AFS-12-478-E

October 18, 2012

 Exemption No. 10648

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2012-0811

Mr. David M. Knies

Chairman

Vital Flight, Inc.

P.O. Box 1767, 

Pompano Beach, FL 33061

Dear Mr. Knies:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. It transmits our 

decision, explains the basis for that decision, and gives you the conditions and limitations of 

the exemption, including its end date.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated July 24, 2012, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Vital Flight, Inc. (Vital Flight), a § 501(c)(3) charitable organization, for an 

exemption from § 61.113(c) Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). That exemption, 

if granted, would allow Vital Flight to reimburse its volunteer pilots for fuel costs incurred 

while conducting charitable flights. 

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any 

delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Vital Flight.

The FAA has issued grants of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to 

those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption Nos. 10019A and 10621 (see

enclosed), the FAA found that when money is exchanged for transportation, the public 

expects, and the FAA has a duty to demand, a higher level of safety for the flying public. The 

FAA believes that by requiring the petitioners to comply with the conditions and limitations of

this exemption, the FAA can ensure a higher level of safety for the individuals participating in 

these charitable flights. The FAA noted that the petitioners had proposed limitations on the 
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flights that in some cases were more stringent than those requirements found in the FAA’s air 

operator regulations in part 135. 

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, we find that:

• they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed 

Grant of Exemption Nos. 10019A and 10621;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption Nos. 

10019A and 10621 also apply to the situation you present; and 

• a grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

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

has delegated to me, I hereby grant Vital Flight Inc., an exemption from 14 CFR § 61.113(c)

to the extent necessary to allow Vital Flight to reimburse its volunteer pilots for fuel costs 

incurred in conducting charitable flights, subject to the conditions and limitations described 

below.

Conditions and Limitations 

1. The privileges of this exemption are limited to flights directly operated by Vital Flight

only. Operations where Vital Flight clients are not onboard for the purpose of 

obtaining medical care may not be operated under the terms of this exemption.

2. Vital Flight must ensure the following items are available to any representative of the 

FAA Administrator, upon request:

a. A detailed description of Vital Flight’s process for verification of pilot 

qualification and training. This process must include a means to verify pilots’

qualifications to act as pilot in command (PIC) prior to each flight;

b. Documentation showing all Vital Flight pilots’ flight experience, airman 

certificate information, and currency of FAA medical certificate;

c. Documentation from each pilot showing that at the time he/she accepts a flight 

under this exemption, he/she meets all minimum standards and appropriate 

currency requirements established by Vital Flight, part 61, and all conditions 

and limitations of this exemption; and

d. Documentation of each flight and reimbursement containing the following 

information, at a minimum:

i. Name and certificate number of the PIC;

ii. Name and identifier of the departure and arrival airports;

iii. Name of all occupants of the airplane excluding the PIC;
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iv. Date and time of departure and arrival;

v. Amount of fuel reimbursement.

e. All the documentation required under Condition No. 2 must be maintained by 

Vital Flight for a minimum of 24 calendar months.

3. All pilots operating under the terms of this exemption must possess the following 

certificates, qualifications, and aeronautical experience:

a. An instrument rating or privilege (instrument privilege relates to the airline 

transport pilot certificate) that is appropriate to the aircraft being flown;

b. For operating any single-engine piston aircraft, a minimum total time of 500

hours, with no less than 400 hours as PIC, and a minimum of 50 hours in the 

make and model of single-engine aircraft being flown;

c. For operating any multiengine aircraft, a minimum total time of 1,000 hours as 

PIC in any aircraft, a minimum of 250 hours in multiengine aircraft, and a 

minimum of 50 hours in the make and model of multiengine aircraft being 

flown;

d. For operating any single- or multiengine 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 make and model of turbine-powered 

aircraft being flown;

e. A minimum of 50 hours as PIC shall have been logged within the preceding 

12 calendar months immediately preceding the month of the flight;

f. A minimum of 12 hours logged, or 2 hours of flight training with a certificated 

flight instructor, within the preceding 3 calendar months prior to the month of 

the flight;

g. A 2nd class medical certificate (per §§ 61.23 and 61.2); 

h. Within the preceding 12 calendar months, an instrument proficiency check 

(IPC) meeting the requirements of § 61.57(d), or a flight review meeting the 

requirements found in § 61.56(a). The IPC or flight review must consist of at 

least 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training. This requirement 

can be substituted by an FAA practical test for any pilot certificate or rating.

i. A current flight review (per § 61.56(a)) in the same aircraft category, class, and 

type (if a type rating is required) being flown; 

j. Instrument currency (per § 61.57(c) or (d), as appropriate) in the same aircraft 

category, class, and type (if a type rating is required) being flown;
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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. All operations under this exemption must be in compliance with the following flight 

duty, rest, and flight time limitations:

a. No pilot may fly more than 8 hours of pilot 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 inspection of the aircraft); 

and

c. In the 24 hours preceding any flight under this exemption, the pilot must have 

had a rest period of at least 12 hours.

5. Prior to each takeoff, the PIC must ensure that all passengers have been briefed on the 

following:

a. The flight is operated under this grant of exemption and the operator is not an 

FAA-certificated commercial operator;

b. 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 for a passenger to have his or 

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

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

e. Location and means for normal and emergency egress;

f. Location of survival equipment;

g. Use of normal and emergency oxygen, if installed; and

h. Location and operation of fire extinguishers.

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

assistance of another person to exit the aircraft in case of emergency, has received a 

briefing as to the procedures to be followed if an evacuation occurs. This paragraph 

does not apply to a person who has been given a briefing before a previous leg of a 

flight in the same aircraft.

7. Vital Flight must develop and implement an initial and recurrent ground training 

program that contains all the requirements of § 135.345 except those that are not 

specifically applicable to Vital Flight’s operations. 

 
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8. Recurrent training is required for all pilots operating under the terms of this 

exemption. The annual recurrent training program must include:

a. Verification that each pilot is adequately trained, current, and proficient on all 

of the elements in Vital Flight’s initial pilot training program; and

b. Testing to determine each pilot’s aeronautical knowledge, proficiency with the 

aircraft, and knowledge of the limitations of this exemption.

9. Each aircraft operated under this exemption must have a standard airworthiness 

certificate.

10. All maintenance conducted on aircraft operated under this exemption must be 

performed by an FAA-certificated mechanic, repairman, or repair station. The aircraft 

engine, propeller, and all components must be overhauled prior to reaching the 

airframe, engine, or propeller manufacturer’s recommended time between overhauls.

11. This exemption applies to flights conducted within U.S. airspace. Vital Flight may 

exercise the relief in this exemption for overflights within the territory and airspace of 

a foreign country only with the specific permission of the foreign civil aviation 

authority. 

12. Vital Flight must continue to hold a determination from the U.S. Internal Revenue 

Service that it is a § 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organization under 

§§ 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(a)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code.

13. All pilots operating under this exemption must comply with the following 

requirements: 

a. All flights operated under this exemption must activate an IFR flight plan. The 

earliest the flight plan may be canceled is upon acceptance of a visual approach 

clearance from air traffic control;

b. For flights in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), each pilot may only 

use airports that have a functioning, published, precision approach procedure;

c. Pilots must add 100 feet to all instrument approach minimums;

d. All circling approaches at night are prohibited;

e. Pilots must add 50 percent to pilot operating handbook runway length 

performance for obstacle clearance on takeoff and landing under ambient 

conditions;

f. For IMC takeoff minimums, the pilot must use 150 percent approach landing 

minimums (Example: Baltimore-Washington International Airport minimums

are 200/1/2, then the takeoff minimums will be at least 300 feet and 3/4 statute

mile visibility); 

g. Pilots must ensure that all passengers are restrained by FAA-approved seat 

belts or a FAA-approved child safety seat at all times during the flight. The 
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only exception shall be change of seat positions, quick access to luggage, care 

and/or feeding of a child, or use of lavatory;

h. Pilots will utilize and brief passengers on sterile cockpit procedures as defined 

under § 135.100;

i. Pilots will document their weight and balance calculation prior to each flight.

14. Vital Flight must develop and implement a preflight risk assessment tool for use by the 

PIC for all flights operated under this exemption. The tool must be completed by the 

PIC before each flight and must be transmitted to Vital Flight prior to takeoff for any

flight operated under this exemption. The completed tool must be retained by Vital 

Flight for a minimum of three days. A sample risk assessment tool is available at FAA 

Information for Operators (InFO) 07015: 

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/

all_infos/media/2007/inFO07015.pdf.

This exemption terminates on October 31, 2014, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Deputy Director, Flight Standards

 Service

Enclosure