable fuel blend was provided to aviation diesel engine manufacturer SMA, and after reviewing the technical data for this fuel blend, SMA has no objections to the use of this 50

- 50 blend of renewable jet fuel with Jet A in their aviation diesel engines.

In formation on this ASTM approved renewable jet fuel and Jet A blend is available on the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin **:** NE

- 11

- 56 from September 14 th 2011

The level of planning on all aspects of this flight will ensure that it is not only as safe as any other cross country

flight, but safer. Members of the Aircraft Owner s and Pilots Association (AOPA) the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Paramus Fl yi ng Club, and other organizations and in dividuals have been consulted on numerous aspects of the flight including route planning, best altitudes, stopovers, refueling, preferable time frame and other areas essential to flight planning. Pilots on this flight will include me and other members of Paramus Fly ing Club, who will share the flight responsibilities in the safest manner possible.

To achieve the maximum potential of this flight media coverage is an integral component. Through the extensive use of media the man y positive aspects of aviati on, aviation biofuels, and aviation diesel engine technology can be shared with the widest audience possible. Positive media coverage has not only greatly benefitted all my

previous projects, but has made many of them possible. As with all my previous pr ojects, the educational aspect of this flight has enormous potential. As a science teacher, one of my goals for this project is to get students and others more excited and interested in science and to share with them the many opportunities in science that aviation holds, ranging from pilot to aeronautical and aerospace engineering. Aviation is also a vast frontier for the use of American grown and produced biofuels that will create a great man y jobs in our country . Media coverage including newspapers, te levision, the internet, and other sources will enable the Coast to Coast Biofuel Airplane Project to reach the widest audience possible and maximize the many positive benefits of this flight. With this in mind, if media is considered compensation in any w ay I am also seeking an exemption to allow media coverage of this flight.The Coast to Coast Biofuel Airplane Project will benefit the public as a whole by clearl y demonstrating the emerging technologies of renewable aviation fuels and aviation diesel eng ines and will certainl y benefit aviation, aviation safet y, and renewable aviation fuels. This project will also benefit students and the public through educational outreach on aviation, aviation safet y, and the use of renewable fuels in aviation and other applications.

**Summary for the Federal Register:** To meet the costs required to achieve the Coast to Coast Biofuel Airplane Project an exemption from sections 61.113 of Title 14 of the Co de of Federal Regulations (CFR) addressing Private Pilot privileges and limitations regarding for compensation or hire is requested. The purpose of this flight will be to demonstrate the use of renewable aviation fuels and aviation diesel engines, to further aviation and aviation safet y, and to educate both students and the general public on the benefits and potential of aviation and renewable energy . The Coast to Coast Biofuel Airplane Project will benefit aviation, and the emerging technologies of aviation biofuels and aviation diesel engines. The educational component of this project will benefit students through the man y connections between aviation and Science, Technology , Engineering, and Math (STEM) education.

Thank y ou for y our help with this endeavor.

Sincerel y,
Ross McCurdy 10 Meadow View Drive Smithfiel d, RI02917

rkmccurd y@ ya hoo.com 401

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- 7986 home 401

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- 6506 cell