## S7 * CONSTRUCTIO N HELICOPTERS , INC . £ ^ 367 9 Bowe n Road9 (800)-52 1 -513 0 Howell , MI 48855-775 5 Fax (800)-548-586 2 lO-January-201 1 U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Docke t Operation s Wes t Buildin g Groun dFloor , Roo mW12-14 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , SE , Washington , D C 2059 0 Gentlemen : Constructio n Helicopter s Inc . certificat e numbe r JTAA383F , i s hereb y petitionin g fo r a n exemptio n t o 91.313 b o f

Title 14 , Cod e o f

Federa l Regulations . Th e propose dexemptio n woul dpermi t th e ai r carrie r t o conduc t

FA A par t

135flight crewmembe r

trainin g an devaluation s i n arestricte dcategory Sikorsky mode l 61 , (S-61 ) aircraft . Constructio n Helicopter s Inc . support s this petitio n with th e following . 1 . Th e petitioner' s curren t S-6 1 flee t

i s currentl y supportin g DO D operation s i n Afghanista n an da suitabl e replacemen t

i s no t readil y available . Th e availabilit y o f standar dcategor y S-6 1 aircraf t i s extremel y limite dwithi n th e Unite dStates , ye t ther e i s aread y availabilit y o f restricte d category S-6 1 aircraft . Th e us e o f th e aircraf

t i s vita l t o provid e initial , recurrent , upgrade , transitio n training , a s wel l a s examination s t o crewmember s deployin g t o Afghanistan , i n direc t support o f operatio n Endurin g Freedom . Th e sol e purpos e an dus e o f th e aircraf

t woul db e for trainin g an devaluations , conducte dove r non-congeste darea s an dwith minima l impac t t o othe r operations . 2 . Th e FA A ha s alread y determine db y previou s preceden t tha t ther e ar e n o significan t

difference s betwee n th e restricte dcategor y S-6 1 an dstandar dcategor y S-6 1 operate db y th e carrier . (Se e enclosure) . Th e onl y difference s pertai n t o passenge r comfort suc h a s seatin g an dobservatio n windows , placemen t

an dtyp e o f

doors . An y aircraf

t t o b e use dwoul dhav e equipmen t require d fo r ftjll an dconstan t

radi o communications . 3 . Th e petitioner' s cadr e ha s alread y bee n evaluate dan dfoun dt o b e acceptabl e t o th e Administrato r

fo r th e conduc t

o f flight checks . Th e carrie r

i s requestin g t o continu e usin g existin g cadr e t o conduc t check s unde r

135.293 , an d135.29 9 o f th e 14 ^ CFR . Th e carrie r als o petition s fo r

th e ability t o complet e th e applicatio n for airma n certificatio n unde r 61.31 , utilizin g a

n S-6 1 Designate dPilo t

Examine r

o r FAA Aviatio n Safet

y Inspector . I t

i s note dthat ther e i s n o FA A designate ddistinctio n betwee n S-6 1 Typ e evaluations . 4 . Construclio n Helicopter s Inc . i s no t seekin g exemptio n fro man y othe r provisio n o f

th e regulation , othe r

tha n th e distinctio n that

aPar t 13 5 check-rid e i s no t

on e o f th e specia l purpos e operation s for

whic h th e aircraf

t ha s bee n certificated . Key . I . Flic . 12U

I lOexempiio n d^. c MV P im p N10-J;III-2UI 2 . ( 1427 . I' g 1 o i 2

# s

CONSTRUCTIO NHELICOPTERS , INC , 367 9 Bowe n Road9 (800)-521-513 0 Howell , M l 48855-775 5 Fa x (800)-548-586 2 Th e petitione r

believe s tha t

thi s actio n set s n o preceden t an di s asimilar

conditio n a s se t

fort h i n anothe r ruling . Tha t

similar rulin g i s bein g submitte dwith thi s petitio n a s a n argumen t

t o support

ou r request . Du e t o th e identica l natur e o f th e rotorcraf

t t o it s standar dcategor y rotorcraf t equivalent , th e us e o f this aircraf

t woul dno t

hav e an y advers e impac t o n safety . An y dela y o n actio n t o thi s petitio n woul db e detrimenta l t o Constructio n Helicopter s Inc. , an dhav e anegativ e impac t o n ou r ability t o serv e a s aDO D contractor .

Sincerely ,

Matthe w C . Van Pe h ChiefPilot-Par t

13 5 (JTAA383F ) Constructio n Helicopter s Inc . 367 9 Bowe n Roa d Howell . MI , 48855-775 5

Enclosure-Exemptio n No . 1041 0

RevI . Til t 120 1 l(lc\tmplinn.di x MVPiiu p .slO-Jjii-:!)) : u r1 4 27 . I' g 2 n t 2Exemptio n No . 1041 0 UNITE D STATE S O F AMERICA DEPARTMEN

T O F TRANSPORTATION FEDERA L AVIATION ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON , D C 2059 1

I n the matter

o f th e petitio n o f PRESIDENTIA L AIRWAY S fo r a n exemptio n from § 91.313(b ) o f Titl e 14 , Code o f Federa l Regulation s Regulator y Docke t No . FAA-2011-127 0

PARTIA L GRAN T O F EXEMPTIO N B y letter date dNovembe

r 9 , 2011 , Mr . Walte

r C . Gamer , Director

o f Operations , Presidentia

l Airway s (Presidential) , 138 3 Genera l Aviatio n Drive , Melbourne , Florid a32935 , petitione d th e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (FAA ) o n behal f o f Presidentia

l fo r a n exemptio n from § 91.31 3 o f

Titl e 14 , Code o f

Federa l Regulation s (1 4 CFR) . Th e propose dexemption , if granted , woul dpermit

Presidentia

l t o conduc t

par t 13 5 flight

crewmembe

r trainin g i n a restricte dcategor

y aircraf t ove r congeste dareas . Th e petitione r

require s reUe

f fro mth e followin g regulations : Sectio n 91.313(a) prescribes , i n pertinent part , tha t n o perso n ma

y operate arestricte d categor y civi l aircraf

t fo r other than th e specia

l purpos e fo

r whic h i t i s certificated ; o r

i n a n operatio n other

tha n one necessar

y t o accomplis h th e wor

k activit y directl y associate dwit

h tha t specia l purpose . Sectio n 91.313(b ) prescribes , i n pertinent part , tha t operatin g arestricte dcategor y civi l aircraf t t o provide flight

crewmembe

r trainin g i n aspecia l purpos e operatio n fo

r whic h th e aircraf t i s certificate di s considere dto b e a n operatio n fo

r tha t special purpose . Sectio n 91.313(e ) prescribe s that , excep t whe n operatin g i

n accordanc e wit

h th e term s an dcondition s o f

acertificate o f

waive r or specia l operatin g limitatio n issue db y th e Administrator , n o perso n ma y operate arestricte dcategor y civi l aircraf

t withi n th e AFS-12-082- EUnite dState s ove r adensel y populate darea , i

n acongeste dairway , or

nea r abus y airpor t wher e passenge r transpor t operation s ar

e conducted . Th e petitione r

support s it s reques t

with th e followin g information : Th e petitioner

request s a n exemptio n from § 91.313(e ) t o conduct trainin g require db

y par t 13 5 incongestedareasinarestrictedcategor y Sikorsk y S-61 . Th

e petitioner' s current

S

6 1 flee t i s bein g usedt o suppor

t militar y operation s i

n Afghanistan . Presidentia l assert s tha

t availabilit y o f standar dcategor y S-6 1 s i n th e UnitedState s i s ver y limited . Th

e us e o f thi s rotorcraf t i s vita l to provide fligh

t crewmembe

r initial , recurrent , upgrade , an dtransitio n training , a s wel l a s practica l examination s leadin g to fligh t crewmembe

r certification , fo

r crewmember s who wil l be supportin g operation s i n Afghanistan . Th e petitioner

maintain s tha

t n o exemptio n i s necessar

y t o conduc t

thi s trainin g i

n th e restricte dcategor

y aircraf t i f th e FA A find s th e restricte dcategor y aircraf t "ha s n o significantly differen

t handlin g or

fligh t characteristics* ' tha

n th e standar

dcategor y S-6 1 unde

r § 135.293 . Th e petitioner

base s thi s assertio n o

n it s interpretatio n tha

t trainin g (includin g trainin g require dunde

r par t 135 ) i s alway s include da s par t o f th e specia l purpos e o f

th e aircraf t unde r §91.313(b) . To thi s effect , th e petitione r maintain s tha

t thi s restricted categor

y S-6 1 i s virtually identically configuredto it s standar dcategor y counterpart . Th e only difference s pertai n t o passenge r comfort , suc h a s seatin g an dobservatio n windows . Th e restricte dcategor

y S-6 1 ha s equipmen

t fo r ful l an dconstan t radi o communication s an di s full y capabl e o f instrument

landin g approaches . I

f th e FA A determines , however , tha t a n exemptio n i s warrante dto permi t trainin g require dunde

r par t 13 5 t o b e conducte di n thi s restrictedcategor

y S-61 , becaus e o f

th e identica

l natur e o f th e rotorcraf

t t o it s standard categor y rotorcraf t equivalent , th e us e of

thi s rotorcraf

t fo r trainin g woul dno t

hav e a n advers e impac t o n safety . Th e petitioner

state s tha t thi s exemptio n to permit

trainin g ove

r congestedarea s i s necessar y sinc e FA A facilitie s an

dequipment , i.e. , airports , ar e normally locate dnea

r or i n densely populate darea s wit

h congeste dairways . Th e FA A ha s determine dtha

t goodcaus e exist s fo

r waivin g the requirement

fo r Federa l Register publicatio n becaus e th e exemption , i f granted , woul dno t

set aprecedent , an dan

y dela y i n actin g o n thi s petitio n woul db e detrimenta l to Presidential . Th e FAA' s analysi s i s a s follows : Th e FA A ha s reviewed th e informatio n submitte db y Presidential . Although th e petitioner maintain s tha

t exemptio n fro

m§91.313(b ) i s no t

necessar y basedo n th e provision s o f § 135.293 , th e FA

A ha s determine dtha

t a n exemptio n fromthi s requirement i s necessar

y to permi t trainin g require dunde

r par t 13 5 to b e conducte di

n th e restricte dcategor

y S-61 . Th e FA A ha s als o determine dtha

t agran t o f exemptio n or

waive r fromth e restrictio n from operatin g i n congeste darea s unde r § 91.313(e ) i s no t

appropriate . Thus , a s outline dbelow ,th e FA A ha s determine dtha

t apartia l gran t o f exemptio n woul db e i

n the publi c interes t

an d no t hav e a n advers e impact

o n safety . Th e FA A doe s no t

agre e wit h th e petitioner' s interpretatio n of § 9I.313(b)an d§ 135.293 . Th e permissio n t

o conduc t trainin g i n § 91.313(b ) provide s tha

t "operatin g arestricte d categor y civi l aircraf

t t o provide flight

crewmembe

r trainin g i n aspecia l purpos e operatio n fo

r whic h th e aircraf

t i s certificate di s considere dto b e a n operatio n fo

r tha t specia l purpose. " Thi s pennissio n to conduc t trmning i s limite dt

o trainin g relate dto th e specia l purpos e fo

r whic h th e aircraf

t i s certificate dunde

r par t 21 . Th e trainin g th e petitioner

desire s to conduc t i s outsid e th e scop e of

th e limite dspecia

l purpos e fo

r which thi s rotorcraf

t wa s certificated . Accordingly , th e FA

A ha s determine dtha

t th e petitione

r require s a n exemptio n from § 91.313(b ) to conduc t

trainin g require dunde

r par t 1 3 5 i n thi s restricte dcategor

y rotorcraft . Airworthines s standard s fo r restricte dcategor

y aircraf t ar e no t designe dto provid e th e sam e leve l o f safet y tha t i s require dfo

r aircraf t certificatedi

n th e standar

dcategor y under part s 2 3 an d2 5 tha t ar e require dfo

r us e i n par t 12 1 an d13 5 operations . Th

e operatin g limitation s set fort h i n § 91.31 3 ar

e designe dto compensat

e fo r thi s an dt o provid e th e necessar

y level o f safet y fo r specia l purpos e operations . Se

e Amd t 91-12 , 3 0 F

R2531 , 253 2 (Feb . 25 , 1965) ; se e als o 3 3 F

R12825 (Sept . 11 , 1968 ) (addin g allowanc e to conduc t trainin g related t o th e specia l purpos e fo

r whic h th e aircraf

t wa s certificated) . Th

e trainin g operation s th e petitioner propose s t o conduc t

shoul db e conducte di n accordanc e wit h th e higher

safet y standard s set fort h i n par t 135 . Th e FA A finds, however , mligh

t o f th e publi c interes t

t o suppor t th e operation s i n Afghanista

n tha t agran t o f exemptio n fo

r alimite dperio do f

time i s warrante d to ensur e flight crewmember s ar

e properly traine dan

dqualifiedprio r

to operatin g i

n Afghanistan . Th e FA

A expect s tha

t a s Presidential' s S-6 1 fleet become s availabl e tha

t i t will conduc t thi s trainin g i n it s standar

dcategor y S-6 1 rotorcraft . Th e FA A ha s reviewe dth e petitioner' s assertion s tha t "th e restricte dcategor

y S-6 1 i s virtually identicall y configuredt o it s standar dcategor y counterpart. " Th

e FA A recognize s tha

t th e S-6 1 i s equippe dt o ensur

e ful l an dconstant

radi o communications . I

t i s als o capabl e o f

instrument landin g approaches . Th e FA A ha s determined , base

do n th e equipmen

t installe dan

d c^abilitie s of

thi s rotorcraft , i

n conjunctio n wit

h th e condition s an

dlimitation s set

fort h below , tha t a n equivalent

level o f safet y to tha t se t fort h b y th e regulatio n ma

y b e established . Th e FA A recogruzes tha

t th e petitione

r ha s request s a

n exemptio n fromth e restrictions gains t operatin g ove

r congeste dan ddensely populate darea s se t fort h i n § 91.313(e)(1) , (2) , an d(3) . Thi s typ e ofreliefi s no t appropriat

e fo r a n exemption . Th

e FA A Flight Standard s Distric t Offic e (FSDO ) i s responsible fo r determining , o n acase-by-cas e basis , whether a waiver fromthi s restrictio n i s appropriate . See § § 91.313(e ) an d91.90 5 (listin g th e regulations fo

r whic h waiver

i s appropriate) . Each waive r i s basedo n th e particula

r purpos e o f th e flight or flights, equipment , an

dcapabiht y o f th e operator

to ensur e tha t al l safet y consideration s ar

e addressed . Thus , Presidentia l shoul dcontac t

the FSD O i

n th e geographi c region i n which th e trainin g will b e conducte dt o request thi s relief Regardles s o f

whether a waive r fro mthi s restrictio n i s grante db y th e FSDO , Presidentia

l will b e required to hav e allroute s an dtrainin g location s authorize db y th e certificat e holdin g distric t offic e (CHDO ) imde r th e condition s an dlimitation s o f thi s exemption . Th e FAA* s Decisio n I n consideratio n o f

th e foregoing , I findtha t agran t o f exemptio n i s i n th e publi c interest . Therefore , pursuan t

t o th e authorit y containe di n 4 9 U.S. C §§4011 3 an d44701 , delegate dt o m e b y th e Administrator , Presidentia l Airway s i s grante dan exemptio n fro m§ 91.313(b ) t o th e exten t

necessa^ ' t o allo w Presidentia l t o conduc t trainin g requiredunde r

par t 13 5 i n a restricte dcategory rotorcraf t S-61 , subjec t

t o th e condition s an dlimitation s liste dbelow . Condition s an dLimitation s 1 . Thi s exemptio n i s onl y vali dunti l astandar dcategory S-6 1 aircraf t become s availabl e fo r us e b y Presidential . Thi s exemptio n wil l terminat e upo n th e return o f an y standar d categor y S-6 1 rotorcraf

t operated , leased , o r

owne db y Presidentia l t o th e Unite d States . Presidentia l wil l provid e amonthl y repor t t o th e CHD O o f

it s effort s t o obtai n astandar dcategor y S-6 1 t o conduc t trainin g require dunde r

par t 135 . 2 . Thi s exemptio n i s limite dt o Sikorsky S-61A , N561SC , seria l numbe r 61272 . 3 . N o operation s fo r

compensatio n o r

hir e shal l b e conducte ddurin g operation s unde r thi s exemption . 4 . Onl y FA A aviatio n safety inspector s (ASI ) ar e authorize dt o conduc t check s o r

testin g grante db y thi s exemptio n unles s Presidentia l i s grante dauthorit y t o conduc t specifi c check s i n writin g b y th e CHDO . Presidentia l mus t notif y th e appropriat e CHD O a t leas t 7 day s i n advanc e o f

th e propose ddat e o f

th e flight chec k o r testing . 5 . Al l route s an dtrainin g location s mus t b e suitabl e t o th e FA A inspecto r conductin g th e chec k o r a s authorize db y th e CHD O i f achec k airma n i s permitte dt o conduc t th e check . 6 . Presidentia l ma y onl y us e thi s aircraf t fo r th e specia l purpose s identifie do n th e restricte dcategory airworthines s certificat e fo r th e rotorcraf

t an dth e followin g trainin g require dunde r

par t 135 : a . Section s 135.293 , 135.297 , 135.299 . T o complet e check s an devaluation s require db y § 135.297 , th e aircraf t mus t b e certificate dfo r

flight int o instrumen t meteorologica l conditions ; b . Sectio n 135.34 7 fo r

initial , upgrade , transition , differences ; an d c . Sectio n 135.35 1 fo r

recurren t training .7 . A n aircraf t configuratio n analysi s includin g bu t no t limite dt o flight

deck , flight manual , operatin g limitations , an dprocedure s mus t b e complete dan dprovide dt o th e CHD O reflectin g th e capabilit y o f th e aircraf

t t o performal l requiredprocedure s an d maneuver s t o mee t

par t 13 5 trainin g an dcheckin g requirements . I n addition , difference s trainin g mus t b e developed , an dapprove db y th e principa l operation s inspecto r (POI) . Difference s trainin g mus t addres s al l area s identifie di n th e configuratio n analysis . 8 . N o perso n ma y operat e thi s S-6 1 A , N561SC , seria l numbe r 61272 , helicopte r

a t a weigh t greate r tha n th e weigh t

that , with th e critica l engin e inoperative , woul dpermi t a rat e o f clim b o f a t leas t 5 0 fee t pe r minut e a t a n altitud e o f

a t leas t 1,00 0 fee t

abov e th e elevatio n o f

th e highes t

groun do r

obstructio n withi n th e are at o b e operate do r a t a n altitud e o f

5,00 0 feet , whicheve r

i s higher . 9 . Th e aircraf

t mus t b e maintaine di n accordanc e with th e Sikorsky equalize dinspectio n an dmaintenanc e progra mS A 4047-13 . Th e operato r mus t provid e awritte n repor t validatin g complianc e befor e beginnin g traiiun g o r checkin g an dquarterl y thereafter . Th e repor t

wil l als o includ e validatio n tha t life-limit s hav e no t

bee n exceeded . 10 . A cop y o f

thi s exemptio n mus t

b e provide dt o th e PO I an dmus t b e carrie daboar dth e aircraf t a t al l times . 11 . Failur e t o mee t

an y o f th e condition s o f

thi s exemptio n immediatel y cancel s th e authorit y authorize db y thi s exemption . Thi s exemptio n terminate s o n Januar y 31 , 2014 , unles s soone r supersede do r

rescinded . Issue di n Washington , D.C. , o n Decembe r 19 , 201 1 . 

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y foh n M . Alle n lirector . Fligh t

Standard s Servic e