AFS-13-397-E

July 30, 2013

 Exemption No. 10836

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2013-0495

Mr. Fred Dyen

Coordinator, Blue Ridge Community College

43 Aviation Circle, Hangar 4 East Suite 101

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport

Weyers Cave, VA 24486

Dear Mr. Dyen:

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 May 30, 2013, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) for an exemption from § 65.75(a) of 

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

students to take the aviation mechanic written tests after completing the corresponding portion 

of their curriculum, before they meet the experience requirements of § 65.77.

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 Blue Ridge Community College.

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. 7926 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

found that “testing immediately after learning is a universally accepted instructional principle 

that reinforces learning, and that such testing is academically sound.”

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that—
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 they don’t differ materially from those presented by the petitioner in the enclosed grant of 

exemption;

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed exemption 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. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator 

has delegated to me, I hereby grant Blue Ridge Community College an exemption from 

14 CFR § 65.75(a) so that Blue Ridge Community College students may take the aviation 

mechanic written tests after completing the corresponding portion of their curriculum, before 

they meet the experience requirements of § 65.77. subject to the conditions and limitations 

described below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Develop written procedures for administering the authorization to test for the general, airframe 

and or powerplant test requirements with an affiliated Organization Delegation Authorization 

Airman Knowledge Testing Unit member. 

2. Ensure these procedures are included in the schools operating procedures or curriculum 

procedures document or manual, as applicable. 

3. Ensure the procedures are acceptable to the certificate holding district office before operating 

under this exemption. 

4. Blue Ridge Community College must provide to the certificate holding district office (CHDO) 

a list of students eligible under the exemption to test for the general, airframe and or powerplant 

requirements prior to completion of the airframe and powerplant combined curriculum 

requirements. In addition, the procedures for testing applicants for the general, airframe, and 

powerplant eligibility requirements must be approved by the CHDO.

This exemption terminates on June 30, 2015, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

Michael J. Zenkovich

Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards

Service

Enclosure