AJV

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- 0005

- E February 10, 2016

Exemption No. 8255 G Regulatory Docket No. FAA

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- 16491

Mr. Law rence S. Dibble Director of Plans, Policy and Programs

U

. S

. Army Aeronautic al Services Agency 9325 Gunston Road, Suite N319 Fort Belvoir, VA 22060

Dear Mr. Dibble :

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 8255

, as amended. It expl ains the basis for our decision, describes its e ff ect, and lists the conditions

and limitations.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter pos ted to the docket November 13, 2015

, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of the Department of the Army, 2 nd Battalion, 75 th Ranger Regime nt (2 nd /75 th ) for an extension of Exemption No. 8255, as amended. That exemption from § § 105.19(a) and (b) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations allows 2 nd / 75 th to conduct certain night, unlighted parachute operations, outside special use airspace at F ort Lewis, Washington

, at an altitude of 800 feet above ground level (AGL)

.

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 exe mption.

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 detrim ental to 2 nd /75 th

.2

Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 8255 , 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 delegat ed to me, the Department of the Army, 2nd Battalion, 75 th Ranger Regiment ( 2 nd /75 th ) is granted an extension to Exemption No. 8255 for §§ 105.19(a) and (b)

that allows the 2nd/75th to con duct certain night, unlighted parachute operations, outside special use airspace at Fort Lewis, Washington, at an altitude of 800 feet above ground level (AGL) , subject to the following conditions and limitations.

Conditions and Limitations

1. This exe mption is limited to night parachute, combat readiness, training exercises

of the 2 nd /75 th located at Fort Lewis, Washington, conducted in the areas known as the Roger's Drop Zone, the center having a lat/long of 47.00.98N, 122.27.42W.

2. Each airborne training operation:

a. Must be: (i) Conducted in a flight of two or more aircraft with a dedicated observer

aboard each aircraft with the sole duty as an aerial observer ; or
(ii) Escorted by an aircraft serving as an observation platform dedicated to

su rveillance for nonparticipating traffic in the event the training operation only consists of a single jump aircraft.

b. In addition to the aerial observation, the operation must be conducted with personnel on the ground at the drop zone to conduct surv eillance for potential conflicts with nonparticipating aircraft (ground observers).

c. The operation must be conducted in such a manner as to enable the a erial and ground observers to survey fully about for nonparticipating traffic and relay the findings to all participants so operations may be terminated while nonparticipating traffic is in the area.

3. Traffic notifications from the observers shall provide the flightcrews with information about the position , direction of flight

, and speed of the observ ed nonparticipating traffic.

4. When nonparticipating traffic is in the area, the training exercise and parachute operations shall be terminated until the air traffic is no longer in the area.

5. Unlighted parachute operations may not be conducted abo ve 1,500 feet AGL and must be contained within the boundaries of the Rogers and Rogers West Drop3

Zones. This area must be established as an area of low air traffic that does not infringe upon FAA

- designated airspace areas and has been coordinated with the appropriate FAA region's Air Traffic Division and Flight Standards Division

offices.

6. Each pilot who will conduct operations for the 2 nd /75 th under this exemption must be thoroughly familiar with its provisions.

7. The holder shall advertise the appro ved training area to operators at all airports within 50 miles of the area 7 days preceding each use.

8. The holder shall provide notice through the use of Notice to Airmen ( NOTAMs ) /Special Notices disseminated at least 72 hours in advance of

scheduled exercises. The training airspace will be identified by name (if applicable) and by latitude/longitude. The NOTAMs will advise that during the course of flight planning, potential users of the operational area will be provided

with information on the time and place of the proposed unlighted parachute operations. The NOTAMs must be made available to the civil aviation community and must be capable of being disseminated among civil users of the National Airspace System.

The Effect of Our Decision

Our dec ision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 8255 , as amended, to February 28

, 20 1 9

, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/ Jodi S. McCarthy Director, Airspace Services Air Traffic Organization