FAA extends NBAA small aircraft exemption for members

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has agreed to continue allowing small aircraft operators that are members of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) to take advantage of flexibility usually available only to operators of larger, turbine-powered aircraft.

The FAA issued a two-year renewal for Exemption 7897, more commonly known as “NBAA’s Small Aircraft Exemption.”

Available only to NBAA Members, Exemption 7897 allows operators of piston-powered airplanes, small airplanes and rotorcraft to utilise, among other provisions, limited cost-reimbursement for certain flights, as allowed under Part 91, Subpart F of the federal aviation regulations.

NBAA’s Small Aircraft Exemption allows companies to recoup a portion of the associated costs when transporting a guest on the company aircraft, or for the use of the aircraft by employees of a subsidiary company. The exemption also applies to the use of time-sharing, interchange and joint ownership agreements.

“NBAA is pleased that the FAA agreed to continue providing this valuable tool for business owners seeking to maximize the profitability and usability of a small aircraft,” said Doug Carr, NBAA vice president, safety, security, operations & regulation.

Without NBAA’s Small Aircraft Exemption, the cost sharing options available under Part 91F are only available to aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds; multi-engine turbojet aircraft, regardless of size; or fractional program aircraft.

The renewal is valid until March 31, 2015, and is not altered from previous exemptions. NBAA’s Small Aircraft Exemption does not apply to Part 135 operations or to fractional operators.