Air Tractor Inc. P.O. Box 485 Olney, Texas 76374 

January 21, 2014 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Docket Operations 

940-564-5616 940-564-5612 (Fax) www.airtractor.com 

West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington DC 20590 

Dear Sirs, 

This letter is Air Tractor, Inc.'s formal request to renew Exemption No. 5651K, which was last 

issued on March 29, 2012 (and expires on April30, 2014). A copy of the current Exemption is 

included with this submittal. 

There have been 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 be re-issued with no changes. 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments regarding this matter. 

:, : 

#R~ Chief 

M~e~ Test Pilot 

Air Tractor, Inc. 

P.O. Box485 

Olney, TX 76374 

(940)564-5616 ext. 319 

mrhodes@airtractor.com 

~ . . 

•; 
U.S. Deportment 

of Transportation 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

March 29, 2012 

Mr. Mike Rhodes 

Chief Test Pilot 

Air Tractor, Inc. 

P.O. Box485 

Olney, TX 76374 

Dear Mr. Rhodes: 

Exemption No. 5651L 

800 Independence Ave .. S.W. 

Washington. D.C. 20591 

Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2002-11498 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend and amend Exemption 

No. 5651, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effects, and lists the 

conditions and limitations of the exemption, including the date it ends. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated February 13, 2012, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor), for an extension of and amendment to Exemption 

No. 5651, as amended. That exemption from§ 61.31(a)(l) ofTitle 14, Code of Federal 

Regulations allows Air Tractor and pilots of Air Tractor AT -802 and AT -802A airplanes to 

operate those airplanes without holding a type rating, although the maximum gross weight of 

the airplanes exceeds 12,500 pounds. The amendment you request would add the Air Tractor 

AT -1002/1 002A type to the list of aircraft operated under this exemption. 

Additionally, you requested to extend your exemption for 5 years because of the time it takes 

to process administrative requests. The FAA, however, finds it in the best interest of safety to 

review this exemption every 2 years. This allows us to ensure that there has been no change 

in circumstances or regulations from which the exemption is granted. 

In your petition, you indicate thatthere has been no change in the conditions and reasons 

relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption. 

AFS-12-244-E 
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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 Air Tractor. 

Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 5651, 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 44 701, which the FAA Administrator 

has delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the conditions and limitations listed 

below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. This exemption is applicable only to Air Tractor Models AT-802, AT-802A, AT-1002, 

and AT -1 002A that operate under a restricted category airworthiness certificate. 

2. The manufacturer shall develop and maintain a training manual that includes the 

aircraft systems, performance, and handling characteristics. 

3. Except as provided in Condition No.5, prior to operations under this exemption, the 

pilot must have successfully completed ground instruction on the systems performance 

and handling_ characteristics of the AT -802/802A or AT -1002/1 002A. A record of this 

instruction must be made available by the pilot upon request by the Administrator. 

4. The person authorized to give instruction under this exemption must meet the 

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 of flight time in turbine-powered agricultural type airplanes; 

or 

ii. 1,000 hours of flight time,in agricultural type airplanes which includes 

at least 100 hours of flight time in an AT -502 or AT -802/802A. 

5. Pilots who have logged at least 100 hours of flight time, with at least 10 hours in the 

preceding 12 calendar months, in an Air Tractor AT-502 need not complete the 

training requirements of Condition No.3. A record of this flight time must be made 

available by the pilot upon request by the Administrator. · 
6. A copy of this exemption must either be incorporated into the FAA -approved flight 

manual or carried on the airplane while operating under this exemption. 

·The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 5651, as amended, to 

April30, 2014, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. This letter must be attached to, and is 

a part of, Exemption No. 5651. 

Sincerely, 

Ray nd Towles 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

Service 

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