September 11, 2008

Exemption No. 9755

##  Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2006-24996

Ms. Mindy Waham

Flight Training Compliance Manager

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

P.O. Box 68900

Seattle, WA 98168

Dear Ms. Waham:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for an
exemption. It transmits our decision, explains its basis, and gives you
the conditions and limitations of the exemption, including the date it
ends.

# The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated August 8, 2008, you petitioned the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) on behalf of Alaska Airlines, Inc. (Alaska), for an
extension of Exemption No. 8743. That exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii)
of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows Alaska to
substitute a qualified and authorized check airman or aircrew program
designee for an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying pilot in command
(PIC) who is completing initial or upgrade training specified in
§ 121.424 during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and a
landing. That exemption, however, expired on June 30, 2008. Therefore,
we will treat your request as a new petition.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a
summary of the petition in the [Federal Register]{.underline} because
the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in
acting on this petition would be detrimental to Alaska.

The FAA has issued a grant of exemption in circumstances similar in all
material respects to those presented in your petition. In Grant of
Exemption No. 8054 (copy enclosed), the FAA found that subject to
certain conditions and limitations, the requirement for an FAA inspector
to observe a qualifying PIC before he/she begins operations in an
airplane unsupervised may be conducted by and satisfied by the
certificate holder's check airman or aircrew program designee. The FAA
found that this could be accomplished without reducing the level of
safety provided by the regulation.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that---

-   they do not differ materially from those presented by the petitioner
    in the enclosed grant of exemption;

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed exemption
    also apply to the situation you present; and

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   a grant of exemption is in the public interest.

# Our Decision

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the
FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant Alaska Airlines,
Inc., an exemption from 14 CFR  § 121.434(c)(1)(ii). This relief allows
Alaska to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman or aircrew
program designee for an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying PIC who is
completing initial or upgrade training specified in § 121.424 during at
least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and a landing, subject to
the conditions and limits described below.

**Conditions and Limitations**

1.  An Alaska check airman or aircrew program designee may conduct a
    PIC observation in place of an FAA inspector when----

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
a.  The Administrator preapproves that substitution for each observation
    of a qualifying PIC candidate, thus reserving first right of refusal
    to the FAA in each case. Alaska, therefore, must contact an
    appropriate FAA office, in each instance, before substituting that
    check airman or aircrew program designee;

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
a.  The qualifying PIC candidate has completed no less than 10 hours of
    supervised operating experience (OE) and accomplished no fewer than
    two takeoffs and landings; and

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
a.  The qualifying PIC candidate is performing PIC duties during a
    complete flight leg, including flightdeck preparation, before
    starting engines checklist, taxi, takeoff, all other flight phases,
    landing, taxi, and securing checklist.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
1.  Each Alaska check airman or aircrew program designee conducting a
    PIC observation in place of an FAA inspector must----

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
a.  Be approved by the Administrator to conduct the observation;

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
a.  Have served as a check airman or aircrew program designee for Alaska
    for no less than 6 months; and

b.  Not supervise the OE or conduct the initial line check for the
    qualifying PIC candidate being observed.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
2.  Alaska must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew program
    designee records that demonstrate compliance with the conditions and
    limitations of this exemption.

This exemption terminates on September 30, 2010, unless sooner
superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

James J. Ballough

Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosure