AFS-12-028-E 

February 16, 2012 

 Exemption No. 10452 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2011-1145 

Mr. Bernard Flashman 

Director of Operations 

Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc. 

112 Charles A. Lindbergh Drive 

Teterboro, NJ 07608 

Dear Mr. Flashman: 

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 5, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc. (JAFS), for an exemption from § 43.3(g) of Title 14, 

Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to allow JAFS’s properly trained 

pilots (under an approved training program) to accomplish updates of navigational software 

databases of installed flight management systems (FMS). JAFS requested the relief be extended 

to operations outside the United States. 

Jet Aviation is a part 135 Air Carrier that operates over 20 business jets to over 1,200 airports in 

the U.S. and abroad. Each year, many of these airports are becoming entirely dependent on use 

of area navigation (RNAV) procedures. The same is also true for many of major metropolitan 

airports where RNAV SIDs (Standard Instrument Departures) are the only “published” departure 

procedures normally available to any departing aircraft. The majority of these airports which 

JAFS fly to have limited or no scheduled air service. Many of JAFS aircraft do not necessarily 

make it to a base at any regular interval to routinely have their FMS database updated. An FMS 

database must be updated every 28 days. Once an update is published by the manufacturer, it 

typically allows only a few days to update the database before the previous database expires. 
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Without the requested regulatory relief, when an FMS database expires, JAFS can continue to 

operate the aircraft under the authority of an FAA approved minimum equipment list. However, 

the aircraft must have the current database information to utilize area navigational (RNAV) 

based enroute and approach capabilities. Due to the limitation of operating with an expired 

database, JAFS would eventually have to reposition the aircraft (flown empty) to a maintenance 

facility or transport a mechanic to the aircraft. During this time when an FMS database is 

expired, JAFS may not be able to access certain airports that already have limited air service 

because the navigational database is no longer current. 

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

the Federal Register. The requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in 

acting on this petition would be detrimental to JAFS. 

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 Nos. 10286 and 10286A (copies 

enclosed), the FAA found the flight management computer (FMC) technology has evolved 

sufficiently to support granting the applicant’s request for exemption based on an equivalent 

level of safety being attained by pilots loading navigational software databases as currently exists 

with certificated mechanics performing uploads. Database loading of front panel and pedestal 

mounted FMCs does not require special tools, special access, or removal of the FMC. Further, 

FMCs perform an internal check and confirm proper loading of navigational databases in most 

cases. Properly trained pilots can load the software databases and confirm the upload was 

successful. Should the upload attempt be unsuccessful, minimum equipment list procedures 

exist to safely operate the aircraft with an inoperative FMC. 

The FAA subsequently amended Exemption No. 10286 to include relief from 

§§ 91.1443(b)(3) and 135.443(b)(3) as they apply to the requirement that the maintenance log be 

signed by a certificated mechanic or repairman. We added a condition to address the preventive 

maintenance task associated with pilots loading of navigational databases as referenced in 

Appendix A to part 43. The task must include the maintenance log entries, including the name of 

the person performing the upload, the date of the upload, the database revision number uploaded, 

and the aircraft location at the time of the upload -- similar to requirements for certificated 

mechanics performing uploads. The JAFS exemption includes this same relief from 

§§ 91.1443(b)(3) and 135.443(b)(3) and an associated condition as it applies to requirements for 

the logbook entry. 

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 Nos. 10286 and 10286A; 

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 10286 and 

10286A also apply to the situation you present; and 
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 for the reasons in Grant of Exemption No. 10286 and 10286A, a grant of exemption is in the 

public interest. 

Jet Aviation Flight Services also requested the relief be extended to operations outside the 

United States. We have reviewed the corresponding International Civil Aviation Organization 

Standards and Recommended Practices and have identified no differences with the regulation 

from which we grant this exemption. However, a foreign country still may not allow you to 

operate in that country under this exemption if it so chooses. 

Our Decision: 

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

has delegated to me, I hereby grant Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc. an exemption from 

14 CFR §§ 43.3(g), 91.1443(b)(3) and 135.443(b)(3) to the extent necessary to allow its properly 

trained pilots (under an approved training program) to accomplish updates of navigational 

software databases of installed flight management systems, subject to the conditions and 

limitations listed below. 

Conditions and Limitations: 

1. Pilots will be trained on all specific makes and models of the FMC to which they will 

be uploading navigational software databases. Training on one make and model will 

not enable the pilot to update databases in other makes and models. 

2. Upon successful completion of training, each pilot will be authorized, in writing, by 

the director of maintenance or authorized designee to perform navigational software 

database uploads on systems for which he or she has received training. 

3. The software being uploaded cannot contain system operating software. The upload 

must include the navigational database only. The director of maintenance is 

responsible for ensuring the software being uploaded does not contain operating 

system software. 

4. JAFS must have written procedures available to the pilot to perform the task and to 

evaluate the accomplishment of the task, including those tasks that require a decision 

concerning the airworthiness of the aircraft. 

5. Each completed task must include the maintenance log entries, including the name of 

the person performing the upload, the date of the upload, the database revision 

number uploaded, and the aircraft location at the time of upload. 

6. This grant of exemption from § 43.3(g) includes only the uploading of navigational 

software databases as listed in Appendix A to part 43, paragraph (c)(32), and does not 

extend to other preventive maintenance tasks identified in Appendix A to part 43. 

7. JAFS may operate outside the U.S. under this exemption, unless otherwise prohibited 

by a foreign country. 
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This exemption terminates on February 28, 2014, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John S. Duncan 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service 

Enclosures