AFS-16-2-E January 12, 2016

Exemption No. 14380 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2015-4654

Mr. Gregory Morris

Owner Omega Warbirds LLC dba Gauntlet Warbirds 719 W. Evergreen Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

Dear Mr. Morris:

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 October 21, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of Omega Warbirds LLC dba Gauntlet Warbirds (Gauntlet Warbirds) for an exemption from § 91.315 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to allow Gauntlet Warbirds to provide initial and recurrent training flights in its Grumman TBM/TBF Avenger airplane certificated as a limited category civil aircraft.

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 Gauntlet Warbirds.

The FAA has issued a grant of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 12558 (copy enclosed), the FAA found that it is becoming increasingly difficult to provide initial and recurrent training in older, high performance aircraft. The FAA concl uded that an equivalent level of safety could be met by the petitioner’s use of approved flight and maintenance manuals, as well as following the conditions and limitations stated in this exemption.2

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. 12558;

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 12558 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. 106(f), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant Omega Warbirds LLC dba Gauntlet Warbirds an exemption from 14 CFR § 91.315 to the extent necessary to allow Gauntlet Warbirds to provide initial and recurrent training flights in its Grumman TBM/TBF Avenger airplane certificated as a limited category civil aircraft, subject to the conditions and

limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. This exemption applies only to the Grumman TBM/TBF Avenger aircraft. The aircraft, when used for flight instruction under this exemption, must be in the operational control of Gauntlet Warbirds.

2. The privileges of this exemption are limited to flight training intended for the purpose of recurrent pilot training, proficie ncy, 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.

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. The exemption holder must provide all students with a copy of the appropriate syllabus prior to conducting training. The training manual must also contain the following information:

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

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 Gauntlet Warbirds syllabus and lesson taught during that flight.

d. The training manual must identify the name and contact information for the individual acting as chief instructor for Gauntlet Warbirds operations under3

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 flight instructor certificate with appropriate category and class ratings.

5. Before Gauntlet Warbirds may exercise the privileges of this exemption, it must provide the following documents to the F light Standards District Office (FSDO) with geographic responsibility for the principal 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 most current Gauntlet Warbirds training manual; and

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

6. Gauntlet Warbirds must continue to maintain its TBM/TBF Avenger aircraft in an airworthy condition in accordance with the:

a. Maintenance requirements specified in the TBM/TBF Avenger aircraft type specification sheet, as amended;

b. FAA-approved maintenance inspection program that meets the requirements of §§ 91.409(a) and (b); and

c. Appropriate military technical manuals for the TBM/TBF Avenger aircraft.

7. The person providing instruction in the TBM/TBF Avenger must:

a. Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating and flight instructor certificate (C FI) with airplane single-engine rating;

and

b. Have at least a total of 1,500 hours of aeronautical flight experience, including 25 hours as pilot-in-command in the aircraft make and model; 25 takeoffs and 25 landings in any variant of TBM/TBF Avenger; and have accomplished within the previous 90 days, three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop in any variant of TBM/TBF Avenger airplane.

8. Gauntlet Warbirds must inform anyone receiving flight instruction under this exemption that its aircraft hold a limited airworthiness certificate, explain the significance of the airworthiness certificate as compared to a standard4

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 FAAapproved 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

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.

9. Gauntlet Warbirds 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. 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; and5

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 and/or ground occurrences:

i. Each exhaust system component failure, including the turbocharger/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 any loss of brake control on the ground; and

d. Each aircraft structure that requires major repair due to damage, deformation, or corrosion and the method of repair.

10. 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 instrument flight rules (IFR) or special visual flight rules (SVFR).

11. No one other than the following persons may be permitted aboard the aircraft during flight operations:

a. The person acting as flight instructor; and

b. The person who possesses at least a private pilot certificate with appropriate single engine airplane category and cl ass rating receiving flight instruction.

12. 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.

13. Failure to comply with any of the conditions and limitations of this exemption will be grounds for the immediate suspension or revocation of this exemption.

14. This exemption is not valid for operations outside the United States.6

This exemption terminates on January 31, 2018, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

//s//

John Barbagallo Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosure Exemption No. 125587

Project No.: AXX-xx-xxx-E

Project Officer: _______________

ARM-104:TAdams:xx/xx/xx:Doc#xxxx ARM-1/100/104:Program Office [or specific OPR routing symbol]

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