AFS-12-526-E 

February 22, 2012 

 Exemption No. 10714 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2012-0955 

Mr. Ed Watkins 

Georgia Department of Natural Resources 

Aircraft Support Unit 

4005 Fulton Industrial Boulevard 

Atlanta, GA 30336 

Dear Mr. Watkins: 

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 28, 2012, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) for an exemption from 

§ 91.205(h)(3) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to 

allow GDNR to continue to use night vision goggles (NVGs) in its aircraft. 

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 GDNR. 

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. 10266 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

found that a grant of exemption would be in the public interest because it would allow the 

FWC to use NVGs for operations into extreme darkness such as the Everglades and offshore 

where a horizon is normally limited or nonexistent. 

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that— 
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 they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed Grant 

of Exemption No. 10266; 

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 10266 

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 Georgia Department of Natural Resources an exemption 

from 14 CFR § 91.205(h)(3) to the extent necessary to allow GDNR to continue to operate 

with NVGs in its aircraft, subject to the conditions and limitations described below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Only GDNR may operate the aircraft listed below. 

2. Maintenance and preventive maintenance on the aircraft listed below shall be 

performed in accordance with part 43 and § 91.409. 

3. NVGs used on these aircraft must meet the requirements of technical standard 

order C-164 Night Vision Goggles, dated September 30, 2004. 

4. NVG maintenance and preventive maintenance shall be performed in accordance 

with the manufacturer’s maintenance requirements by an authorized maintenance 

facility. 
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5. GDNR may operate its certificated aircraft listed below without complying with 

the requirements of § 91.205(h)(3): 

a. Bell Helicopter 407 

b. Bell Helicopter 206L-4 

c. Bell Helicopter 206B-3 

This exemption terminates on February 28, 2015, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

Michael J. Zenkovich 

Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards 

Services 

Enclosure