AFS-11-214-E 

June 10, 2011 

 Exemption No. 10285 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2011-0143 

Mr. Thomas Koonce 

Program Manager, Special Programs 

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company 

1011 Lockheed Way 

Palmdale, CA 93599-0828 

Dear Mr. Koonce: 

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 March 3, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (Lockheed) for an exemption from 

§§ 91.9(b)(2) and 91.203(a) and (b) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). This 

exemption will allow Lockheed to operate an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that does not 

carry and display the aircraft’s airworthiness, certification, and registration documents 

required under part 91. 

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 Lockheed. 

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. 8607 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

found that it is unnecessary to carry and display the airworthiness, certification, and 

registration documents in UASs for the operation described by the petitioner. The original 
2 

intent of the subject regulations was to display the airworthiness 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 No. 8607; 

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 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 Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company an exemption 

from 14 CFR §§ 91.9(b)(2) and 91.203(a) and (b) to the extent necessary to allow Lockheed 

to operate a UAS that does not carry and display the aircraft’s airworthiness, certification, and 

registration documents required under part 91, 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; and 

3. This exemption is not valid for operations outside the United States. 

This exemption terminates on June 30, 2013, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John W. McGraw 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service 

Enclosure