AFS

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- E May 20, 2013

Exemption No. 10773 Regulatory Docket No. FAA

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- 0295

Mr. Robert Old

Chief Pilot

Bristow U.S.

4605 Industrial Drive New Iberia, LA 70560

Dear Mr. Old :

This l etter 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 M arch 18, 2013 , you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on

behalf of Bristow U.S. LLC ( Bristow ) for an exemption from § 91.9(a) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to allow Bristow 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, an d 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 detr imental to Bristow

.

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 operations to offshore facilities prese nt a unique operating environment that requires special consideration in operations, training, and standardization, but also recognized2

there may be instances in which a safe forced landing may not be possible due to

environmental or other factors. Notwi thstanding , the FAA concluded the petitioners proposed operational controls were consistent with those in OpSpec H100 and was in the public interest because the use of the S

- 92A provides its passengers with safe transportation, while maintaining an effici ent transportation system for the oil and gas industry.

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 reaso ns 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. 40113 and 44701, which the FA A Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant Bristow U.S. LLC an exemption from 14 CFR § 91.9(a) to the extent necessary 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 , subj ect to the conditions and limitations

described below.

Conditions and Limit ations

1. This exemption is limited to operations conducted in B ristow ’s 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 e xemption 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 when ever the aircraft is over water and the aircraft must be equipped with floats, accessible rafts, and a 406 MHz beacon.

5. Bristow 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.

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 Clas s 2 with limited exposure to engine failure.3

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 fee t above the takeoff surface with one engine inoperative and the remaining engine at maximum continuous one

- engine inoperative (OEI) power.

8. Bristow must comply with, in addition to other routine preflight computations, the procedures cited in the S

- 92A R otorcraft 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 Tak eoff

– Elevated Helideck.”

9. Operations under the provisions of this exemption must be flown by two pilot crews that are qualified and current in the operation of the S

- 92A.

10. Bristow ’s approved training program must include provisions for training of

appr opriate crews on the profiles associated with a Performance Class 2 with limited exposure takeoff and arrival, including performance planning. Bristow must document the conduct and completion of that training for appropriate flight

crewmembers.

11. Proficien cy 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. Bristow must establish parameters for takeoff and arrival at helidecks for its flight data

moni toring program and provide ongoing surveillance of those operations.

13. Bristow must advise all S

- 92A flight crewmembers of the provisions of this exemption, and document that notification.4

14. A copy of this exemption must be carried onboard each S

- 92A utiliz ing these provisions.

This exemption terminates on May 31, 201 5 , unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John M. Allen Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosure