AJV-15-311-E

February 4, 2015

 

Exemption No. 10724B

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2004-17087

Major Brian D. Chandler

Chief, Combat Airspace Management

Joint Special Operations Command

Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group

Fort Bragg, NC 28307

Dear Major Chandler:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend and amend Exemption

No. 10724, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists 

the revised conditions and limitations.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated January 8, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) for an extension and amendment of 

Exemption No. 10724, as amended to include unlighted aircraft and airfield operations. That 

exemption from §§ 105.17 and 105.19 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations allows JSOC 

forces to conduct unlighted night parachute operations from sunset to sunrise, through clouds, 

outside special airspace, at and below 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL). The operations 

are to be conducted in Class C, D, and E airspace at airports closed to nonparticipating air 

traffic. 

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 exemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested amendment of the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to JSOC.
2

Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 10724, 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 delegated to me, Joint Special Operations Command is granted an 

extension and amendment to the exemption from §§ 105.17 and 105.19 that allows JSOC 

forces to conduct unlighted aircraft and aircraft operations from sunset to sunrise, through 

clouds, outside special use airspace, at and below 1,500 feet AGL, subject to the following 

conditions and limitations. 

Conditions and Limitations

1. This exemption is limited to night parachute, combat readiness, training exercises of 

the JSOC conducted over or onto the airports listed in Condition No. 8b. Night 

parachute operations include unlighted parachutist, aircraft, and identified airports 

as listed in Condition No. 8b.

2. Each airborne training operation:

a. Must be:

(i) Conducted in a flight of two or more aircraft with a dedicated observer 

on duty, who is not a pilot, aboard each aircraft (non-pilot airborne 

observers); or

(ii) Escorted by an aircraft serving as an observation platform dedicated to 

surveillance for non-participating traffic (pilot airborne observer) in the 

event the training operation only consists of a single concept from which 

parachutists jump.

b. Conducted with personnel on the ground at the drop zone to conduct 

surveillance for potential conflicts with non-participating aircraft (ground 

observers); and

c. Conducted in such a manner as to enable the airborne and ground observers 

to survey fully about for non-participating traffic and relay the findings to all 

participants so operations may be terminated while non-participating traffic 

is in the area.

3. Traffic notifications from the observers shall provide the flight crew with 

information about the position and speed of the observed non-participating traffic.

4. When non-participating 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 and aircraft operations may not be conducted above 1,500 feet 

AGL and must be contained within the boundaries of the airport designated as a 

potential and previously utilized zone as listed in Condition No. 8. This area must 
3

be established as an area of low air traffic that does not infringe upon FAAdesignated airspace areas and has been coordinated with the appropriate FAA 

Service Center System Support Group and region Flight Standards Division offices. 

6. In addition, unlighted parachute and aircraft operations, through clouds, may be 

conducted only at airports listed in Condition No. 8 and only as necessary to meet 

the requirements of combat readiness training by members of the JSOC.

7. Each pilot who will conduct operations for the JSOC under this exemption must be 

thoroughly familiar with its provisions.

8. The holder shall advertise the proposed training operations to operators at all 

airports within 50 miles of the area for 60 days preceding the initial use and 7 days 

preceding each subsequent use.

a. Airports to be used for the drop zones shall be closed by Notice to Airmen 

(NOTAM) to non-participating traffic. The tower shall remain appropriately 

staffed during the unlighted parachute, aircraft, and airfield operations to 

ensure that non-participating traffic remain excluded and clear of the 

airspace to be used.

b. The following airports are authorized for use with prior permission and 

agreement with the airport management, coordinated with FAA Service 

Center System Support Group and Flight Standards offices.

1. Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington

2. Gray Army Airfield, Washington

3. Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Washington

4. Grant County/Moses Lake, Washington

5. Great Falls, Montana

6. Pendleton, Oregon

7. Klamath Falls, Oregon

8. Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho

9. Boise, Idaho

10. Indian Springs, Nevada

11. Roswell, New Mexico

12. Biggs Army Air Field, Texas

13. Ft. Campbell Army Air Field, Kentucky

14. Lawson Army Air Field, Georgia

15. Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia

16. Warner Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia
4

17. Moody Air Force Base, Georgia

18. North Airfield, South Carolina

19. McGhee Tyson, Tennessee

20. McEntire Air National Guard Station, South Carolina

21. North Airfield Auxiliary, South Carolina

22. Duke Field, Florida

23. Hurlburt Field, Florida

24. Avon Park, Florida

25. Cecil Field, Florida

26. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

27. Powell Drop Zone, Washington

28. Wendover, Utah

29. Michael Army Airfield, Utah

30. Barstow Daggett, California

31. China Lake Naval Air Station, California

32. Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida

9. The holder must provide notice through the use of NOTAMs/Special Notice 

disseminated at least 72 hours in advance of scheduled exercises. The training 

airspace will be identified by name (if applicable) or 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

This exemption terminates on April 30, 2018, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

Franklin A. Black

Deputy Director, Mission Support Services