This paper presents a study of kerosene spray flames in inert porous media near lean extinction to understand stable operating regimes. The porous media are composed of silicon-carbide-coated carbon-carbon foam type with 8-25 pores per centimeter and 87% porosity. Two porous media, one in the evaporation section and the other in the combustion section located downstream, are used in the experiments. Aviation-grade kerosene was injected upstream of the evaporation porous medium with an air-blast atomizer. Stable flames were established both inside and on the downstream surface of the combustion porous medium. Results show that, in interior combustion mode, the flame was completely contained within the porous medium until extinction. In the surface combustion mode, a decrease of the fuel flow rate resulted in partial flame lift and subsequent extinction. The equivalence ratio near lean extinction in each mode was determined. A Damkohler number (t(res/)t(chem))-based analysis was developed to study the combustion mode and flame extinction behavior. A nominal value of the Damkohler number of 5.0 was required to initiate the interior combustion mode. As the Damkohler number was increased, the extinction equivalence ratio decreased, thus extending the range of fuel-lean operation. Axial temperature profiles in evaporation and combustion porous media were measured. Surface temperature uniformity in porous media was also examined near extinction conditions. Also measured were the radiative heat release from porous medium downstream of the exit surface and emissions of pollutants, carbon monoxide and nitric oxide. Results demonstrate the benefits of the porous medium in making NO emission somewhat insensitive to operating parameters, such as the equivalence ratio and location of the injector.