AFS-12-502-E

This letter corrects the October 11, 2012, letter we sent granting your petition for Exemption 

No. 10643. Although the grant for exemption was covered by Exemption No. 10643, a 

correction was made to the first page. Below is the amended Exemption No. 10643, including 

changes to the first paragraph under ‘The Basis for Our Decision, correcting the company 

name. We have made the correction in our records as of October 24, 2012.

October 11, 2012

 Exemption No. 10643

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2012-0854

Mr. D. Turley

Northrop Grumman

One Hornet Way

El Segundo, CA 90245

Dear Mr. Turley:

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 August 13, 2012, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Northrop Grumman 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 Northrop 

Grumman to operate an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that does not carry and display the 

aircraft’s airworthiness certification, registration documents, and flight manual 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 Northrop Grumman.
2

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 

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 Northrop Grumman an exemption from 

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

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

certification, registration documents, and flight manual 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.

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

This exemption terminates on September 30, 2014, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Deputy Director, Flight Standards

 Service