AFS-15-3817-E

 October 13, 2015

 Exemption No. 13184

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2015-3743

 

Mr. Larry Lippert

Director of Operations

Era Helicopters, LLC

P.O. Box 6550/70606

Lake Charles, LA 70605

Dear Mr. Lippert:

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 July 2, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Era Helicopters, LLC (Era Helicopters) for an exemption from § 91.9(a) of Title 14, 

Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to allow Era Helicopters to 

operate Sikorsky S-92A (S-92A) helicopters with limited exposure to engine failure during 

takeoff and landing while carrying up to 19 passengers between land-based and offshore 

facilities or when operating between two offshore facilities, day, night, visual flight rules, and 

instrument flight rules.

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 Era Helicopters.

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. 10507 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

found that a grant of exemption would be in the public interest and would provide a level of 

safety equivalent to that provided by the current regulations. Specifically, the FAA found that 
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operations to offshore facilities present a unique operating environment that requires special 

consideration in operations, training, and standardization, but also recognized there may be 

very short periods of time during takeoff and landing in which a safe forced landing may not 

be possible due to environmental or other factors. Notwithstanding, the FAA concluded the

petitioner’s proposed operational controls were consistent with those in OpSpec H100 and 

that a grant of exemption was in the public interest because the use of the S-92A provides its 

passengers with safe transportation, while maintaining an efficient transportation system to 

and from elevated helidecks. 

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. 10507;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 10507 

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. §§ 106(f), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant Era Helicopters, LLC an exemption from 

14 CFR § 91.9(a) to the extent necessary to allow Era Helicopters to operate Sikorsky S-92A 

(S-92A) helicopters with limited exposure to engine failure during takeoff and landing while 

carrying up to 19 passengers between land-based and offshore facilities or when operating 

between two offshore facilities, day, night, visual flight rules, and instrument flight rules, 

subject to the conditions and limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations 

1. This exemption is limited to operations conducted in Era Helicopters’ S-92A 

helicopters.

2. This exemption is limited to operations conducted between land-based airports and 

offshore heliports, or operations conducted between two offshore heliports.

3. This exemption is not valid for operations in foreign airspace without the prior 

authorization of the Civil Aviation Authority with jurisdiction over that airspace.

4. Occupants of flights conducted under this exemption must wear personal floatation 

equipment whenever the aircraft is over water and the aircraft must be equipped with 

floats, accessible rafts, and a 406 megahertz (MHz) beacon.

5. Era Helicopters must make available and provide access, upon request by the FAA, to 

its engine reliability historical data for the S-92As in its fleet in order to provide 

ongoing surveillance of engine reliability.
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6. Computations regarding the determination of the approach and departure profiles must 

not exceed the ICAO standard of 9 seconds of exposure to engine failure related to 

Performance Class 2 with limited exposure to engine failure.

 

7. Operations will not be conducted unless the current aircraft weight, altitude and 

temperature, as provided in the S-92A Rotorcraft Flight Manual, ensure the ability to 

climb 150 feet per minute at 1,000 feet above the takeoff surface with one engine 

inoperative and the remaining engine at maximum continuous one-engine inoperative 

(OEI) power. 

8. Era Helicopters must comply with, in addition to other routine preflight computations, 

the procedures cited in the S-92A Rotorcraft Flight Manual, Part 2, Section III, 

Supplemental Performance Data, page III-1-50, contained in the paragraphs titled 

“Elevated Helideck Takeoff and Landing –Limited Exposure – (At Figure 3-22 

WAT)” and the paragraph following titled “Vertical Takeoff – Elevated Helideck.” 

9. Operations under the provisions of this exemption must be flown by 2 pilot crews that 

are qualified and current in the operation of the S-92A.

10. Era Helicopters’ approved training program must include provisions for training of 

appropriate crews on the profiles associated with a Performance Class 2 with limited 

exposure takeoff and arrival, including performance planning. Era Helicopters must 

document the conduct and completion of that training for appropriate flight 

crewmembers.

11. Proficiency in the use of the profiles described in Condition No. 10 must be 

demonstrated satisfactorily during recurrent evaluations required by §§ 135.293 or 

135.299.

12. Era Helicopters must establish parameters for takeoff and arrival at helidecks for its 

flight data monitoring program and provide ongoing surveillance of those operations.

13. Era Helicopters must advise all S-92A flight crewmembers of the provisions of this 

exemption, and document that notification.
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14. A copy of this exemption must be carried onboard each S-92A utilizing these 

provisions.

This exemption terminates on October 31, 2017 unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosure