The 5209 Exemption, previously granted by the FAA to the PRA to allow PRA member instructors to provide training for hire in their experimental gyroplane has been superceeded by this new Letter of Deviation Authority ("LODA") process.

The 5209 Training exemption granted to the PRA has expired as of October 31, 2007. The exemption had been granted to PRA member gyroplane Certificated Flight Instructors (CFI and SP-CFI) to allow them to provide training for hire in their experimental gyroplane.

The FAA has replaced the need for this exemption with a Letter of Deviation Authority (LODA) provided by each individual instructor's Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).  Gyroplane Instructors, Certificated Flight Instructors (CFI) and CFI with Sport Pilot privileges (CFI-SP) must make individual application to their FSDO for their LODA - see instruction links below.

Note, that the 5209 exemption, and now, the new LODA is only required for training for hire in the instructor's experimental gyroplane. Training in an experimental gyroplane is allowed under past and present rules for the following:

- Training by a gyroplane CFI in the student's experimental gyroplane. In this case, the CFI may charge for their instruction.

- Training by a gyroplane CFI in an experimental gyroplane that has been "rented" from a third party (in a gyroplane other than one owned by, or by the CFI's training school.

There are several advantages to this new LODA process:

- Once issued by the FSDO, it has no expiration date and requires no regular re-application.

- Issued by one FSDO, it is valid throughut the United States.

- Regular training reports are no longer required to be made to the PRA - as was required under the 5209 Exemption.

Under the LODA application process, the LODA is granted to a specific instructor for a specific gyroplane or number of gyroplanes identified in the LODA. Instructors may change or add gyroplanes to their LODA, normally with a simple request to do so to their FSDO.

PRA Gyroplane Training Committee Chairman - Greg Gremminger

Download the links below for instructions and application templates for a gyroplane CFI to apply for their gyroplane training LODA.

LODA Application Instructions

LODA Request

Training Course Outline - TCO