Our Decision 

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

an exemption from 14 CFR § 61.113(c) to the extent necessary to allow 

reimbursement to volunteer pilots participating in this program for fuel costs 

incurred in conducting charitable flights, subject to the conditions and 

limitations described below.

1. The exemption holder must have in place the following: 

a. A structured and documented pilot registration process that has an annual 

renewal requirement and ensures that only qualified pilots who are 

registered and trained conduct charitable flights. This process must 

include a means to verify registration prior to flight; 

b. On-file documentation authenticating registered pilots’ experience, 

ratings, FAA physical, and any other information pertinent to the pilots’ 

qualifications; 

c. A system that registers the pilot’s assertion, at the time he/she accepts a 

flight to accomplish, that he/she meets all minimum standards and 

appropriate currency requirements established by the FAA and all 

conditions and limitations set forth in this exemption and will conduct the 

flight in accordance with all applicable Federal regulations; and 

d. A file of all flight and reimbursement records that must be made 

available to the FAA for viewing at a designated office site location. 

Records shall be kept a minimum of 2 years. 

2. The FAA may, at any time or place, conduct inspections of the pilot(s) and 

aircraft being flown in accordance with this exemption. 

3. All pilots must possess the following qualifications and aeronautical 

experience, as appropriate: 

a. Must hold an instrument rating or privilege (i.e., instrument privilege 

relates to the airline transport pilot certificate) that is appropriate to the 

aircraft being flown; 

b. For the operation of any single-engine piston aircraft, the pilot shall have 

a minimum total time of 500 hours, with no less than 400 hours as pilot 
in command (PIC), and a minimum of 50 hours in the specific make and 

model of single-engine aircraft being flown; 

c. For the operation of any multiengine aircraft, a minimum total time of 

1,000 hours as PIC, a minimum of 250 hours in multiengine aircraft, and 

a minimum of 50 hours in the specific make and model of multiengine 

aircraft being flown; 

d. For the operation of any turbine-powered aircraft, a minimum total time 

of 1,000 hours as PIC, a minimum of 100 hours in turbine-powered 

aircraft, and a minimum of 50 hours in the specific make and model of 

turbine-powered aircraft being flown; 

e. A minimum of 50 hours as PIC shall have been flown and logged within 

the preceding 12 calendar months immediately preceding the month of 

the flight; 

f. Minimum of 12 hours flown and logged, or 2 hours of dual flight training 

with a certificated flight instructor, within the preceding 3 calendar 

months prior to the month of the flight; 

g. Must hold a 2nd class medical certificate (per §§ 61.23(d)(2)(i) and 

61.2); 

h. Must have a current flight review (per § 61.56(a)) in the same aircraft 

category, class, and type (if a type rating is required) being flown; 

i. Shall be instrument-current (per § 61.57(c) or (d), as appropriate) in the 

same aircraft category, class, and type (if a type rating is required) being 

flown; 

j. For all operations under this exemption, the pilot must be current for day 

operations (per § 61.57 (a)) in an aircraft of the same category, class, and 

type (if a type rating is required), and 

j. Within the preceding 3 calendar months prior to the flight, the pilot(s) must 

have logged at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop in the 

same aircraft category, class, and type (if a type rating is required) being 

flown. However, this condition may be accomplished by logging at least 

three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop at night within the preceding 
3 calendar months in the same aircraft category, class, and type (if a type 

rating is required) being flown; and

k. For all operations under this exemption, the pilot must be current for 

night operations (per § 61.57 (b)) in an aircraft of the same category, 

class, and type (if a type rating is required). 

4. Flight duty, rest, and flight time limitations: 

a. No pilot may fly more than 8 hours of flight time (per § 61.1) within any 

24- consecutive-hour duty day period;

b. No pilot may perform a duty day in excess of 12 consecutive hours (a 

duty day starts when the pilot arrives at the airport and begins preparation 

for the flight and terminates upon completion of the post flight of the 

aircraft); and 

c. Once the pilot has performed 12 consecutive hours of duty, the pilot must 

rest a period of at least 12 hours before conducting another flight. 

5. Passenger and medical crew briefing requirements: Prior to each takeoff, the 

PIC must ensure that all passengers have been orally briefed on the following: 

a. The flight is being permitted under this grant of exemption and that the 

operator is not a certificated commercial operator;

b. Smoking: When, where, and under what conditions smoking is allowed;

c. Use of safety belts, shoulder harnesses, and child restraint systems: 

When, where, and under what conditions it is necessary to have his or her 

safety belt and, if installed, his or her shoulder harness fastened about 

him or her;

d. The placement of seat backs in an upright position before takeoff and 

landing;

e. Location and means for opening the passenger entry door and emergency 

exits;

f. Location of survival equipment;

g. Use of normal and emergency oxygen installed;
h. Location and operation of fire extinguishers; and

i. Prior to each takeoff, the PIC must ensure that the patient, who may need 

the assistance of another person to exit the aircraft if an emergency 

occurs, has received a briefing as to the procedures to be followed if an 

evacuation occurs.

6. Pilot training: The exemption holder must establish an initial pilot training 

program that includes the following elements. All pilots must complete this 

training program prior to conducting flights under this grant of exemption: 

a. Risk, hazard identification; 

b. Accident trends and factors for general aviation fixed wing under 12,500 

pounds; 

c. Current edition of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety 

Foundation Nall Report; 

d. High risk phases of flight—

i. Takeoff and climb;

ii. Takeoff stall/settling; 

iii. Loss of airspeed resulting in nonrecoverable stall or sink rate; 

iv. Loss of control; and 

v. Crosswinds/other conditions leading to loss of directional control; 

e. Maneuvering—

i. Stall or loss of control; and 

ii. Loss of airspeed resulting in stall/spin;

f. Descent/approach: Beginning of descent from cruise altitude to missed 

approach point or runway threshold; 

g. Stalls/spins; 

h. Loss of airspeed; 

i. Collisions with objects, terrain; 
j. Loss of engine power; 

k. Carburetor icing (if appropriate, for the aircraft the pilot is assigned to 

fly);

l. Incorrect fuel mixture; 

m. Wind gusts or wake turbulence; 

n. Landing—

i. Loss of directional control; 

ii. Crosswinds;

iii. Inadequate airspeed control; 

iv. Stalls, hard landing, short-long touchdown; 

v. Runway conditions; and 

vi. Runway contamination;

o. Flight planning and decisionmaking—

i. Flight planning; 

ii. Improper pre-flight planning;

iii. Insufficient fuel reserves; 

iv. Inadequate in-flight monitoring of ground speed; 

v. Systems operation; 

vi. Improper operation of fuel system; 

vii. Fuel contamination;

viii. Improper fueling; 

ix. Weather;

x. Continued visual flight rules into instrument meteorological 

conditions; 

xi. Deficient instrument flight rules (IFR) technique;
xii. Failure to follow appropriate IFR procedures; 

xiii. Descending below minimum descent altitude on approach;

xiv. Thunderstorm; 

xv. Flying too close or penetrating turbulence; 

xvi. High winds; 

xvii. Mountainous terrain;

xviii. Icing; 

xix. Loss of lift and performance; and 

xx. Instrument malfunction;

p. Other factors –

i. Single pilot IFR; 

ii. Night operations at unfamiliar airports; 

iii. Mission mentality; 

iv. Pressure to complete flight operations; 

v. Distractions; 

vi. Missed approach/go around; 

vii. Incomplete/stale weather briefings; 

viii. Communications processes, decisions, and coordination, to include 

communication with air traffic control and passengers; 

ix. Workload and time management; 

x. Situational awareness; 

xi. Effects of fatigue on performance, avoidance strategies and 

countermeasures; 

xii. Effects of stress and stress reduction strategies; and 

xiii. Aeronautical decisionmaking and judgment. 
7. Recurrent training: An annual recurrent training program must ensure:

a. The pilot remains adequately trained, current, and proficient regarding all 

of the elements contained in the exemption holder’s training program;

b. Recurrent training must include testing to determine the crewmember’s 

knowledge of the aircraft and the exemption holder’s program; and 

c. Recurrent flight training sufficient to satisfactorily complete the recurrent 

proficiency flight check. 

8. Aircraft requirements: Each aircraft must have a standard airworthiness 

certificate. 

9. Aircraft maintenance: All maintenance must be performed by a certificated 

mechanic, repairman, or repair station. Aircraft components must be 

overhauled prior to reaching manufacturer’s recommended time between 

overhaul. 

10.Areas of operations: All flights must remain within domestic United States 

airspace. 

11.All pilots must adhere to the following best practices policies of the exemption 

holder which are:

a. In instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) conditions, each pilot 

must plan to land at airport with a precision approach; 

b. Each pilot must add 100 feet to all instrument approach minimums; 

c. For night landings, the pilot shall use runways with functional vertical 

guidance (visual approach slope indicator, precision approach path 

indicator, instrument flight system); 

d. Pilot will not attempt circling approaches at night; 

e. Add 50 percent to pilot operating handbook runway length performance 

to clear the obstacle for takeoff and landing under ambient conditions; 

f. For IMC takeoff minimums, the pilot must apply 50 percent above the 

approach landing minimums (example: Baltimore-Washington 

International Airport minimums 200/1/2, then the takeoff minimums will 

be at least 300 feet and 3/4-statute-mile visibility);
g. If destination is unfamiliar, the pilot must obtain briefing from a pilot or 

fixed- base operator with experience with that airport prior to flight; 

h. Pilots are requested to use nonpunitive report process to communicate 

any and all situations when safety of flight was compromised;

i. Pilots are requested to provide feedback on weather, airports, air traffic 

control, other pilots, etc., that could compromise safety for future flights;

j. The pilot must ensure that all passengers are restrained by FAA-approved 

seatbelts or FAA-approved child safety seat. The only exception shall be 

change of seat positions, quick access to luggage, care and/or feeding of 

child, or use of lavatory;

k. Pilots will consult all available weather products, wind sock, etc., to 

verify departure will be from the correct runway relative to wind 

conditions;

l. Pilots will utilize computer devices and reading material only as these are 

pertinent to safe operation of the flight and will refrain from any and all 

distractions that could compromise safety of flight; and 

m. Pilots will utilize and brief passengers that a sterile cockpit condition 

exists during taxi and takeoff until reaching cruise altitude and also 

during descent from cruise altitude, descent, approach, landing, and taxi 

to ramp. 

12.Pilots must complete and adhere to the Go/No-Go checklist, patient, passenger, 

co-pilot release forms, and post-flight report. The Go/No-Go checklist will 

consist of at least the following information:
Pilot Go/No-Go Checklist

Pilot Excellent OK Marginal Poor

 Physical health    

 Mental health    

 Prepared/Confident    

 Well rested    

Aircraft Excellent OK Marginal Poor

 Maintenance    

 Fuel reserve    

 Pre-flight    

 Equipment sufficient for the 

flight conditions    

 Weight and balance Takeoff weight/CG

Landing weight/CG

Weather Excellent OK Marginal Poor

 Current and forecast weather

conditions    

 Departure    

 Destination    

 Return    

 Explain if Marginal or Poor:

Other YES NO

 Child safety seat  

 Passengers briefed  

 Pre-departure weather briefing  

 Verify departing on correct 

runway

 

 Release forms signed  

Mission #

Pilot Signature Date

Note: This completed checklist must be provided to the exemption holder or left 

with a responsible person, such as a fixed-base operator, prior to conducting a 

flight under the exemption. The completed checklist must be retained for 3 days.
13.Flight locating procedures required: The pilot must file and activate an IFR 

flight plan for each flight. The flight plan may be canceled upon acceptance of a 

visual approach clearance from air traffic control.

This exemption terminates on XXXXX XX, 20XX, unless sooner superseded or 

rescinded.