AFS-12-466-E

November 8, 2012

 Exemption No. 10563A

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2012-0159

Mr. Robert Collings

Executive Director

The Collings Foundation

137 Barton Road

Stow, MA 01775

Dear Mr. Collings:

This letter is to inform you that we have amended Exemption No. 10563. It explains the basis 

for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the conditions and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision

On June 21, 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued Exemption No. 10563 

to The Collings Foundation (Collings). That exemption from § 91.315 of Title 14, Code of 

Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows Collings to conduct training flights in Boeing B-17 

Flying Fortress (N93012), North American B-25 Mitchell (N3476G), and North American 

P-51 Mustang (N251MX) for compensation or hire. In further review, the FAA has initiated 

an amendment to the conditions and limitations of this exemption.

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

in the Federal Register because the FAA initiated amendment to the exemption would not set 

a precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Collings.

Our Decision

The FAA has made some relieving changes to the conditions and limitations of Exemption 

No. 10563 that we feel will maintain an equivalent level of safety to operations that are 

compliant with all the requirements of part 91. To that end, in Condition Nos. 3, 4, 8, 9, and 
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10, we reduced the chief instructor, flight instructor and student qualification requirements. 

We also removed some of the documentation requirements for the training and testing under 

the exemption (formerly, Condition No. 12). The exemption now permits two qualified pilottrainees aboard aircraft during training flights. While the relief granted does not change 

substantially, you should review these amendments. 

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

has delegated to me, I hereby grant The Collings Foundation an exemption from 

14 CFR § 91.315 to the extent necessary to allow Collings to conduct training flights in 

certain limited category aircraft for compensation or hire, subject to the conditions and 

limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations 

1. This exemption applies only to the aircraft listed below. All of these aircraft, when 

used for flight instruction under this exemption, must be in the operational control 

of Collings.

a. Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, N93012;

b. North American B-25 Mitchell, N3476G; and

c. North American P-51 Mustang, N251MX.

2. The privileges of this exemption are limited to flight training intended for the 

purpose of recurrent pilot training, proficiency, or training for an FAA certificate, 

rating, or authorization.

3. Persons receiving flight training under this exemption must hold at least a private 

pilot certificate with applicable category and class ratings. Persons receiving flight 

instruction in the B-17 or B-25 must meet the second-in-command (SIC) 

requirements of § 61.55.

4. The privileges of this exemption may only be exercised under the auspices of a

training manual that identifies specific syllabi for all ground and flight training 

activities conducted for each aircraft. The exemption holder must provide all 

students with a copy of the appropriate syllabi prior to conducting training. The 

training manual must also contain the following information:

a. A syllabus of each training activity under this exemption for each aircraft. 

b. A description of operational limitations for each aircraft used for flight training 

under this exemption.

c. A requirement that pilots receiving instruction under this exemption must log 

the flight time in a pilot logbook or training record. Each entry must cite the 

appropriate Collings syllabus and lesson taught during that flight.
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d. The training manual must identify the name and contact information for the 

individual acting as chief instructor for Collings’ operations under this 

exemption. The individual named as chief instructor must meet all the 

following qualifications:

i. Hold a commercial pilot certificate or airline transport pilot certificate 

with instrument, category, and class ratings for all aircraft operated 

under this exemption. 

ii. Hold a certificated flight instructor (CFI) certificate with appropriate 

category and class ratings.

5. The following documents must be provided by the exemption holder to the FSDO 

with geographic responsibility for the airport where flight training will be 

conducted, and must be provided to any representative of the FAA Administrator 

upon request:

a. A copy of the current exemption;

b. A copy of the Collins’ training manual, and;

c. The qualifications of each instructor conducting training under the terms of the 

exemption.

6. Collings must maintain its B-17 in accordance with the:

a. Maintenance requirements as specified in the B-17 type specification sheet, as 

amended;

b. FAA-approved maintenance inspection program that meets the requirements of 

§ 91.409(e), (f)(4), and (g); and

c. B-17 military technical manuals.

7. Collings must maintain its B-25 in accordance with the:

a. Maintenance requirements as specified in its B-25 operating limitations, as 

amended;

b. FAA-approved maintenance inspection program that meets the scope and 

content of § 91.409(e), (f)(4), and (g); and

c. B-25 military technical manuals.

8. Collings must maintain its P-51 in accordance with the:

a. Maintenance requirements as specified in its P-51 operating limitations, as 

amended;
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b. FAA-approved maintenance inspection program that meets the requirements of 

§ 91.409(a) and (b); and

c. P-51 military technical manuals.

9. The person providing instruction in the B-17 and B-25 must:

a. Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate with an aircraft multiengine land

rating, an airplane instrument rating, the appropriate type rating, and (CFI) 

certificate with airplane multiengine rating;

b. Have at least a total of 1,500 hours of aeronautical flight experience, including 

25 hours as pilot-in-command in the type aircraft; 25 takeoffs and 25 landings 

in the type aircraft; and

c. Have accomplished within the previous 90 days, three takeoffs and three 

landings to a full stop in the B-17 or B-25, as applicable. 

10. The person providing instruction in the P-51 must:

a. Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land

rating and certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate with airplane singleengine rating;

b. Have at least a total of 1,500 hours of aeronautical flight experience, including 

25 hours as pilot-in-command in the type aircraft; 25 takeoffs and 25 landings 

in a P-51; and have accomplished within the previous 90 days, three takeoffs 

and three landings to a full stop in any P-51 aircraft. 

11. The exemption holder must inform anyone receiving flight instruction under this 

exemption that its aircraft hold only a limited airworthiness certificate, the 

significance of the airworthiness certificate as compared to a standard airworthiness 

certificate, and that the FAA has authorized this flight under a grant of exemption 

from the requirements of § 91.315. The explanation of the significance of a limited 

airworthiness certificate compared to a standard airworthiness certificate must 

include at least the following information:

a. The FAA has not established nor has it approved limited category 

airworthiness certificated aircraft manufacturing standards. In contrast, 

standard category airworthiness certificated aircraft are manufactured to FAA

approved standards, including standards addressing the design of the aircraft 

and life-limited parts;

b. Limited category airworthiness certificated aircraft are issued when the FAA 

finds the aircraft—

i. Has been previously issued a limited category type certificate and the 

aircraft conforms to that type certificate; and
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ii. To be in a good state of preservation and repair and is in a safe 

operating condition.

c. Standard category airworthiness certificates are issued for an aircraft when the 

FAA finds the—

i. Aircraft has been built and maintained in accordance with that aircraft’s 

type certification standards as established by the FAA; and

ii. Aircraft’s inspection and maintenance requirements are in compliance 

with the applicable Federal Aviation Regulations.

12. The exemption holder must notify the jurisdictional FSDO by written report, 

electronic mail, or facsimile, of any of the following occurrences within 24 hours. 

For the purpose of this section, “during flight” or “in-flight” means the period from 

the moment the aircraft leaves the surface of the earth on takeoff until it touches 

down on landing. 

a. Any of the following in-flight occurrences:

i. Each in-flight fire in any system or area that requires activation of any 

fire suppression system or discharge of a portable fire extinguisher;

ii. Each aircraft component or system that causes, during flight, 

accumulation or circulation of noxious fumes, smoke, or vapor in any 

portion of the cabin or crew area;

iii. Except for training, each occurrence of in-flight engine shutdown or 

propeller feathering and the reason for such shutdown or feathering;

iv. Any landing gear system or component failures or malfunctions, which 

require use of emergency or standby extension systems; and

v. Each malfunction, failure, or defect in any system or component that 

requires taking emergency action of any type during the course of any 

flight.

b. Any of the following in-flight or ground occurrences:

i. Each exhaust system component failure, including the turbocharger or 

supercharger components, that causes damage to any engine, structure, 

cowling, or components;

ii. Each failure of the propeller governing systems or feathering systems; 

and

iii. Each failure or malfunction of the fuel system, tanks, pumps, or valves.

c. Each failure or malfunction of the wheel brake system that causes loss of brake 

control on the ground; 
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d. Each aircraft structure that requires major repair due to damage, deformation, 

or corrosion and the method of repair; and

13. All flight operations must be conducted with a minimum flight visibility of not less 

than three statute miles and a minimum ceiling of not less than 1,500 feet above 

ground level (AGL), unless the flight is conducted under instrumental flight rule 

(IFR) or special visual flight rule (VFR).

14. No other persons may be permitted aboard the aircraft during flight operations, 

except for the following:

a. The person acting as flight instructor;

b. The person who possesses at least a private pilot certificate with appropriate 

category and class ratings receiving flight instruction; and

c. Up to two additional people acting as pilot-trainees who meet the requirements 

of Condition No. 13(b). Observers may be either a trainee (who is also 

enrolled in a course identified in the training manual for the same aircraft) or 

an employee of the exemption holder performing an official function such as 

instructional oversight. 

15. All aircraft must have the equipment listed in §§ 91.205 (as applicable to the 

operation being conducted) and 91.207, and that equipment must be in an operable 

condition during the flight.

16. Failure to comply with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of 

exemption will be grounds for the immediate suspension or revocation of this 

exemption.

This exemption terminates on August 30, 2014, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

Michael J. Zenkovick

Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards

 Service

Enclosure