AFS-13-542-E

November 12, 2013

 Exemption No. 10891

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2011-0549

Mr. Dean T. Peterson

Director of A&P School

School of Missionary Aviation Technology

468 East Sprague Road d-175

Ionia, MI 48846

Dear Mr. Peterson:

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 docket submission on September 11, 2013, you petitioned the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) on behalf of School of Missionary Aviation Technology (SMAT) for 

an exemption from § 65.75 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). This 

exemption, if granted, would allow SMAT to administer the aviation mechanic general 

written test to students immediately following successful completion of the general 

curriculum, prior to meeting the experience requirements of 14 CFR § 65.77.

A review of our records indicates we issued Exemption No. 10374 to SMAT. Because 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 we will grant your request; however, 

because Exemption No. 10374 expired on October 31, 2013, we will treat your request as a 

new petition.

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

in the Federal Register because the petition would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting 

on this petition would be detrimental to SMAT.
2

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

those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption Nos. 6569 and 8629 (copies 

enclosed), the FAA found that testing immediately after learning was a universally accepted 

instructional principle that reinforces learning. Therefore, we allow the petitioner to test 

students immediately after successfully completing the general curriculum but before meeting 

the requirements of § 65.77.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that—

• they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in enclosed Grant 

of Exemption Nos. 6569 and 8629;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption Nos. 6569 

and 8629 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(g), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant School of Missionary Aviation Technology 

an exemption from 14 CFR § 65.75(a) to administer the aviation mechanic general written test 

to students immediately following successful completion of the general curriculum but before 

meeting the experience requirements of § 65.77, subject to the following conditions and 

limitations.

Condition and Limitation 

• Before exercising the privileges of this exemption, SMAT must provide its operations 

handbook to its certificate holding district office (CHDO) and receive approval of the 

operations handbook from the CHDO.

This exemption terminates on November 30, 2015, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosures