NBAA Member Exemption for Small Aircraft Extended to 2028

March 16, 2026

NBAA received an extension from the FAA to the Small Aircraft Exemption through March 31, 2028, allowing NBAA members that operate small aircraft to take advantage of the flexibility usually offered to operators of larger, turbine-powered aircraft.

“For many years, this important exemption has enabled NBAA members operating piston-powered aircraft, small airplanes and rotorcraft to take advantage of the cost-sharing provisions in Part 91 Subpart F,” said Doug Carr, NBAA senior vice president of safety, security, sustainability, and international affairs. “Members intending to use this exemption should carefully review and comply with all applicable conditions and limitations of the extended NBAA Small Aircraft Exemption.”

Exemption 7897N allows operators of piston-powered aircraft, small airplanes (12,500 pounds or less) and rotorcraft to use alternative maintenance programs and receive limited cost-reimbursement for certain flights under Part 91 Subpart F of the Federal Aviation Regulations. These cost-sharing benefits are usually applicable only to aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of over 12,500 pounds multi-engine turbojet aircraft or fractional ownership program aircraft.

This exemption allows for common flight department activities such as transporting guests on company aircraft or allowing subsidiary employees to use the plane. Additionally, Part 91 Subpart F permits time sharing, interchange and joint ownership agreements.

NBAA members operating under Exemption 7897M, which expires on March 31, 2026, are not required to submit a new Letter of Intent, but should download Exemption 7897N and carry it on their aircraft.

Review FAA Exemption No. 7897N

NBAA members who would like to operate under this exemption for the first time must submit a Letter of Intent that included the following:

1. The member’s legal name and, for a person other than an individual, the legal name of the authorized representative submitting the Letter of Intent.
2. The member’s physical address and, for a member other than an individual, the physical address of the authorized representative. If the member or the authorized representative does not receive mail at the physical address provided, then a mailing address must be provided where the Member or authorized representative does receive mail.
3. The member’s email address or, for members other than individuals, the email address of the authorized representative.
4. The member’s telephone numbers.
5. The member’s NBAA membership number.
6. An attestation that the member will comply with all conditions and limitations of Exemption No. 7897N.

Letters may be sent via the Small Aircraft Exemption Notice of Intent Submission Tool, which was created by NBAA to assist members in submitting the required Notice of Intent to the Federal Register Docket.

NBAA is working with the FAA to implement an alternate, confidential process for submitting a Letter of Intent that limits the sharing of personally identifiable iInformation (PII) in the public docket.

Operators utilizing the exemption must still notify the appropriate Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) of their intent, providing that FSDO with a copy of the time-sharing, interchange or joint ownership agreement under which each aircraft is being operated, if appropriate.