# Adventur e Flights , In c

July? , 201 0 Docke t Managemen t Facilit y U S Departmen t o f Transportatio n 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S E Wes t Buildin g Groun d Floo r Roo m W12-14 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 Dea rRepresentative , Pleas e fin d th e attache d Petitio n fo rExemption . Pleas e expedit e th e handlin g o f th e Petitio n a s i t i s o f a n emergenc y nature . Than k

you . Sincerely , 

### (L</n u DJLHAO^ J

Ji m Bilbre y

1930 1 Jasmin e Court , Lak e Elsinore , C a 9253 0 (951 ) 678-433 4 Fa x (951 ) 678-201 1 Cellula r(951 ) 232-302 5

iirn007@advfliqhts.co mPetitio n fo r Exemptio n Name : Ji mBilbrey DBA : Adventur e Flight s Address : 1930 1 Jasmin e Court , Lak e Elsinore , Californi a9253 0 Phone : Office : 951-678-433 4 Mobile : 951-232-302 5 Email : iim009(a),ibgn.co m Regardin g CF

R141. 5 Reaso n fo r Request : Sinc e 197 5 Adventur

e Flights , Inc . (AF) ha s traine d ove r 20 0 Lighter-Than-Air

balloo n pilot s who hav e earne d thei r

private o r commercia

l Lighter-Than-Air

balloo n rating . Sinc e 1993 , A F ha s traine d ove

r 15 0 student s under

CF R141 , wh o hav e earne d thei r private o r commercia

l Lighter-Than-Air

Ratings . Th e school' s FA

A certificatio n numbe

r i s QJBV584K . To date , A F ha s enjoyed a100 % pas s rate . Unde r contrac t wit h th e FAA , w e hav e traine d man y FA A Lighter-Than-Air

Balloo n Designate d Examiners , wh o are currentl y deploye d al l ove r th e Unite d States . A

F ha s assiste d in settin g up man y Lighter-Than-Air

trainin g facilitie s in foreign countrie s tha

t ha d n o Lighter-Than-Air

trainin g facilitie s o r

regulations . Sinc e 1978 , AF ha s operate d a n FA A Certifie d Lighter-Than-Air Repair Statio n (QJBR584K

) i n Californi aand ha s set up simila r Lighter-Than-Air

repair stfition s i n foreign countrie s tha t ha d n o Lighter-Than-Ai

r repair station s facilities . FA R141.5(d) wa s writte n to addres s trainin g requirement s primaril y fo r fixed vvin g and helicopte r school s an d no t

Par t 14 1 Lighter-Than-Air

schools . The poo l o f Lighter-Than-Air

student s in th e Unite d State s tha t aPar t 14 1 Lighter-Than-Air

schoo l ha s t o dra w fro mi s fa r les s tha n 1 % o f th e siz e availabl e to afixed win g o r helicopter Par t 14 1 school . Yet , FA R14 1 require s th e sam

e minimuj mnumbe

r o f student s t o b e traine d a

t aLighter-Than

Air schoo l a s compare d t o fixed win g o r helicopte r schools . For th e pas t 2 0 years , th e FA

A ha s interprete d FA

R141.5(d ) t o mea n a t leas t 1 0 course s mus t

b e complete d wit

h a n 80 % pas s rate . A

F and severa

l othe r Lighter-Than-Air

par t 14 1 school s hav e been abl e to achiev e thi s minimumrequirement . It appear s tha

t afte r Octobe r 20,2009 , th e FA

A i s interpretin g thi s regulatio n to mea n thai t th e minimumrequiremen

t i s no w 1 0 differen

t individual s rather

tha n trainin g courses . The effec t tha t thi s ne w "interpretation " o f 141. 5 ha s o n th e 6 existin g Lighter-Than-Air school s i s catastrophic . It

appear s tha

t n o existin g Lighter-Than-Air Par t 14 1 pilo t schoo l ca n mee t th e "ne w requirements " o f FA R141.5(d) and (e) . Therefore , when aLighter-Than-Air schoo l certificat

e come s up fo

r renewa l a s i t doe s ever y 24 months , i t

wil l no t b e renewed . The effec t tha t th e ne w interpretatio n ha s o n eil l Lighter-Than-Air

school s i s tha

t the y wil l ceas e t o exist . AF' s Lighter-Than-Air Par t 14 1 Schoo l ha s aheady been denie d renewa l o f ou r certificat e and ha s effectivel

y bee n put

out o f business . A

F ha s ha d to refim d trainin g deposit s t o 5 student s and ha s suffere

d th e los s o f

incom e fi-omLighter-Than-Air

pilo t training . i i ," \1 i u 1

Pag e 1 of 5Th

e wa y i n whic h thi s ne w interpretatio n o f 141. 5 wa s implemente d als o wa s detrimenta l t o th e existin g fixed win g an d helicopte r Par t 14 1 Schools . I

n ajffec t th e ne w rul e interpretatio n wa s mad e and the n applie d retroactivel y t o th e pas t 2 4 months . Lighter-Than-Air Par t 14 1 School s wer e no t even given achanc e t o implemen t th e ne w rul e interpretatio n becaus e th e FA A applie d th e rul e to th e previou s 24 months , insteei d o f implementin g th e rul e interpretatio n beginnin g fi-omOctobe

r 20,2009. 1 believ e thi s i s l:>ot h illega l an d unfair . It i s bad enough tha

t th e econom

y ha s put man y Par t 14 1 School s out

o f business . Then th e FA

A come s alon g wit

h a"new " rul e interpretatio n tha

t effectivel y close s al l remainin g Lighter-Than-Air Par t 14 1 Schools . Th e publi c i s no t

serve d b y forcin g al l Lighter-Than-Air Par t 14 1 Pilo t School s out

o f business . Ther e i s n o CF I ratin g fo r Lighter-Than-Air

pilot s and therefor

e n o professiona

l trainin g othe

r tha n unde r Par t 61 . Unde r Par t 61 , an y commercia

l Lighter-Than-Air

pilo t ha s instructor privileges . Ver

y fe w commercia

l balloo n pilot s hav e th e leve l o f knowledg e and experienc e o f a Lighter-Than-Air

Par t 14 1 balloo n instructor . Also , unde r Par t 141 , there i s 1 8 minimumflight hour s require d t o ear

n acommercia

l Lighter-Than-Air

rating . Unde

r Par t 61 , 3 5 hour s ar

e required . I f n o Lighter-Than-Air

Par t 14 1 School s ar

e availabl e t o students , th e qualit y o f Lighter-Than-Air

trainin g wil l greatly decreas e a t th e sam e time th e cos t

o f trainin g wil l greatly increas e du e to th e fact

tha t a n additiona

l 1 7 hour s o f

flight trainin g are require d under Par t 61 . A hypothetica

l exampl e o f

th e inequitabl e result s o f

th e retroactiv e implementatio n o f th e new metho d o f calculatin g qualificatio n fo r aPar t 14 1 Pilo t Schoo l Certificatio n follows : The school' s Par

t 14 1 Certificat

e wa s issue d o n Novembe

r 1,200 7 an d expire s twenty-fou r (24 ) month s thereafte

r o n Octobe

r 30,2009 . A s o f

Octobe r 15,2009 , th e schoo l ha

d nin e (9 ) students , eac h o f whomha d receive d aPrivat

e Pilo t and aCommercia

l Pilo t airmen certificate . N o mor e student s enrolle d i n th e schoo l unti l Januar y 10* , 2010 . Unde

r th e prio r FA A metho d of

"score keeping" , th e schoo l exceede d th e Par t 14 1 (d) requirements . Unde r th e ne w and retroactiv e metho d of calculating , th e schoo l doe s no t mee t th e requirement s o f

Par t 141.5(d) or

(e) . Thi s i s clearl y a

n unjus t ex pos t fact o applicatio n o f

th e ne w la

w Exten t o f Relie f I reques t that : 1 ) A s a n expeditiou s emergenc y measur e t o protec t

existin g L-T- A Par

t 14 1 School s fi-om closure , th e ne w interpretatio n o f FA R141. 5 no t

b e implemente d retroactively . 2 ) Al l affecte

d Par t 14 1 School s hav e thei r

certificate s renewe d i f

they hav e me

t th e minimum trainin g requirement s o f

Par t 141. 5 undei

- th e previou s FA A interpretatio n o f

th e rul e fo

r th e previou s 2 4 month s fi"omth e expiratio n dat e o f thei r certificate . 3 ) A s alon g ter

msolution , FA

R141. 5 b e amende d t o include d th e following languag e a s indicate d in red : Recommende d FA

R141.5 : Pag e 2 o f 5141. 5 Requirement s fo ra pilo t schoo i certificate .

Th e FA A ma y issu e a pilo t schoo l certificat e wit h th e appropriat e rating s if , withi n th e 2 4 calenda rmonth s befor e th e dat e applicatio n i s made , th e applicant — (a ) Complete s th e applicatio n fo ra pilo t schoo l certificat e o n th e for m an d i n th e manne rprescribe d b y th e FAA ; (b ) Ha s hel d a provisiona l pilo t schoo l certificate ; (c) Meets th e applicabl e requirement s unde rsubpart s A throug h C o f thi s par t fo rth e schoo l certificat e an d associate d rating s sought ; (d ) Ha s traine d an d recommende d a t leas t 1 0 differen t people , o ri n th e cas e of L-T- A school s 4 differen t people , fo ra knowledg e tes t o ra practica l test , o ran y combinatio n thereof , an d a t leas t 8 0 percen t o f thos e person s passe d thei rtest s o n th e firs t attempt ; an d (e ) Has graduate d a

t leas t 1 0 differen t people , o ri n th e cas e of L-T- A school s 4 differen t people , fro m th e school' s approve d trainin g courses . I respectfull

y reques t tha t thi s Petitio n fo

r Exemptio n b e grante d expeditiously du e to th e fac t tha t ou r L-T- A Par

t 14 1 Schoo l wa s forced t o ceas e operation s o n Ma y 1 , 201 0 du e to th e ne w "interpretation " o f

FA R141.5 . Sincerely , 

## (Lc/n u DAJ^AO ^ Ji mBilbrey

Pag e 3 o f 5Chronolog y o f A F Par t 14 1 Lighter-Than-Air

Schoo l Certificatio n 199 2 -199 3 Adventur e Flights , Inc . obtain s Par

t 14 1 Schoo l Certificatio n fo r Private an d Commercia

l Pilo t L-T- A Ratings . 6 individual s complete d atotal o f 1 6 separat

e courses . 100 % pas s rate , 1994-199 5 Schoo l Certificat

e Renewed . 1 6 individual s complete d atotal o f 4 2 separat

e courses . 100 % pas s rate . 1996-199 7 Applicatio n fo

r Renewa l o f Par t 14 1 Certificat

e submitte d in perso n b y Ji mBilbrey t o Ton y Costanz a(FA

A Schoo l Inspector) a

t th e IRiversid

e FSDO . Ton

y Constanz alos t

schoo l certificat

e renewa l applicatio n causin g a

n 8-mont h dela y i n renewin g th e certificate . AF Par t 14 1 Schoo l forced t o clos e fo

r 8 months . Certificat

e finally renewe d a s acertifie d Par t 14 1 pilo t schoo l afte

r repeate d request s and finally demand s by Ji mBilbrey , owne r o f school . 1 2 individual s complete d atota

l o f 3 4 courses . 100 % pas s rate . 1998-199 9 Applicatio n fo

r Renewa l o f Par t 14 1 Certificat

e submitte d i n perso n b y Ji mBilbrey t o Ton y Costanz a(FA

A Schoo l Inspector) a

t th e Ifliversid

e FSDO . Certificat

e renewed . Tw o ne w course s adde d t o school . Private an d commercia l pilo t add-o n course s adde d t o schoo l syllabi . 1 3 individual s complete d atotal o f 3 4 courses . 100 % pas s rate . 2000-200 1 Applicatio n fo

r Renewa l o f Par t 14 1 Certificat

e submitte d in perso n b y Ji mBilbrey to Ton y Costanz a(FA

A Schoo l Inspector) a

t th e Ifliversid

e FSDO , and sen

t b y U.S . mail . Ton

y Constanz aagain los t

bot h copie s o f

th e schoo l certificat

e renewa l applicatio n an

d syllabi , causin g a7-mont

h dela y i n renewin g th e certificate . A F Par t 14 1 Schoo l forced to clos e fo r 7

- months . Standar

d Par t 14 1 Schoo l Certificat

e finally renewe d afte

r repeate d request s and finally demand s b y Ji mBilbrey , owne r o f school . 1 0 Individual s complete d atota l o f 2 8 courses . 100 % pas s rate . 200 2 - 200 3 Applicatio n fo

r Renewa l o f Par t 14 1 Certificat

e submitte d in perso n b y Ji mBilbrey to Ton y Costanz aand Bra

d Howar d (FA A Schoo l Inspectors ) a

t th e Riverside FSDO , an d sen t b y U.S . mail . Bra d Howar d explaine d ho w FA

R141. 5 counte d "courses " given and no t individua l students . He require d tha

t w e produc e tw o mor

e syllabi . I n additio n t o th e private and commercia

l trainin g courses , w e wer

e require d to als o offe

r private and commercia

l add-o n ratin g course s wit

h separat e syllabi . A

F explaine d t o Bra

d Howar d tha t th e private and commercia

l course s ar

e identica l t o th e private and commercia l add-o n courses , therefore , th e extr atw o syllab i wer

e no t necessary . Pag e 4 o f

5A

F produce d tw o mor

e syllab i fo

r private an d commercia

l add-o n rating s tha

t wer e identica l t o th e privat e and commercia

l ratin g syllabi , excep t

fo r th e titl e page . AF produce d th e tw o ne w syllab i in les s tha

n a n hour afte r th e reques t

wa s mad e b y Bra d Howard , FA

A Schoo l Inspector . Thi s wa s eas y t o do becaus e i t onl y require d th e titl e o f

th e syllab i t o b e changed . It too k 9

- month s t o hav e th e tw o "new " syllab i approve d b y Bra d Howard . Meanwhile , th e schoo l wa s forced t o shut

dow n fo r 9-month s whil e i t

waite d fo r "approval " o f

th e tw o "new " syllabi . The Certificat

e wa s finally renewe d a s astandar d Par t 14 1 schoo l afte

r repeate d request s and demand s b y Ji mBilbrey , owne r o f school . 9-individual s complete d atota l o f 2 6 courses . 100 % pas s rate . 2004-200 5 Applicatio n fo

r Renewa l o f Par t 14 1 Certificat

e submitte d i n perso n b y Ji mBilbrey to Bra d Howar d (FA A Schoo l Inspector) a

t th e Riversid e FSDO . I

n addition , i t

wa s notarize d and sen

t b y certifie d mai l t o Bra

d Howar d a t th e Riversid e FSDO . Bra

d Howar d los t bot h copie s o f

th e schoo l certificat

e renewa l applicatio n and syllabi , causin g a2-mont h dela y i n renewin g th e certificate . Th e schoo l wa s renewe d a s astandar d Par t 14 1 schoo l afte

r a2-mont h dela y afte r AF presente d evidenc e (certifie d mai l retur n receipt) to Bo

b Blanton , Manage

r o f th e Riverside FSDO . A

F Par t 14 1 Schoo l wa s forced t o clos e fo r 2-month s du e t o th e los s o f th e renewa

l applicatio n an

d syllab i copies . Th e schoo l certificat e wa s finally renewe d afte

r repeate d request s b y Ji mBilbrey , owne r o f school . 1 4 individual s complete d atotal o f 3 8 courses . 100 % pas s rate . 2006-200 7 Applicatio n fo

r Renewa l of Par t 14 1 Certificat

e wa s submitte d in perso n b y Ji mBilbrey t o Gab e Serran o (FA

A Schoo l Inspector) a

t th e Riiversid

e FSDO . I n addition , i t

wa s notarize d and sen

t b y certifie d mai l to th e Riversid e FSDO . Th e Riverside FSD O los t bot h copie s o f

th e schoo l renewa l applicatio n and syllabi , causin g a1-mont h dela y in renewin g th e certificate . B y th e time th e Riversid e FSD O renewe d th e schoo l application , i t wa s pas t th e schoo l certificat

e expiratio n date , therefore , unlik

e i s pas t cases , th e Riversid e FSD O renewe d th e schoo l a s a"provisiona l school" . 1 0 individual s complete d atotal o f 24 courses . 100 % pas s rate . 2008-201 0 Natha n Dickinso n (FA

A Schoo l Inspector) calle d A F to remin d themto submi t thei r schoo l renewa l application . The applicatio n wa s submitte d and th e schoo l syllab i wer e update d per

hi s request . He the n informed A F tha t Par t 141. 5 ha d been changed . Late

r h e indicate d tha

t th e schoo l woul d no t

b e eligibl e fo

r renewa l a s th e metho d o f

countin g ha

d change d fro

m"courses " t o "individuals " and tha

t th e chang e woul d b e implemente d retroactively , I informe d hi mtha

t A F ha s n o wa

y to comply wit

h arequirement

tha t i s retroactiv e fo

r 2 4 months , an

d tha t th e implementatio n o f

arul e chang e retroactivel y i s bot h unfai r an d illegal . H e contacte d L

A Regio n lega

l coimcil fo

r cLirification and wa s informe d tha t th e rul e will stand an

d A F woul d hav e t o tak

e i t up wit h "Washington" . AF ha s no w been close d sinc e Ma y 1,201 0 an

d i s accumulatin g losse s fro

mlos s o f trainin g income . 9-individual s complete d atota l o f 2 2 courses . 100 % pas s rate . Pag e 5 o f 5