I Til 

f ,IGHIT. 

2012 Board ofDirectors 

David Knies - Chairman 

Bruce Bromberg- Vice Chairman 

Bruce Bromberg- Treasurer 

jonathan Steiner- Secretary 

Michael Coviello - Director 

Paul Gryglas - Director 

Henrique Rodriguez - Director 

Tom Powers- Chairman Emeritus 

MISSION HOTLINE 

(800) 276-0300 

WEBSITE 

www.VitaiFlight.org 

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 

Docket Management Facility 

US Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

West Building Ground Floor 

Room Wl2-140 

Washington, DC 20590 

·~ !'.! ( .•.l· 

Re: Petition for Exemption,§ 61.113(c) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 

To Whom It May Concern: 

Our organization is a state and federally registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit charity. We 

coordinate free air transportation for the needy. Many people refer to what we do as "flights 

of mercy," "angel flights," or "compassion flights." 

I am writing today to formally petition your office for an exemption from § 61.113( c) of Title 

14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). We are requesting an effective date on or about 

December 1, 2012. We specifically request one with stipulations similar to those contained in 

exemption number 10513 (Regulatory Docket FAA-2011-1070.) 

The exemption, if granted, would allow us to reimburse our volunteer pilots for the cost of 

fuel when flying charitable flights. Fuel costs have been on a steady rise for nearly a decade. 

The pilots who volunteer to fly for us have been voicing their concerns about this cost 

eventually reaching a prohibitive level. It is our hope that an exemption would allow us to use 

money donated, specifically for mission fuel, to relieve that burden for participant pilots. It is 

our belief that it would lead to more pilots flying more charitable flights. Since we coordinate 

missions for all those in need, as well as specific programs at the VA Medical Center in West 

Palm Beach, the exemption would certainly benefit the public, as well as the volunteer pilots. 

As I'm sure you are aware, similar exemptions have been granted under numbers I 0009A, 

1 0019 A, and 10513. The flight standards that we currently require of volunteer pilots meet 

and/or exceed the standards set in the exemptions mentioned above. When reviewing the 

exemptions previously issued, safety is actually improved through more recurrent training, 

higher approach minimums, and educational courses. Accordingly, there is no safety 

downside. 

If Federal Register publication is deemed necessary, we are requesting an exemption on behalf 

of our member pilots from§ 61.113(c) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). 

The exemption, if granted, would allow us to reimburse volunteer pilots for the cost of fuel 

when flying charitable flights. 

I can be contacted by mail at: PO Box 1767, Pompano Beach, FL 33061; by facsimile at: 

(205) 278-1490; by telephone at: (256) 658-7475; or by email at: david@vitaltlight.org. 

P.O. Box 1767, Pompano Beach, Florida 33061 

"Our Passion is Flying .... Our Mission- Helping People" 
~(L' David M Knies 

Chairman 

Vital Flight, Inc. 

Cc: John S. Duncan, Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service, FAA 

P.O. Box 1767, Pompano Beach, Florida 33061 

"Our Passion is Flying .... Our Mission- Helping People"