AFS

- 1 4

- 027

- E November 15, 2013

Exemption No. 10895 Regulatory Docket No. FAA

- 2013

- 0935

Mr. Kevin Tauzier

Chief Pilot Chevron Aircraft Operation 96 Runway Road Picayune, MS 39466

Dear Mr. Tauzier :

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. It transmits our decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, including the date it ends.

The Basi s for Our Decision

By letter dated October 24 , 2013 , you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

on behalf of Chevron Aircraft Operations (C hevron ) for an exemption from § 91.9(a) of

Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to allow C hevron to operate Sikorsky S

- 92A (S

- 92A) helicopters with limited exposure to engine failure during takeoff and landing while carrying up to 19 passengers between land

- based and offshore facilities or when operating between two offshor e facilities, day, night, visual flight rules, and instrument flight rules.

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 a ny delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to C hevron

.

The FAA has issued a grant of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 10507 (copy enclosed), the FAA

f

ound that operations to offshore facilities present a unique operating environment that2

requires special consideration in operations, training, and standardization, but also recognized there may be instances in which a safe forced landing may not be possi ble due to environmental or other factors. Notwithstanding , the FAA concluded the petitioners proposed operational controls were consistent with those in OpSpec H100 and was in the public interest because the use of the S

- 92A provides its passengers with safe transportation, while maintaining an efficient transportation system for the oil and gas industry.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that

—

• they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed Grant of Exemption No . 10507 ;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No . 10507 also apply to the situation you present; and

• a grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

Under the authority con tained in 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant Chevron Aircraft Operations an exemption from

14 CFR § 91.9(a) to the extent necessary to operate S

- 92A helicopters with limited exposure to engine failure during takeoff and landing while carrying up to 19 passengers between land

based and offshore facilities or when operating between two offshore facilities, day, night, visual flight rules, and instrument flight rules , subj ect to the conditions and limitat ions

described below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. This exemption is limited to operations conducted in Chevron ’s S

- 92A helicopters.

2. This exemption is limited to operations conducted between land

- based airports and offshore heliports, or operations conduc ted between two offshore heliports.

3. This exemption is not valid for operations in foreign airspace without the prior authorization of the Civil Aviation Authority with jurisdiction over that airspace.

4. Occupants of flights conducted under this exemption m ust wear personal floatation equipment whenever the aircraft is over water and the aircraft must be equipped with floats, accessible rafts, and a 406 MHz beacon.

5. Chevron must make available and provide access, upon request by the FAA, to its engine reliab ility historical data for the S

- 92As in its fleet in order to provide ongoing surveillance of engine reliability.3

6. Computations regarding the determination of the approach and departure profiles must not exceed the ICAO standard of 9 seconds of exposure to engine failure related to Performance Class 2 with limited exposure to engine failure.

7. Operations will not be conducted unless the current aircraft weight, altitude and temperature, as provided in the S

- 92A Rotorcraft Flight Manual, ensure the abilit y to climb 150 feet per minute at 1,000 feet above the takeoff surface with one engine inoperative and the remaining engine at maximum continuous one

- engine inoperative (OEI) power.

8. Chevron must comply with, in addition to other routine preflight comput ations, the procedures cited in the S

- 92A Rotorcraft Flight Manual, Part 2, Section III, Supplemental Performance Data, page III

- 1

- 50, contained in the paragraphs titled “Elevated Helideck Takeoff and Landing

– Limited Exposure

– (At Figure 3

- 22 WAT)” and t he paragraph following titled “Vertical Takeoff

– Elevated Helideck.”

9. Operations under the provisions of this exemption must be flown by two pilot crews that are qualified and current in the operation of the S

- 92A.

10. Chevron ’s approved training program m ust include provisions for training of appropriate crews on the profiles associated with a Performance Class 2 with limited exposure takeoff and arrival, including performance planning. Chevron must document the conduct and completion of that training for appropriate flight

crewmembers.

11. Proficiency in the use of the profiles described in Condition No. 10 must be demonstrated satisfactorily during recurrent evaluations required by §§ 135.293 or

135.299.

12. Chevron must establish parameters for takeoff and ar rival at helidecks for its flight data monitoring program and provide ongoing surveillance of those operations.

13. Chevron must advise all S

- 92A flight crewmembers of the provisions of this exemption, and document that notification.4

14. A copy of this exemptio n must be carried onboard each S

- 92A utilizing these provisions.

This exemption terminates on December 31, 201 5 , unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosure