AFS

- 16

- 6571

- E

April 18 , 2016

Exemption No. 5651O Regulatory Docket No. FAA

- 20 02

- 11498

Mike Rhodes

Chief Test Pilot Air Tractor, Inc.

P.O. Box 485 Olney, TX 76374

Dear Mr. Rhodes :

This letter is to inform you that we have granted in part, your petition to extend and amend Exemption No. 5651, as amended. In your March 7, 2016 petition, you also requested an amendment that would include an exemption from § 91.313(a) as described in FAA No tice

8900.295 Pilot Training and/or Certification Events Conducted in Restricted Category Aircraft. The amendment, if granted, would allow Air Tractor to operate a restricted category civil aircraft for other than the special purpose for which it was certi ficated, or in an operation other than one necessary to accomplish the work activity directly associated with that special

purpose.

At this time, the FAA is granting a six

- month exten sion of the existing relief , while the agency considers the broader issu es related to granting relief to Air Tractor ’ s amendment
request.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated March 7, 2016, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) for an extension of, and amen dment to, Exemption

No. 5651, as amended. That exemption from § 61.31(a)(1) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows Air Tractor and pilots of AT

- 802, AT

- 802A, AT

- 1002, or AT

1002A airplanes to operate those airplanes without holding a typ e rating, although the maximum gross weight of the airplanes exceeds 12,500 pounds

.2

Condition #3 has been slightly revised to require Air Tractor to keep current and maintain approval of the training manual required to comply with Condition and Limitatio n number 2. This training manual is already approved by AFS

- 800 with an expiration date of April 30, 2016. Air Tractor will be issued a separate extension to their approval letter by AFS

- 800. The extension to the training program will expire concurrentl y with this exemption.

In your petition, you indicate d that there had 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 ex ists for not publishing a summary of the petition

in the Federal Register because the requested extension and amendment of the exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Air

Tractor.

Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 565 1, as amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest.

U nder the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. § 106(f), 40113

, and 44701, w hich the FAA Administrator has delegat ed to me, I grant Air Tractor, Inc. and pilots of Air Tractor Models

AT

- 802, AT

- 802A, AT

- 1002, and AT

- 1002A, relief from § 61.31(a)(1) to the extent necessary to operate these models without holding a type rating for the airpl ane , subject to the following conditions and limitations.

Conditions and Limitations

1. This exemption applies to pilots operating AT

- 802, AT

- 802A, AT

- 1002, and AT

1002A aircraft that hold a restricted category airworthiness certificate

.

2. Air Tractor must d evelop and maintain a training program manual ( s ) that include s the following ground training topics for each applic able make and model of aircraft: a) A eronautical knowledge training on aircraft systems, and aircraft performance ; b) H andling characteristics tha t are unique to the aircraft; c) A review of the approved airplane flight manual ; and d) A cockpit familiarization checkout.

3. Air Tractor may continue to exercise the privileges of this exemption only if it complies with the following: a) Air Tractor must contin ue to maintain approval of its train ing manual, and obtain approval for any revisions to the approved training manual, from AFS

- 800. b) The training manual(s) and approval documentation must be made available to any representative of the FAA Administrator

, upon request

.

4. Except as provided in Condition /Limitation No. 5

, before a pilot can serve as pilot in command (PIC) in the AT

- 802, AT

- 802A, AT

- 1002, or AT

- 1002A that pilot must3

have successfully completed the applicable training in accordance with Air Trac tor’s training program manual described in Condition/Limitation No. 2

.

5. Pilots who have logged at least 100 hours of flight time, with at least 1 0 hours in the preceding 12 mon t h s, in an AT

- 502 series airplane need not complete the training requi rements of Condition No. 4 . A record of this flight time must be made available by the pilot upon request by a representative of the FAA Administrator.

6. Any person (including Air Tractor ) that provides training described by

Condition/Limitation No. 4 must

-
a) Ensure each pilot logs the ground tra ining in his or her logbook, or record such training in the pilot’s training record ; and

b) Make this record of training available for review to any representative of the FAA Administrator, upon request.

7. The person qualified to give training under this exemption must meet the following minimum qualifications :

a) Be authorized by Air Tractor to give this instruction;

b) Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate; and

c) Meet the following experience requirements:

i. 500 hours of flight time in turbine

- powered agricultural type airplanes;

or

ii. 1 ,000 hours of flight time in agricultural type airplanes which includes at least 100 hours of flight time in an AT

- 502 or AT

- 802

, or AT

- 1002, series airplane

8. A ir Tractor must make a copy of th is exemption available to each pilot who serves as

PIC in the AT

- 802, AT

- 802A, AT

- 1002, or AT

- 1002A aircraft

.

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 5651, as amended to October 3 1

, 2016, unless sooner superse ded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan Director, Flight Standards Service