AFS-15-3309-E 

November 30, 2015 

 Exemption No. 7389H 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2000-8187 

Maj. Andrew B. Krebs 

Department of the Air Force 

HQ AFFSA/XOF 

6500 South MacArthur Blvd, Building 4 

Oklahoma City, OK 73169-6918 

Dear Maj. Krebs: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to amend and extend 

Exemption No. 7389, as amended. It transmits our decision, explains its basis, and gives you 

the conditions and limitaitons of the exemption, including the date it ends. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated July 16, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of the United States Air Force (USAF) for an amendment and extension of Exemption 

No. 7389, as amended. That exemption from § 91.169(b) of Title 14, Code of Federal 

Regulations allows the USAF to conduct local area and other flight training missions under 

instrument flight rules (IFR) without designating an alternate airport. The amendment you 

request would update the airports listed in this exemption to remove Dobbins AFB, Georgia, 

and add Eglin AFB, Florida, and Holloman AFB, New Mexico. 

In your petition, you indicate that there has been no change in the conditions and reasons 

relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption. 
 2

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested amendment of the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to USAF. 

Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 7389, as 

amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. 

The FAA also finds that amending the list of airports, as requested, is necessary to align with 

USAF operations that host Air Education and Training Command operations. 

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant the United States Air Force (USAF) the 

requested 3-year extension and amendment of exemption from § 91.169(b) to the extent 

necessary to allow the USAF to conduct local area and other flight training missions under 

instrument flight rules (IFR) without designating an alternate airport, subject to the conditions 

and limitations below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Helicopters operating under the provisions of this exemption may file an IFR flight 

plan without designating an alternate airport if, during the period from the estimated 

time of departure to 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, the worst weather is 

forecast to be a ceiling of 700 feet or higher and a visibility of 1 statute mile or more. 

2. Fixed-wing aircraft operating under the provisions of this exemption may fly local 

training missions without designating an alternate airport provided – 

a. The departure airport and destination airport are the same; 

b. An instructor pilot is a crewmember; and 

c. Weather conditions are reported and forecast to have a ceiling of at least 1,500 

feet and visibility of at least 3 statute miles for the estimated time en route plus 

2 hours. 

3. The exemption provided for in Condition/Limitation No. 2 applies at the following 

airports that host Air Education and Training Command operations: 

a. Altus AFB, Oklahoma. 

b. Columbus AFB, Mississippi. 

c. Eglin AFB, Florida. 

d. Fairchild AFB, Washington. 

e. Holloman AFB, New Mexico. 

f. Kingsley Field, Oregon. 
 3

g. Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. 

h. Lackland AFB, Texas. 

i. Laughlin AFB, Texas. 

j. Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. 

k. Luke AFB, Arizona. 

l. Moody AFB, Georgia. 

m. Pensacola NAS, Florida. 

n. Randolph AFB, Texas. 

o. Sheppard AFB, Texas. 

p. Springfield-Beckley Municipal, Ohio. 

q. Tucson International Airport, Arizona. 

r. Tyndall AFB, Florida. 

s. United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. 

t. Vance AFB, Oklahoma. 

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

The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 7389, as amended, to November 

30, 2018, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

//s// 

John Barbagallo 

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service