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 Adm inistration (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.2

Our Decision

The FAA has determ ined 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 exem ption 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 provi sions 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, Texas3

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 term ination 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