### Florid a Fis h an d Wildlif e Conservatio n Commissio n U.S . Departmen t of Transportatio n Docke t Managemen t

Syste m 40 0 Tt t Street , SW. , Roo mP L40 1 Washington , D C 20591-000 1 Ma y 17 , 201 0 Commissioners RodneyBarret o Chai r Miam i Kath yBarc o Vice-Chai r Jacl<sonvill e Ronal d M . Bergero n For t Lauderdal e Richard A . Corbet t Tamp a Dwigh t Stephenso n DelrayBeac h Kennet hW . Wrigh t Winte rPar k Bria n S . Yabionsk i Taliahasse e 

### Florid aFis han dWildlif e Conservatio nCommissio n Divisio nof

La w Enforcemen t Aviatio nSectio n 62 0 Sout hMeridia nStree t TaUahassee , Florid a32399-160 0 Authority : Titl e 14 , Cod e of Federa l Regulations , FA R11.2 5 Purpose : Petitio nfor

Exemptio n- FA R91-205(h ) Dea r Sirs : Th e Florid aFis han dWildlif e Conservatio nCommissio n(FWC ) petition s th e Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n(FAA ) fo r a nexemptio nfro mFedera l Aviatio n Regulatio n(FAR ) 91.205(h) . Executive Staff Kennet h D . Hadda d Executive Directo r Nicl < Wiley Assistan t Executive Directo r Kare n Ventimigll a Deput yChie f o f Staff Divisio n of La wEnforcemen t Colone l Ji m Brow n Directo r (850 ) 488-625 1 (850 ) 921-645 3 FA

X

Managin g fist i an d wiidiif e resource s fo rtiiei riong-ter m weii-bein g an d th e benefi t o f peopie . 62 0 Sout h Meridia n Stree t Taliahassee , Florid a 32399-160 0 Voice : (850 ) 488-467 6 Hearing/speec h impaired : (800 ) 955-877 1 (T

) (800 ) 955-877 0 (V

) 

### Th e FWC , aStat e of Florid agovernmen t

agency , i s th e larges t

resourc e conservatio n agenc y i nth e Unite dStates . Th e FW C Aviatio nSectio ni s par t of th e Divisio n o

f La w Enforcemen t

an di s responsibl e for

th e protectio nof

Florida' s natura l resource s an dhuma nlif

e throug hairborn e operations . Th e FWC' s responsibiUtie s includ e searc han drescue , assistanc e durin g natura l an dman-mad e disaster s an dhomelan d security . Th e FW C operate s a naircraf t flee t consistin g of

7 airplane s an d8 helicopters . Unti l th e enactmen t

of FA R91.205(h) , th e FW C ha s operate di nexces s o f 1 5 year s utiHzin g Nigh t

Visio nGoggle s (NVG's ) for nigh t la w enforcemen t

operations . Th e FW C Aviatio nSectio nha s experience dn o accident s o r incident s relate dt o NV Gus e durin g it s histor y of

usin g NVG's . Eac haircraf t ha s instrumen t

pane l Ughtin g syste mmodification s an dinstrumentatio na s necessar y t o operat e th e aircraf t safel y an deffectivel y usin g NVG's . Th e NV Ginstrumen t pane l lightin g syste m modification s mad e ar e simila r t o th e standard s require db y FA R91.205(h) , however , wer e no t

installe dwhe nStandar dTj^pe Certificat e (STC ) modification s wer e availabl e o r

required . Th e enactmen t

o f FA R91.205(h ) ha s force dth e agenc y t o discontinu e us e o f NVG's b y ou r pilot s an dha s severel y impacte dou r flight operationa l safet y an d effectiveness . Thi s rulin g ha s necessitate dnigh t flight s b e conducte dwithou t th e ai d of nigh t visio ngoggle s whic hdramaticall y decrease s visibility . Thi s place s th e pilo t an dcre w i nincrease ddange r du e t o th e extrem e darknes s o f th e area s typicall y flownsuc ha s th e Everglade s an doff-shore wher e ahorizo ni s normall y limite do r non-existent . Th e los s of visua l acuit y severall y limit s effectivenes s i nlocatin g MyFWC.co m

### U.S . Departmen t of Transportatio n Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n Pag e 2 May 17 , 201 0 obstacles , terrain , potentia l searc han drescu e victims , crimina l suspect s an dth e la w

enforcemen t

officer s w e wor k

with . Th e enactmen t

of FA R91.205(h ) ha s place da nundu e economi c burde n o n th e agency . Th e FW C ha s solicite dvendo r bid s for modificatio nof

aircraf t Ughtin g system s t o brin g th e aircraf t int o complianc e wit hFA R91.205(h) . Bid s exceede d $400,00 0 t o modif

y al l aircraft . Becaus e severa l of ou r aircraf t ar e of amode l no t currentl y covere db y a nexistin g NV Glightin g syste mSTC , th e agenc y wil l bea r th e additiona l cost s associate dwit hresearch , developmen t an dacquisitio nof

a n ST C o r 33 7 fieldapproval s b y th e vendor . Th e Stat e o

f Florid ai s experiencin g significan t budge t shortfall s thi s yea r

du e t o th e laggin g econom y an dreduce dta x revenues . Th e agenc y doe s no t hav e legislativ e budge t allocation s thi s yea r

sufficien t

t o pa y for

al l aircraf

t modifications . T o date , a purchas e requisitio ni nexces s o f $100,00 0 ha s bee ncontracte dwit hAer o Dynamix , Inc . t o suppl y NV Glightin g conversion s for tw o of th e agencie s Bel l 20 6 JetRange r helicopters . I t

i s anticipate dtha t

tw o additiona l NV Glightin g conversion s wil l b e contracte dafte r

th e ne w fiscal yea r

startin g Jul y 1 , 2010 . Th e FW C hope s t o continu e thi s proces s unti l al l aircraf t hav e bee nmodified , however , thi s proces s my tak e severa l years . Th e FW C i s als o pursuin g federa l gran t opportunitie s t o secur e fundin g for

additiona l aircraf

t modifications . Again , thi s proces s ma y als o tak e severa l year s t o complete . Th e FW C believe s a nexemptio nfro mFA R91.205(h ) for a perio do f 4 year s shoul db e asufficien t tim e perio dt o allo w th e agenc y th e necessar y budgetar y fundin g t o brin g al l agenc y aircraf t int o compHance . Th e FW C Aviatio nSectio nha s specifi c documente dpolicie s an dprocedure s dictatin g th e us e of

NVG' s (Se e Attachmen t 1 - Excerp t

Sectio nXI , Page s 33-35) , FW C Aviatio nSectio nFligh t

Operation s Manual ) t o ensur e saf e NV Goperations . PUo t NV Ginitia l training , recurren t training , an doperationa l constraint s an dmandate s ar e specified . Th e FW C Aviatio nSectio nha s aSafety/Standardizatio nOfficer positio nspecificall y responsibl e for maintainin g saf

e flight operations , recurren t pilo t trainin g an densurin g complianc e wit hoperatin g policie s an dprocedures . Th e FW C Aviatio nSectio noperate s wit hIT T 4949 FNVG's . Th e 4949 FNV Gar e approve db y th e FAA . Al l FW C Aviatio nSectio nNVG' s receiv e regula r inspectio n an dmaintenanc e a s require db y th e manufacturer . NV Ginspectio nan d maintenanc e i s contracte dt o a napprove dan drecognize dNV Ginspectio n vendor . Aviatio nSpecialtie s Unlimite d(ASU) . Th e FW C i s confiden t

NV Goperation s whil e operatin g unde r exemptio nfro mFA R 91.205(h ) wil l b e conducte di nasaf e manne r

whil e givin g th e agenc y sufficien t tim e t o amortiz e th e investmen t i nbringin g th e aircraf

t int o complianc e withou t placin g a nundu e economi c burde nupo nth e agenc y an dth e citizen s o f th e stat e of

Florida .

### U.S . Departmen t of Transportatio n Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n Pag e 3 Ma y 17 , 201 0 A summar y of th e Petitio nfor

Exemptio nfro mFA R91.205(h ) i s attache dfor publicatio ni nth e Federa l Registe r (Se e Attachmen t

2) . If yo u hav e an y questions , pleas e d o no t hesitat e t o contac t

me . Sincerely , Captai nKevi nM . Vislocky FW C Pubh c Safet y Sectio n (850 ) 922-418 9 Ext . 11 4 Offic e (850 ) 251-728 6 Cel l Kevin.Vislockv@mvfwc.co mU.S . Departmen t o f Transportatio n Docke t Managemen t Syste m Attachmen t 1 Pag e 1 May17 , 201 0 SECTIO N X I NIGH TVISIO N GOGGLE S A . Purpos e Tli e followin g standar d operatin g procedure s ar e intende d t o provid e guidanc e i n th e conduc t o f saf e nigh t operation s whil e usin g NVGs . Th e primarypurpos e o f nigh t visio n goggle s i s t o increas e th e crew' s abilit yt o se e outsid e th e aircraf t an d provid e a n elemen t o f surpris e agains t suspect s whil e the yar e unprepared . Th e degre e o f succes s o f a fligh t conducte d wit h NVG s i s directl yrelate d t o th e qualit yo f fligh t plannin g an d cre wcoordination . B . Qualificatio n o f Cre wMember s Al l cre wmember s actin g a s pilo t mus t hav e successfull ycomplete d a n initia l forma l ANVI S (Aviato rNigh t Visio n Imagin g System ) trainin g cours e o rcomplete d a militaryo r governmen t trainin g cours e i n th e us e o f nigh t visio n goggles . Al l pilot s usin g NVG s mus t hol d a n instrumen t rating . Cre wmember s no t rate d i n th e aircraf t actin g i n th e capacit y o f co-pilot/FLI R observe ro robserve rnee d t o hav e complete d a groun d schoo l o n th e ANVI S operato rmanua l an d b e give n a n in-fligh t demonstratio n o f operatin g technique s o f th e NVG s prio rt o conductin g an yoperationa l missions . Thi s instructio n i s t o b e taught b ya pilo t wh o ha s complete d a n authorize d forma l trainin g course . C . Minimu m Cre wwit h NVG' s 1 . Fo rrotarywin g aircraft , a pilo t an d observer/FLI R operator , bot h wearin g NVGs , i s require d t o safel yperfor m ANVI S fligh t fo rLa wEnforcemen t o rSearc h an d Rescue . Sol o fligh t fro m airpor t t o airpor t fo rth e sol e purpos e o f pickin g u p a cre wmembe ri s authorized . Durin g certai n missio n profile s i.e . FLIR , i t ma yb e necessar yfo rth e non-flyin g cre wmembe rt o operat e th e goggle s i n th e "stowe d up " position . Us e o f NVG' s o n landin g t o a helicopte rdoll yi s prohibited . 2 . Fo rfixe d win g aircraft , a sol o pilo t ma yoperat e wit h NVG s abov e 1000 ' AGL . A pilo t an d observe rma yoperat e dow n t o 500 ' AGL . Us e o f th e goggle s o n takeof f o rlandin g i s no t authorized . D . Recenc yo f Experienc e I n orde rt o maintai n currenc ya s a n NV G pilot , th e individua l mus t lo g a t leas t 1 hou ro f NV G fligh t every9 0 days . I f a pilo t exceed s 12 0 days , the ywil l b e require d t o complet e a 1 hou rfligh t wit h a curren t NV G pilo t prio rt o resumin g NV G dutie s a s pilo t i n command .U.S . Department o f Transportatio n Docke t Managemen t Syste m Attachmen t 1 Pag e 2 May17 , 201 0

NV G Operationa l Requirement s

1 . ANVI S fligh t shoul d b e limite d t o a maximu m o f 5 fligh t hour s i n a helicopte ro r7 fligh t hour s i n a n airplan e wit h a n operabl e autopilo t pe rcre wmembe rdut y period . Unde rcertai n demandin g condition s i.e . ver ylo wambien t light , lo w visibility , lo wNV G experience , etc. , a mor e restrictiv e fligh t hou rlimitatio n ma yb e i n order . Th e PI C shoul d asses s al l ris k factor s an d determin e th e appropriat e fligh t tim e limit s consisten t wit h th e particula rsituatio n an d saf e operatio n o f th e aircraft . 2 . ANVI S fligh t shoul d no t b e conducte d i n weathe rcondition s belo wbasi cVF R minimum s (1000 ' - 3sm) . NVG s ca n se e throug h ligh t obscuration s suc h a s ligh t fog , haze , o rsmok e s o i t i s easie rt o g o inadverten t IM C (Instrumen t Meteorologica l Conditions ) durin g ANVI S flight . A s obscuration s build , ther e wil l b e increase d vide o noise , lowerin g o f ambien t ligh t leve l an d decrease d acuity . 3 . Th e maximu m angl e o f ban k fo rANVI S fligh t shoul d no t excee d 3 0 degrees . 4 . Becaus e o f th e difficult yi n seein g obstructions , i.e . powe rlines , towers , antenna s durin g ANVI S flight , th e pilo t shal l fl ya t a n airspee d tha t wil l allo whi m maneuverin g spac e i n tim e t o avoi d collidin g wit h suc h obstacles . Airspeed s mus t b e decrease d i f environmenta l factor s restric t visibility . 5 . NVG s wil l no t b e utilize d i n Clas s B airspac e o rothe rarea s o f hig h densit ycivi l ai rtraffic , excep t whe n th e NVG s ar e essentia l t o th e saf e conduc t o f th e missio n suc h a s searc h an d rescue . Externa l navigatio n light s wil l alway s b e operate d lA W FA R 91.209 . 6 . Cockpi t lightin g shoul d b e ANVI S compatible . I t ma yb e necessaryt o completel y tap e ove rnon-essentia l lighting . Ther e mus t b e a t leas t on e (1 ) operabl e flashligh t i n th e cockpi t durin g NV G operations . I t i s als o recommende d tha t a n ANVI S li p ligh t b e utilize d durin g flight . 7 . ANVI S goggle s mus t b e inspecte d i n accordanc e wit h th e operator' s manua l prio r t o fligh t an d foun d t o b e operatin g normall yi n orde rt o conduc t ANVI S flight . A zer o tim e primaryan d spar e batteryshal l alway s b e availabl e durin g ANVI S flight . Th e lanyar d mus t b e installe d pe rth e operator' s manua l prio rt o flight .U.S . Departmen t o f Transportatio n Docke t Managemen t Syste m Attachmen t 1 Pag e 3 May17 , 201 0 NV G Fligh t Plannin g

1 . Th e Pilot-ln-Comman d wil l conduc t a comprehensiv e flight/missio n plannin g sessio n prio rt o an yNV G flight . Effectiv e cre wcoordinatio n an d communicatio n ar e critica l fo rfligh t safety . Cre wmember s shoul d identif yfligh t requirement s tha t wil l necessitat e effectiv e cre wcommunicatio n an d timin g o f cre waction s i.e . radi o communications , navigation , FLI R operations , us e o f externa l lights , etc . Th e cre wshoul d decid e wha t th e coordinatio n wil l b e t o accomplis h thes e requirement s an d discus s i t durin g th e plannin g phase . 2 . I n additio n t o th e passenge rbrie f i n Chapte rV-E , th e pre-fligh t plannin g an d briefin g wit h cre wmember s fo rANVI S operation s shoul d cover : a . Weathe rcondition s - VF R required , inadverten t IM C procedure . b . Ambien t ligh t condition s - moo n illuminatio n an d time , cit ylights , clou d cover . c . Aircraf t preparatio n - lights , clea n windscreen , fueling , squawks . d . Fligh t rout e - obstacles , safet yma p wit h marke d hazards , altitudes , airspeeds , fuel . e . Communication s - frequencie s fo rATC , surfac e patro l units , radi o guard . f . Contingenc yplan s - dutie s o f cre wmember s i n cas e o f certai n aircraf t emergencies . g . Missio n - task s necessaryt o accomplis h th e mission . h . Cre wcoordinatio n - positiv e chang e o f control s fo rpilots , observer's . in-fligh t role , i . Insur e cre wmember s understan d thei rrespectiv e dutie s an d responsibilities . NV G Preventativ e Maintenanc e 1 . ANigh t Visio n Goggl e preventativ e maintenanc e progra m base d o n th e manufacturer' s recommendation s wil l b e institute d t o car e fo rth e goggles . A qualifie d contracto rwil l b e obtaine d t o perfor m th e necessarypreventativ e maintenanc e an d unschedule d repairs . 2 . Afte rth e conclusio n o f th e night' s activities , eac h se t o f goggle s an d associate d equipmen t shal l b e wipe d clea n o f al l dir t an d moisture , lense s cleane d wit h len s pape ronly , len s cap s installe d an d returne d t o it s storag e case . Batterie s shoul d b e remove d fro m th e batterypac k t o preven t corrosio n fro m developing . 3 . Nigh t Visio n Goggle s ar e a precis e electro-optica l instrumen t an d mus t b e handle d carefully . Cautio n shoul d b e take n no t t o dro p th e goggle s a s sever eU.S . Departmen t o f Transportatio n Docke t Managemen t Syste m Attachmen t 1 Pag e 4 May17 , 201 0 damag e ma yoccur . I f th e tub e breaks , d o no t allo wth e phospho rt o com e i n

contac t wit h th e skin . I f contac t i s made , was h a s soo n a s possibl e wit h soa p an d water . Th e phospho ri s identifie d a s a whit e chalkysubstance . Tw o form s wil l b e maintaine d fo rth e purpose s o f trackin g ANVI S maintenanc e an d inspections . Amaintenanc e trackin g shee t wil l b e maintaine d separately fro m th e goggles . Al l schedule d an d unschedule d maintenanc e an d initia l distortio n evaluation s wil l b e recorde d o n thi s form . Asquaw k shee t wil l b e maintaine d withi n th e ANVI S carryin g case . Th e squaw k shee t i s use d t o recor d deficiencie s foun d b yth e operato rdurin g fligh t o rpre-flight . Th e mos t recen t schedule d service s completio n dat e wil l b e entere d o n th e squaw k shee t fo r operato rverification . Thes e form s wil l accompan yth e ANVI S durin g schedule d services . Goggle s wil l receiv e preventativ e maintenanc e servic e everytwelv e (12 ) months .

### U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Docke t Managemen t

Syste m Attachmen t

2 Pag e 1 Ma y 17 , 201 0

Summary : Th e Florid aFis han dWildlif e Conservatio nCommission , Divisio no f La w Enforcement , Aviatio nSection , submit s aPetitio nfor Exemptio nfro mFA R91.205(h) , allowin g th e agenc y t o continu e t o operat e it s fleet of helicopter s an dairplane s utilizin g Nigh t Visio nGoggle s (NVG's ) wit hexistin g modification s of aircraf t instrumen t

lightin g system s unt U withi naperio dof 4 year s th e agenc y ca nbrin g al l aircraf t int o comphanc e wit hFA R91.205(h) .