May 5, 2015 Exemption No. 11474 Regulatory Docket No. FAA

- 20 10

- 1 227

Mr. William Gant Training Center Manager SimCom International , Inc. 7860 East McClain Drive
, Suite 1 Scottsdale, A Z 85260

Dear Mr. Gant :
This letter is to inform you that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant s your request for exemption. This letter transmits our decision, explains its basis, and describes the exemption’s conditions and limitations, including the date the exemption expires

.
The Basis for Our De cision By letter dated February 13, 2015
, you petitioned the FAA on behalf of SimCom International, Inc. (SimCom) , air agency certificate number Q8PX038K
, fo r an extension of Exemption No. 10 20 9 A

. 1 That exemption granted relief from §§ 91.9(a) and 91.531( a)(1) & (2) of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations ( 14 C FR )
, to the extent neces sary to allow SimCom and operat ors of Cessna CE

- 500, 550, 552, and 560 model airplanes to operate those models without a second

- in

- command (SIC) pilot, provided those ope rators received training and testing from SimCom. The training and testing was performed under SimCom’s part 142 training center air agency certificate. Although you requested an extension of Exemption No.10209 A , that exemption expired on February 28 , 20 1 5

. W e are therefore issuing SimCom a new exemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition in the Federal Register beca use the requested extension of the exemption would not set a precedent, and any del ay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to SimCom

. You also indicate in your petition that there has been no change in the conditions underlying the public interest and safety findings that formed the basis for Exemption No. 10209A.

1 A copy of Exemption No. 10209A is enclosed.2

The FAA h as granted exemptions to allow single

- pilot operations of Cessna Citation model 500 (CE

- 500) aircraft since 1984. 2 As we describe in that exemption and others, 3 the Cessna Citation model 500 (CE

- 500) series airplane was initial ly type

- certificated under p art 25, requir ing operation by two pilots, and some aircraft were later type

- certificated under part 23
, for single

- pilot operation. Some CE

- 500 airplanes type certificated under part 23 and part 25

are operationally similar

. In light of these facts, the FAA has determined in prior exemption s t hat permit ting single

- pilot operations of CE

- 500 airplanes type

- certificated under part 25 would meet an equivalent level of safety , and furthermore would be in the public interest because affected operators would ha ve increased operating flexibility and therefore reduced economic burdens. In addition, a lthough we grant this exemption to SimCom, a Simcom

trained pilot must comply with the conditions and limitations below whenever he or she operates a CE

- 500 aircraft without a second

- in

- command.

As with our prior exemptions of §§ 91.9(a) and 91.531(a)(1) & (2) , it is necessary to attach certain conditions and limitations. In an effort t o standardize the relief provided to similarly situated parties, t he FAA amend s the conditions a nd limitations previously provided to SimCom through Exemption No. 10209 A

. A nd a lthough the conditions and limitations attached here are not a substantial change from our prior exemption s , all users should thoroughly review the revised conditi ons and limitations. The changes from SimCom’s prior conditions and limitations, previously attached to Exemption No. 10209A, are described below:

We amend Conditi on/ Limitation No. 8 to require an applicant seeking to obtain or renew a single

- pilot auth orization under this exemption to satisfactorily complete a proficiency check within 30 days rather than the initially required 10 days.

We amend Condition/ Limitation No. 12 to require any SimCom flight instructor providing flight training under this exem ption to satisfy the SimCom trainee requirements of Condition/ Limitation No. 5 (a),(b),&(c), including the requirement to have completed SimCom’s FAA

- approved training program

. Previously
, Condition/Limitation No. 12 required SimCom flight instructors to m eet the curriculum requirements of Condition/ Limitation No. 6. This language may have caused confusion, because we effectively required a person to satisfy requirements describing a curriculum. This change therefore clarifies that any SimCom instructor o perating under this exemption must complete the appropriate SimCom training course, and separately that the course must be conducted in accordance with the curriculum requirements of Condition/Limitation No. 6.

We remove Condition / Limitation No. 18 becau se it is not pertinent to SimCom

. This deletion requires us to renumber Condition s and Limitation s Nos. 19, 20, 21, and 22 as Condition s and Limitation s Nos. 18, 19, 20, and 21, respectively , in this exemption

.

2 See Exemption No. 4050 (copy enclosed)

. 3 See Exemption No. 9899, as amended; Exemption No. 7487, as amended; and Summary Grant of Exem ption No. 6480, as amended (copies enclosed ).3

We amend Condition/Limitation No. 20 , previ ously Condition/Limitation No. 21
, to clarify our original intent and standardize the relief with similarly granted exemptions

. The changes are nonsubstantive.

We add a new Condition/ Limitation No. 2 2
, to ensure pilots operating under this exemption do so only in aircraft configured for operation by a single pilot seated in the left pilot seat.

We add a new Condition / Limitation No. 2 3
, to ensure the approved training course authorized by this exemption may not be conducted under any business name other t han SimCom

. Lastly, we add a new Condition/ Limitation No. 2 4
, to limit this exemption to operations within the United States. If SimCom wishes to operate under this exemption outside the United States, SimCom must include a specific request in its petiti on for exemption and provide the FAA with a reason for this use, in accordance with 14 CFR § 11.

Our Decision Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. § § 106(f), 40113 and 44701
, which the FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant SimCom In ternational , Inc. an exemption to the extent necessary to allow SimCom and operators of Cessna CE

- 500, 550, 552, and 560 model airplanes to operate those models without a second

- in

- command (SIC) pilot, provided those operators received training and testin g from SimCom , subject to the conditions and limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. This exemption applies to pilots operating Cessna Citation model 500, 550, S550, 552, and 560 airplanes who ha ve successfully completed SimCom ’s approved single

- pilot authorization course and complied with all of the terms of this exemption.

2. This exemption is effective for the conduct of the required training and checking only if SimCom ’s single

- pilot training program receives and maintains approval under part 142 from the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) that has jurisdictional authority over SimCom ’s part 142 training center certificate.

3. This exemption is effective only if it is listed in SimCom ’s training specifications, paragraph A005.

4. This e xemption applies to only operations conducted under part 91.

5. Each pilot conducting single

- pilot operations under the terms of this exemption
must

—4

a. C omplete SimCom ’s FAA

- approved part 142 CE

- 500 single

- pilot curriculum before conducting such operations;

b. Hol d an airline transport pilot certificate with a CE

- 500 type rating or a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane instrument rating and CE

- 500 type rating before entering SimCom ’s part 142 CE

- 500 single

- pilot curriculum;

c. Have logged at least 1,000 hour s of total pilot flight time, including at least 50 hours of night flight time; 75 hours of instrument flight time, 40 hours of which are in actual instrument meteorological conditions; and 500 hours as pilot in command (PIC), second in command ( SIC ) , or b oth, in turbine

powered airplanes;

d. Not perform any circling instrument approaches to minimums of less than 200 feet and 1 mile above the published minimums until after completing 100 hours of single

- pilot flight experience in CE

- 500 series airplanes;

e. Not perform any straight

- in instrument approaches to minimums of less than 100 feet and one

- half statute mile visibility above the published minimums until after completing 100 hours of single

- pilot flight experience in CE

- 500 series airplanes;
f. Use a boom micr ophone; and

g. Use a fully functioning autopilot that is controllable about three axes and capable of approach coupling.

6. The CE

- 500 single

- pilot initial authorization and authorization renewal curriculum must include

––

a. Ground instruction appropriate to the CE

- 500 airplane given by a SimCom part 142 instructor (designated in accordance with SimCom ’s approved procedures) that covers at least the following aeronautical knowledge areas:

i. Safe and efficient operation of airplanes;

ii. Weight and balance computations;

iii. Us e of performance charts;

iv. Significance and effects of exceeding airplane performance limitations;

v. Principles and functions of airplane systems;

vi. Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations; and5

vii. Night and high

- altitude operations.

b. Flight instruction appro priate to the CE

- 500 airplane given by a SimCom part 142 instructor (designated in accordance with SimCom ’s approved procedures) that covers at least the following areas of operation:

i. Preflight preparation;

ii. Preflight inspection and procedures;

iii. Taxiing;

iv. Nor mal and crosswind takeoffs and departures;

v. In

- flight maneuvers including configuration changes, approaches to stalls, and steep turns;

vi. Simulated powerplant failure (actual powerplant failure if accomplished in a flight simulator);

vii. Instrument procedures;

viii. Pr ecision and nonprecision approaches;

ix. Missed approaches;

x. Landings and approaches to landings;

xi. Normal and crosswind landings;

xii. Landing with a simulated powerplant failure (actual powerplant failure if accomplished in a flight simulator);

xiii. Normal and abnormal p rocedures;

xiv. Emergency procedures; and

xv. Post

- flight procedures.

7. The instruction required in Condition No. 6b may be completed in an approved flight simulator, qualified as

––

a. A Level A or B flight simulator, provided the applicant satisfactorily accomplishes a s part of the training program the following in

- flight maneuvers and procedures as sole manipulator of the controls in a CE

- 500 series airplane:6

i. Exterior preflight inspection;

ii. Taxiing;

iii. Normal and crosswind takeoffs (minimum of three);

iv. Normal and crosswind approaches and landings (minimum of three);

v. Landing from a precision approach;

vi. Missed approach

vii. Approach and landing with a simulated powerplant failure;

viii. Landing from a circling approach; and

ix. Landing from a no flap or nonstandard flap approach.

b. A Level C or D flight simulator provided the applicant has performed at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop as the sole manipulator of the flight controls in the CE

- 500 series airplane within the preceding 90 days.

8. An applicant seeking to obtain or renew a single

- pilot authorization under this exemption must

––

a. Satisfactorily complete SimCom ’s FAA

- approved part 142 single

- pilot curriculum;

b. Satisfactorily complete the curriculum’s required qualification module, consisting of a stand

- alone proficienc y check in either a CE

- 500 series airplane, an appropriately qualified and approved flight simulator, or a combination thereof;

c. Satisfactorily complete this proficiency check:

i. Within 30 days of completing the training; and

ii. Under the supervision of an appro priately rated FAA inspector or SimCom Training Center Evaluator (TCE) who is qualified and authorized to conduct either § 61.58 proficiency checks or type rating practical tests in CE

- 500 series flight simulators or airplanes, as appropriate.

d. Satisfactori ly complete all tasks listed in the Airline Transport Pilot and Aircraft Type Rating Practical Test Standards that are required for an initial CE

- 500 type rating; and7

e. Satisfactorily perform all maneuvers and procedures as a single pilot during the entire p roficiency check. Training to proficiency during the check is not permitted, and failure of any maneuver shall result in failure of the proficiency check.

9. The circling approach requirement must be accomplished in an airplane or in a simulator that is quali fied and approved in SimCom ’s training specifications for the circling approach task.

10. Until the circling approach task has been satisfactorily demonstrated to an FAA inspector or FAA

- designated examiner in an airplane or in a simulator that is qualified

an d approved for the circling approach task

––

a. The applicant’s records will be annotated with the statement, “Demonstration of circling approach was not accomplished” ; and

b. The applicant must not perform circling approaches as the PIC when weather conditions a re less than the weather minimums for visual flight rules.

11. A person who previously has received a single

- pilot authorization in a Cessna Citation model 500, 550, S550, 552, or 560 airplane must complete SimCom ’s FAA

- approved part 142 single

- pilot differenc es training course to obtain a single

- pilot authorization for a different Cessna Citation model.

12. All flight training conducted in accordance with this exemption must be given by a flight instructor employed by SimCom who also meets the requirements of C ond ition and L imitation No. 5 (a), (b), and (c) of this exemption.

13. A person seeking to obtain a single

- pilot authorization must satisfactorily complete ground and flight training through SimCom ’s FAA

- approved part 142 single

- pilot curriculum
, and must receive training on the differences between the Cessna Citation model represented by the simulator used for training and checking and the Cessna Citation model for which single

- pilot authorization is requested.

14. A single

- pilot authorization will be valid for 12 cal endar months. A person who renews a single

- pilot authorization in the calendar month before or after the calendar month in which it is due is considered to have renewed the single

- pilot authorization when due.
15. Successful completion of the p roficiency check used in SimCom ’s FAA

- approved part 142 single

- pilot initial authorization and authorization renewal training curriculum identified in Condition No. 6 satisfies the requirements of the PIC proficiency check required by 14 CFR § 61.58.
16. Each CE

- 500 series ai rplane operated under this exemption must have the following equipment installed and operational:8

a. An autopilot with approach coupling capability ;

b. A flight director system;

c. A boom microphone; and

d. A transponder “ident” switch on the pilot’s control wheel.

17. Si mCom must provide a copy of this exemption to each person who is authorized to operate under this exemption.

18. Each person must carry a copy of this exemption and a record from SimCom documenting compliance with its training and checking conditions a board t he airplane when he or she is operating under the terms of the exemption.

19. Upon request, SimCom must provide any representative of the FAA Administrator with an analysis of training and checking operations conducted under this exemption with respect to prog ram failure rates, extra training time required, accident and incident data, and any known problem areas.
20. SimCom must maintain records and make them available, when requested, to any representative of the FAA Administrator. These records must include all i nformation required by § 142.73 and

—

a. The dates of training enrollment and completion for each trainee who enrolls in

a SimCom single

- pilot curriculum ; b. The name and number of additional training hours needed by those appliciants who require s more flight tr aining than prescribed in SimCom ’s CE

- 500 single

pilot curriculum in order to pass the initial authorization or authorization renewal ;

c. The name of each pilot who failed to complete SimCom ’s CE

- 500 single

- pilot curriculum satisfactorily or withdrew from the course and along with the reason(s) for the withdrawal; and
d. The name, certificate number, and address of each person who is authorized to operate under this exemption following satisfactory completion of SimCom ’s CE

- 500 single

- pilot course.

21. No person may provide training nor may any person receive training while passengers are aboard any aircraft operating for the purpose of meeting the training or checking requirements of this exemption.

22. This exemption is valid only for aircraft configured for operation by a single pilot seated in the left pilot seat. The privileges of this exemption are prohibited for any9

aircraft with the landing gear lever positioned anywhere to the right of the center of the aircraft.

23. The approved training curriculum authorized by thi s exemption may not be conducted under any business name other than SimCom

. This exemption is not valid for operations outside the United States.

The Effect of Our Decision
Th is terminates on May 3 1 , 201 7 , unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincer ely,

/s/ Michael J. Zenkovich Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service