AFS-12-521-E

February 08, 2013

 Exemption No. 10701

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2012-0924

Mr. James Janni

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

7300 NW. 62nd Avenue

P.O. Box 1004

Johnston, IA 50131-1004

Dear Mr. Janni:

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 August 24, 2012, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., (Pioneer) for an exemption from 

§§ 91.9(b)(2), 91.203(a) and (b) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the 

extent necessary to allow Pioneer to operate its unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in domestic 

operations consisting of research and development, and crew training without carrying a flight 

manual on board or displaying an experimental certificate, but allow the flight manual and

experimental certificate to reside with the ground control station operator, and continue 

operation of its UAS temporarily following the incidental loss or mutilation of that aircraft’s 

experimental certificate or registration certificate or both.

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 Pioneer.
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The FAA has issued grants of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to 

those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 8607(copies enclosed), the FAA 

found that it is unnecessary to carry and display the experimental, certification and registration 

documents in UASs for the operation described by the petitioner. The original intent of the 

subject regulations was to display the experimental and registration documents so they would 

be easily available to the FAA inspectors and passengers. 

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. 8607;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 8607 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 Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. an exemption from 

14 CFR §§ 91.9(b)(2), 91.203(a) and (b) to the extent necessary to allow Pioneer to operate its 

UAS in domestic operations consisting of research and development, and crew training 

without carrying a flight manual on board or displaying an experimental certificate, but allow 

the flight manual and experimental certificate to reside with the ground control station 

operator, and continue operation of its UAS temporarily following the incidental loss or 

mutilation of that aircraft’s experimental certificate or registration certificate or both, subject 

to the conditions and limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations 

1. The documents required under §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be available to the pilot in 

command of the UAS anytime the aircraft is operating.

2. Those documents required under §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be made available 

within 10 days to any FAA, U.S. Department of Defense, or law enforcement 

official. 

3. This exemption is applicable for flights conducted under daylight hours in VFR 

conditions only.

4. Pioneer shall comply with any minimum fuel quantity requirement of an approved 

pilot operating manual or approved flight manual.
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5. This exemption applies only to operators of Pioneer’s UAS when participating in 

research and development and crew training.

This exemption terminates on February 28, 2015, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

Michael J. Zenkovich

Acting Deputy Director, Flight 

Standards Service 

Enclosures