Attachment 0018 - Night Flying Waiver.pdf

This document comprises three memoranda from the U.S. Army granting waivers to conduct night limited maintenance test flights (MTFs) at Fort Rucker, Alabama under contract W9124G-17-C-104.

The waivers authorize night MTFs under visual meteorological flight rules with multiple restrictions and safety controls. Night test flights are prohibited when conducting Engine and Fuel Control Unit (FCU) or Hydro Mechanical Unit (HMU) changes on single or twin-engine aircraft (except changes to one engine only on twin-engine aircraft), hot end replacements, internal engine repairs, or compressor stalls. Engine replacements and repairs test-flown during daylight may be test-flown at night. Weather restrictions prohibit night flights when forecast or observed weather is below 1,000 feet ceiling and three statute miles visibility. The Government Flight Representative (GFR) maintains oversight responsibilities including review and approval of Flight Operating Procedures (FOP) and Ground Operating Procedures (GOP), flight crew qualifications, mission profiles, and risk assessments. Risk was initially assessed as High but mitigated to Moderate through control measures. Base-specific operations are detailed for Cairns AAF, Lowe AHP, Knox AHP, Shell AHP, and Hanchey AHP, with procedures specifying approved areas, altitude minimums (500 feet AGL), and alternate runway options. Aircraft recovery operations are authorized from remote training sites and stage fields under Air Traffic Services control. The waivers require GFR enforcement and remain valid for three years from issuance. Data collection protocols include random analysis of ACN, Apperao, and radar track data reported during semi-annual Aviation Program Team surveys, with immediate action if operations deviate from normal parameters.