The FAA’s latest extension of the NBAA Small Aircraft Exemption is accompanied by a new filing requirement, according to the association. Extended through March 31, 2022, the exemption enables operators of piston aircraft, small turbine aircraft, and rotorcraft to take advantage of certain flexibilities provided to larger, turbine-powered aircraft, such as use of alternative maintenance programs and limited cost-reimbursement for flights conducted under Part 91 Subpart F. That subpart facilitates agreements such as time-sharing, interchange, and joint ownership.

However, effective September 27, operators that use the exemption must file a “Notice of Joinder to FAA Exemption No. 7897K.” Operators can file electronically, NBAA said, but must furnish contact information, an NBAA membership number, a statement requesting that FAA append the Notice of Joinder to the NBAA exemption list, a statement that the operator will not fly under the exemption if it ceases to be an NBAA member, and an attestation that the operator will comply with all conditions and limitations of exemption.

Further, the operator must provide a copy of any time-sharing, interchange, or joint ownership agreement, added Doug Carr, v-p of regulatory and international affairs in an article to NBAA members. NBAA plans to create a form to ease compliance with the new reporting requirements.

“The FAA is bringing additional compliance checks and scrutiny to all exemptions, so it’s important that NBAA members understand this additional submission to the docket will ensure the NBAA Small Aircraft Exemption continues to be valid and is utilized appropriately,” Carr said.

The agency said the additional requirement “is necessary to ensure the FAA knows which parties are exercising the relief granted in the exemption, to conduct appropriate oversight of such parties, to foster accountability of those covered by the exemption, and to prevent non-authorized parties from exercising the privileges granted through the exemption.”