Story ID: 
NBAA Secures Expanded Small Aircraft Exemption
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: The FAA agreed to two-year extension and to expand applicability to operations outside the U.S.
Word Count: 249
The U.S. FAA has granted a two-year extension of NBAA’s Small Aircraft Exemption and removed limitations on the applicability to operations outside the U.S. The approval continues an exemption that has been in place since 1972 and historically ran for two years during each extension. But in recent years, the FAA has granted one-year or six-month extensions. 

The latest, Exemption 7897I, runs through March 31, 2019, and permits NBAA members who operate piston-powered small aircraft and rotorcraft to take advantage of maintenance and cost-sharing options typically available only to operators of larger, turbine aircraft (more than 12,500 pounds) under Part 91 Subpart F.

Cost reimbursement options are extended under the exemption when NBAA members transport a guest or employees of subsidiary companies on company aircraft. Time-sharing, interchange and joint ownership agreements are also permitted.

Previous exemptions did not cover cost-sharing options when the operations were conducted outside the U.S. NBAA has worked with the FAA to expand that applicability to those operations.

“NBAA is pleased that the FAA has responded favorably to NBAA’s requests for a longer extension period and applicability of the exemption to operations conducted outside the U.S.,” said Doug Carr, NBAA vice president of regulatory and international affairs. “Our long-established small aircraft exemption is a valuable tool for small aircraft operators. It will provide even more benefits with these two positive changes, which allow operators better long-range planning and remove unnecessary restrictions on international operations.”