AFS-16-4366-E 

March 24, 2016 

 Exemption No. 5305K 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2000-8419 

Major Andrew B. Krebs 

Chief of Flight Directives 

HQ AFFSA/XOF 

6500 South MacArthur Blvd, Building 4 

Oklahoma City, OK 73169-6918 

Dear Major Krebs: 

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

Exemption No. 5305, as amended. It transmits our decision, explains its basis, and gives you 

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

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated November 4, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of the Department of the Air Force (USAF) for an extension of and amendment to 

Exemption No. 5305, as amended. That exemption from § 91.209 (a) (1) and (b) of Title 14, 

Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows the USAF to conduct counter-narcotics aircrew 

flight training operations in support of drug law enforcement and drug traffic interdiction, 

without lighted aircraft position or anti-collision lights. 

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 amendment to the exemption 

would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to the 

USAF. 
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Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 5305, 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. §§ 106(f), 40113 and 44701, which the 

FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I grant the Department of the Air Force (USAF) an 

exemption from 14 CFR § 91.209 (a)(1) and (b) to conduct counter-narcotics aircrew flight 

training operations in support of drug law enforcement and drug traffic interdiction, without 

lighted aircraft position or anti-collision lights, subject to the conditions and limitations listed 

below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. The pilot of an aircraft engaged in operations herein is not relieved from the 

requirements of § 91.113 to see and avoid other aircraft. 

2. Operations under this exemption are authorized only to the extent necessary for the 

training of pilots in counter-narcotics activity. 

3. Only pilots in the Department of the Air Force counter-narcotics training aircraft are 

authorized to operate their aircraft without lighted position lights. Any other aircraft 

used by the Department of the Air Force as spotter aircraft or primary radar 

surveillance aircraft in conjunction with the training exercise must be operated in 

compliance with § 91.209 (a) and (b). 

4. The petitioner shall ensure that all pilots and crewmembers who will conduct airborne 

counter-narcotics training operations are thoroughly briefed and have a complete 

understanding of the conditions and limitations of this exemption. 

5. The petitioner shall ensure that all aircraft used to conduct counter-narcotics training 

operations under this exemption are equipped with a Mode C transponder and that the 

transponder is operated on the appropriate code or as assigned by Air Traffic Control 

(ATC). 

6. Training operations authorized under this exemption shall be conducted within ATC 

assigned airspace (ATCAA) in accordance with letters of agreement drawn between 

the Department of the Air Force and respective ATCAA controlling facilities. 
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The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 5305, as amended, to April 30, 

2018, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

//s// 

John Barbagallo 

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service