AFS-14-113-E 

March 20, 2014 

 Exemption No. 8480F 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2005-20109 

Mr. Andrew Lotter 

President 

Ameriflight, LLC 

4700 Empire Avenue 

Hangar One 

Burbank, CA 91505 

Dear Mr. Lotter: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption 

No. 8480, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the 

conditions and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated January 14, 2014, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Ameriflight, LLC (Ameriflight) for an extension of Exemption No. 8480, as 

amended. That exemption from § 110.2 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 

allows Ameriflight to operate certain Embraer Brasilla EMB-120 airplanes with a maximum 

payload capacity greater than 7,500 pounds in all-cargo service under part 135. 

Although the petitioner requested relief from § 119.3, that section has been redesignated to § 

110.2. The redesignation was included in the “Operations Specifications” final rule published 

in the Federal Register on Feburary 10, 2011 

(76 FR 7486). 

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. 
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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 Ameriflight. 

Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 8480, 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. §§ 106(f), 40113, and 44701, which the 

FAA Administrator has delegated to me, Ameriflight, LLC is granted an extension to its 

exemption1 from 14 CFR § 110.2 to allow Ameriflight to operate certain Embraer Brasilla 

EMB-120 airplanes with a maximum payload capacity greater than 7,500 pounds in all-cargo 

service under part 135, subject to the following conditions and limitations. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Prior to conducting operations under this exemption, Ameriflight must obtain 

amended operations specifications that include this exemption. 

2. Operations under this exemption are limited to EMB-120ER airplanes modified 

into dedicated freighters under supplemental type certificate 00598WI or to aircraft 

model EMB-120FC.

3. A copy of this exemption must be carried onboard each EMB-120 airplane operated 

under this exemption. 

4. EMB-120 airplanes operated under this exemption must be maintained in 

accordance with the maintenance requirements set forth in § 135.411(a)(2).

5. Ameriflight must institute a flight following program in accordance with § 121.125. 

However, mandatory compliance with § 121.125(a)(1) is limited to the following 

subparagraphs of part 121 subpart U: 

 Section 121.597 

 Section 121.599(b) 

 Section 121.603 

 Section 121.631(b), (c), and (d) 

Other applicable sections of part 121, subpart U may be met by compliance with 

the appropriate analogous part 135 sections or authorized operations specifications. 

6. Ameriflight must compute the increase in weight, in excess of 7,500 pounds, by 

determining the difference between the certificated maximum zero-fuel weight 

 

1

 In your petition, you have requested that this exemption be extended for an additional two years (or longer at 

our discretion). The FAA finds it in the best interest of safety to review this exemption every 2 years. This 

allows the FAA to ensure that there has been no change in circumstances or regulations from which the 

exemption is granted. 
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(MZFW) and the actual empty operating weight plus crew weight. No increase to 

the certificated maximum takeoff weight is authorized under this exemption. 

7. All operations conducted under this exemption must be conducted with EMB-120 

airplanes that are equipped with cockpit voice recorder, flight data recorder, traffic 

alert and collision avoidance system, ground proximity warning system, and 

autopilot. 

8. Prior to conducting any operations under this exemption, Ameriflight must amend 

its approved training program in a manner acceptable to its principal operations 

inspector to include training with the additional equipment listed in Condition and 

Limitation No. 7 and any other differences. 

This exemption terminates on April 30, 2016, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John Barbagallo 

Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service