AFS-11-330-E 

July 15, 2011 

 Exemption No. 10312 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2011-0563 

Mr. Mario R. Sotolongo 

Airline Transport Pilot and Flight Instructor 

4373 Ford Road 

Ann Arbor, MI 48105 

Dear Mr. Sotolongo: 

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 Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated May 9, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for 

an exemption from § 91.109(a) and (b)(3) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 

to the extent necessary to allow you to conduct flight instruction in Beechcraft Bonanza, 

Debonair, Baron, and TravelAir airplanes equipped with a functioning, single, throwover 

control wheel. 

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 you. 

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

those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 6156 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

found that Mr. Geitz is an experienced flight instructor with many years of instruction using a 

throwover control wheel. Also, Mr. Geitz narrows the request in the petition to allow him to 

provide flight training to meet recency of experience requirements for rated pilots only. 
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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. 6156; 

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 6156 

also apply to the situation you present; and 

 a grant of exemption is in the public interest. 

Our Decision 

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

has delegated to me, I hereby grant Mario R. Sotolongo an exemption from 

14 CFR § 91.109(a) and (b)(3) to the extent necessary to allow you to conduct flight 

instruction in Beechcraft Bonanza, Debonair, Baron, and TravelAir airplanes equipped with a 

functioning, single, throwover control wheel, subject to the conditions and limitations 

described below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Operations under this exemption are limited to flights for completion of the flight 

review required by § 61.56 and for accomplishing recency of experience as 

required by § 61.57. 

2. Operations under this exemption are limited to Beechcraft Bonanza, Debonair, 

Baron, and TravelAir airplanes equipped with a functioning throwover control 

wheel and operable rudder pedals, in lieu of functioning dual controls. 

3. The pilot manipulating the controls under the terms of this exemption must be 

qualified in every respect to serve as pilot in command (PIC) of the airplane 

during the entire flight. While operating under this exemption, the pilot seated in 

the left seat must at all times serve as and remain PIC as defined in 14 CFR § 1.1. 

The PIC must agree to the provisions of this exemption. 

4. While serving as flight instructor under the terms of this exemption, Mr. 

Sotolongo must: 

a. Notwithstanding paragraph 4b below, be otherwise fully qualified to serve as 

PIC and flight instructor in the airplane involved, as required by 14 CFR 

§ 65.195(b) and (f); and 

b. Have given at least 25 hours of dual instruction in the model airplane involved. 
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5. Mr. Sotolongo, when serving as the flight instructor under the conditions of this 

exemption, and the PIC must agree that the proposed flight, under the conditions 

in evidence at the time of proposed flight, can be conducted safely. 

This exemption terminates on July 31, 2013, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John W. McGraw 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service 

Enclosure