July 29, 2011

Mr. Robert Collings

Executive Director The Collings Foundation

P.O. Box 248 Stow, MA 01775

Dear Mr. Collings:

This is in response to your December 22, 2010 letter (FAA Docket No. FAA-2001-11089) petitioning the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of the Collings Foundation (Collings) for reconsideration of Denial of Ex emption No. 6540. Your request is to remove limitations imposed by exemption 6540K, specifically the prohibition of aerobatics and manipulation of flight controls by non-flight crewmembers. The proposed removal of limitations, if granted, would allow Collings’ pilots in command to perform aerobatic maneuvers while passengers are onboard its aircraft and allow hands-on demonstration of flight characteristics during cruise conditions at or above 1,000 feet above ground level.

On March 23, 2011, the FAA issued a moratorium on the issuance of Living History Flight Experience (LHFE) exemptions. A copy of the Federal Register notice is enclosed for your

information.

This moratorium provides the FAA a needed opportunity to reevaluate the LHFE policy and the conditions of issuance of these exemptions. During this moratorium, industry will be given an opportunity to provide input to shape the agency’s revised LHFE policy. The FAA plans to seek industry input on the evolution of LHFE operations in the private sector, which have raised public safety and policy concerns. The FAA plans to hold a public meeting, which will be announced in the Federal Register, to give industry a venue to provide input that will be considered as the agency reevaluates and revises the LHFE policy

Current LHFE exemption holders can continue to operate under their current exemption. If the exemption is due to expire during the moratorium, the FAA will accept and process petitions to extend current exemptions in accordance with the established regulatory exemption process. If a change is required (i.e., removal of an aircraft) the FAA will accept these changes in accordance with the regulatory process. Additionally, during the moratorium, as petitioners request extension to their LHFE exemption, the FAA will add the following clarifying limitations to all LHFE exemptions to ensure consistent application of current LHFE policy:2

1. Passengers are prohibited from manipulating the aircraft flight controls when the aircraft is operated under the LHFE exemption; and

2. No aerobatics may be performed in the aircraft while operating under the LHFE exemption.

Finally, the FAA will begin its evaluation of the current LHFE exemption policies and practices, to include evaluation of safety to the paying members of the public who have an expectation of aircraft safety and who may not understand the inherent risks associated with such flight. The FAA expects to publish a new proposed LHFE policy for comment on or before September 30, 2012.

No new LHFE exemptions will be issued during this moratorium nor will any aircraft be added to existing exemptions. Consideration of removing conditions and limitations, including those regarding passengers manipula ting the flight controls and performing aerobatics will be considered during the overall reevaluation that will include industry and public input. Accordingly, no further action will be taken on your petition.

Sincerely,

/s/

John W. McGraw Acting Director, Flight Standards

Service

Enclosure