AFS-12-414-E 

July 5, 2012 

 Exemption No. 7389F 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2000-8187 

Maj. Alex E. Krause 

Department of the Air Force 

HQ AFFSA/A3OF 

6500 South MacArthur (AJW31AF) 

Oklahoma City, OK 73169 

Dear Maj. Krause: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 7389, 

as amended. It explains the basis for our decision and describes its effect, and lists the 

conditions and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated June 1, 2012, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of the United States Department of the Air Force (USAF) for an extension of 

Exemption No. 7389, as amended. That exemption from § 91.169(b) of Title 14, Code of 

Federal Regulations allows the USAF to conduct local area and other flight training missions 

under instrument flight rules without designating an alternate airport. 

In your petition, you indicate that there has been no change in the conditions and reasons 

relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption. 

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

in the Federal Register because the requested extension of the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to USAF. 
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Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 7389, as 

amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. 

Therefore, under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Helicopters operating under the provisions of this exemption may file an IFR flight 

plan without designating an alternate airport if, during the period from the estimated 

time of departure to 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, the worst weather is 

forecast to be a ceiling of 700 feet or higher and a visibility of 1 statute mile or more. 

2. Fixed-wing aircraft operating under the provisions of this exemption may fly local 

training missions without designating an alternate airport provided – 

a. The departure airport and destination airport are the same; 

b. An instructor pilot is a crewmember; and 

c. Weather conditions are reported and forecast to have a ceiling of at least 1,500 

feet and visibility of at least 3 statute miles for the estimated time enroute plus 

2 hours. 

3. The exemption provided for in Condition No. 2 applies at the following airports that 

host Air Education and Training Command operations: 

a. Altus AFB, Oklahoma 

b. Columbus AFB, Mississippi 

c. Dobbins AFB, Georgia 

d. Fairchild AFB, Washington 

e. Keesler AFB, Mississippi 

f. Kingsley Field, Oregon 

g. Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 

h. Laughlin AFB, Texas 

i. Little Rock AFB, Arkansas 

j. Luke AFB, Arizona 

k. Moody AFB, Georgia 

l. Randolph AFB, Texas 

m. Sheppard AFB, Texas 
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n. Springfield-Beckley Municipal, Ohio 

o. Tucsan International Airport, Arizona 

p. Tyndall AFB, Florida 

q. United States Air Force Academy, Colorado 

r. Vance AFB, Oklahoma 

Please note Condition No. 3 includes those airports requested in your September 11, 2000 

petition for extension and amendment of exemption No. 49, as amended. 

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

The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 7389, as amended, to 

November 30, 2015, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/S/ 

John S. Duncan 

Deputy Director, Flight Standards 

 Service