;. 1·· Air Tractor Inc. , _ P.b. Box

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## !"~ Olney, Texas 76374

June 10, 2016 U.S. Department ofTransportation Docket Operations, M-30 West Building ground floor, Room Wl2-140 1200 New JerseyAvenue, SE Washington, DC 20590
Dear Sirs, 940.!564-5616 940-564-5612 (Fax) www.airtractor.com

This letter is Air Tractor, Inc.'s formal request to renew Exemption No. 56510, which was issued on April 18, 2016 (and expires on October 31, 2016). When Revision 0 ofthis Exemption was issued, we were only granted a 6 month extension ofthe Exemption (instead of the typical 2 year extension). Having to request renewal twice per yearplaces a significant additional and unnecessary administrative burden on the industry. Therehavebeen no changes to the conditions and reasons relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption, and Air Tractor wishes for the exemption to.bere-issued with only one requested change; that the original two year renewal period be granted. A copy ofthe current Exemption is included with this submittal. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments regarding this matter.

Air Tractor, Inc. P.O. Box 485 Olney, TX 76374 (940)564-5616 ext. 319 mrhodes@airtractor.comU.S. Deportment ofTransportation federal Aviation Administration April 18, 2016

Mike Rhodes ChiefTest Pilot AirTractor, Inc. P.O. Box485 Olney, TX 76374 Dear Mr. Rhodes: ExemptionNo. 56510 800 Independence Ave
. S.W
. Washington
. O
. C
. 20591

Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2002-11498

This letter is to inform you that we have granted in part, yourpetition to extend and amend ExemptionNo. 5651, as amended. Inyour March 7, 2016 petition, you also requested an amendment that would include an exemption from§ 91.313(a) as described in FAANotice 8900.295 Pilot Training and/or Certification Events Conducted in Restricted Category Aircraft. The amendment, ifgranted, would allow Air Tractorto operate a restricted category civil aircraft for other than the special purpose for which it was certificated, or in an operation otherthan one necessary to accomplishthe work activity directly associated withthat special purpose. Atthis time, the FAA is granting a six-month extension ofthe existing relief, while the agency considers the broader issues relatedto granting reliefto Air Tractor's amendment request. 

### The Basis for OurDecision By letter dated March 7, 2016, you petitionedthe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalfofAir Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) for an extension of, and amendmentto, Exemption No. 5651, as amended. That exemption from§ 61.3l(a)(l) ofTitle 14, Code ofFederal Regulations (14 CFR) allows Air Tractor and pilots ofAT-802, AT-802A, AT-1002, orAT1002A airplanes to operate those airplanes without holding a type rating, although the maximum gross weight ofthe airplanes exceeds 12,500 pounds.
AFS-16-6571-ECondition#3 has been slightly revised to require Air Tractor to keep current and maintain approval ofthe training manual required to comply with Condition and Limitation number 2. This training manual is already approved by AFS-800 with an expiration date ofApril 30, 2016. Air Tractor will be issued a separate extension to their approval letter by AFS-800. The extension to the training program will expire concurrently with this exemption. In your petition, you indicated that there had been no change inthe 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 ofthe petition in the Federal Register because the requested extension and amendment ofthe exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting onthis petition would be detrimental to Air Tractor. OurDecision The FAA has determined that thejustification for the issuance ofExemption No. 5651, as amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is inthe public interest. Under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. § 106(f), 40113, and 44701, which the FAA Administratorhas delegated to me, I grant Air Tractor, Inc. and pilots ofAir Tractor Models AT-802, AT-802A, AT-1002, and AT-1002A, relieffrom§ 61.3l(a)(l) to the extent necessary to operate these models without holding a type rating for the airplane, subject to the following conditions and limitations
. Conditions and Limitations 1. This exemption applies to pilots operating AT-802, AT-802A, AT-1002, and AT1002A aircraft that hold a restricted category airworthiness certificate. 2. Air Tractor must develop and maintain a training program manual(s) that includes the following ground training topics for each applicable make and model ofaircraft:

a) Aeronautical knowledge training on aircraft systems, and aircraft performance; b) Handling characteristics that are unique to the aircraft; c) A review ofthe approved airplane flight manual; and d) A cockpit familiarization checkout. 3. Air Tractor may continue to exercise the privileges ofthis exemption only ifit complies with the following:

a) Air Tractor must continue to maintain approval ofits training manual, and obtain approval for any revisions to the approved training manual, from AFS-800. b) The training manual(s) and approval documentation must be made available to any representative ofthe FAA Administrator, upon request. 4. Except as provided in Condition/LimitationNo. 5, before a pilot can serve as pilot in command (PIC) in the AT-802, AT-802A, AT-1002, or AT-1002A thatpilotmust 2have successfully completed the applicable training in accordance with Air Tractor's training program manual described in Condition/LimitationNo. 2. 5. Pilots who have logged at least 100 hours offlight time, with at least 10 hours inthe preceding 12 months, in an AT-502 series airplane need not complete the training requirements ofCondition No. 4. A record ofthis flight time must be made available by the pilot upon request by a representative ofthe FAAAdministrator. 6. Any person (including Air Tractor) thatprovides training described by Condition/LimitationNo
. 4 must
- a) Ensure eachpilot logs the ground training in his or her logbook, or record such training inthe pilot's training record; and b) Make this record oftraining available for review to any representative ofthe FAA Administrator, upon request. 7. Thepersonqualified to give training under this exemption must meetthe following minimum qualifications: a) Be authorized by Air Tractor to give this instruction; b) Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate; and c) Meet the following experience requirements: i. 500 hours offlight time inturbine-powered agricultural type airplanes; or 3

IL 1,000 hours offlight time in agricultural type airplanes which includes at least 100 hours offlight time in an AT-502 orAT-802, or AT-1002, series airplane 8. Air Tractor must make a copy ofthis exemption available to each pilot who serves as PIC inthe AT-802, AT-802A, AT-1002, orAT-1002A aircraft. The Effect ofOurDecision Our decision extends the termination date ofExemptionNo. 5651, as amendedto October 31, 2016, unless sooner superseded orrescinded. Sincerely, 

# d.

n S. Duncan ector, Flight Standards Service