AFS-13-340-E

June 07, 2013

 Exemption No. 10793

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2013-0382

Mr. James Hill

AirCover

3710 Flight Avenue

Redding, CA 96002

Dear Mr. Hill:

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 April 19, 2013, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Aircover for an exemption from §§ 91.9(b) and 91.203(a) and (b) of Title 14, Code 

of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to allow AirCover to operate its 

unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the AirCover 425, in domestic operations consisting of 

research and development, and crew training without carrying a flight manual on board or 

displaying an experimental certificate, but allow the flight manual and experimental certificate

to reside with the ground control station operator. In addition, it would allow AirCover to 

continue operation of the AirCover 425 temporarily following the incidental loss or mutilation 

of that aircraft’s experimental certificate or registration certificate or both.

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 AirCover.

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. 8607 (copy enclosed), the FAA 
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found that it is unnecessary to carry and display the experimental, certification and registration 

documents in UASs for the operation described by the petitioner. The original intent of the 

subject regulations was to display the experimental and registration documents so they would 

be easily available to the FAA inspectors and passengers. 

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 Nos. 8607;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption Nos. 8607 

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 AirCover an exemption from 14 CFR §§ 91.9(b) and 

91.203(a) and (b) to the extent necessary to allow AirCover to operate its UAS, AirCover 

425, in domestic operations consisting of research and development, and crew training 

without carrying a flight manual on board or displaying an experimental certificate, but allow 

the flight manual and experimental certificate to reside with the ground control station 

operator. In addition, it would allow AirCover to continue operation of its UAS temporarily 

following the incidental loss or mutilation of that aircraft’s experimental certificate or 

registration certificate or both, subject to the conditions and limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations 

1. The documents required under §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be available to the pilot in 

command of the UAS anytime the aircraft is operating.

2. Those documents required under §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be made available 

within 10 days to any FAA, U.S. Department of Defense, or law enforcement 

official.

3. Lockheed shall comply with any minimum fuel quantity requirement of an 

approved pilot operating manual or approved flight manual.
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4. This exemption applies only to operators of the AirCover 425 when participating 

in research and development and crew training.

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

Sincerely,

/s/

John M. Allen

Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosures