AFS-16-9309-E

May 12, 2016

 Exemption No. 16646

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2016-4301

Mr. Brian H. Beattie

Croman Corporation

801 Avenue C

White City, OR 97503

Dear Mr. Beattie:

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 February 19, 2016, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Croman Corporation (Croman) for an exemption from §§ 91.313(a) and (c) of 

Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to allow Croman to 

conduct operations needed to satisfy training, type rating requirements, and proficiency 

requirements as required by §§ 61.31and 61.58 in a restricted category aircraft. The petitioner 

states that Croman is supporting the United States government in fire suppression operations 

and emergency services responses which require training and check flights for its pilots.

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 Croman.

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. 11180 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

recognized that airworthiness standards for restricted category aircraft do not meet the same 

level of safety that is required for aircraft certificated in the standard or transport category. 

The operating limitations set forth in § 91.313 are designed to compensate for this and to 
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provide the necessary level of safety for special purpose operations. However, the FAA finds 

that an equivalent level safety would be met by the conditions/limitations provided in this 

exemption. In Grant of Exemption No. 11180, the FAA also found that an exemption was 

appropriate to allow Billings Flying Service to utilize restricted category aircraft Sikorsky 

S-61A and CH47D to conduct part 61 flight crewmember training.

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. 11180;

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 11180 

also apply to the situation you present; and 

 for the reasons stated in Grant of Exemption No. 11180, 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 the Croman Corporation an exemption from 

14 CFR § 91.313(a) and (c) to the extent necessary to allow Croman to conduct operations 

needed to satisfy training, type rating requirements, and proficiency requirements as required 

by §§ 61.31 and 61.58 in restricted category aircraft, subject to the conditions and limitations

described below.

Conditions and Limitations

1.The privileges of this exemption are limited to the following aircraft:

a. Sikorsky S-61A: N1048Y, N1043T; and

b. Croman SH-3H: N611CK, N612CK and N613CK.

2.Croman must be in full operational control of any aircraft operated using the privileges 

of this exemption.

3.The relief from § 91.313(c) is only granted to the extent necessary to allow for the 

operations described in Condition/Limitation No. 5.

4. All routes and locations used during any operation conducted under this exemption 

must be accepted by the Certificate-Holding District Office (CHDO) in the geographic 

region where the aircraft is to be operated. 

5.Croman may only use the aircraft for the special purposes identified on the restricted 

category airworthiness certificate for the aircraft listed in Condition/Limitation No. 1 

and the following operations:
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a. Practical tests necessary to issue type ratings required by § 61.31(a) to pilots 

employed by Croman;

b. Proficiency training for pilot employed by Croman seeking to take a practical 

test for a type rating designation necessary to operate an aircraft covered under 

this exemption; and,

c. Observation flights performed with an Aviation Safety Inspector onboard for 

the purpose of designating or observing a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). 

6. An aircraft configuration analysis including but not limited to flight deck, flight manual, 

operating limitations, and procedures must be completed and provided to the CHDO 

reflecting the capability of the aircraft to perform all required procedures and 

maneuvers necessary to meet the training, practical tests, and proficiency check 

requirements in part 61.

7. No person may operate an aircraft under the relief of this exemption at a weight greater 

than the weight that, with the critical engine inoperative, would permit a rate of climb 

of at least 50 feet per minute at an altitude of at least 1,000 feet above the elevation of 

the highest ground or obstruction within the area to be operated or at an altitude of 

5,000 feet, whichever is higher.

8.The S-61A aircraft listed in Condition/Limitation No. 1(a) must be serviced and 

maintained in accordance with Type Certificate Data Sheet (H2EA).

9.The SH-3H aircraft listed in Condition/Limitation No. 1(b) must be serviced and 

maintained in accordance with Type Certificate Data Sheet R00004SE (Revision 2).

10. A copy of this exemption must be provided to the CHDO in the geographic region 

where the aircraft is based and must be carried aboard the aircraft at all times. 

11. Failure to meet any of the conditions or limitations of this exemption immediately 

cancels the authority authorized by this exemption.
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This exemption terminates on May 31, 2018, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosure:

Exemption No. 11180
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Project No.: AXX-xx-xxx-E

Project Officer: _______________

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