AFS-14-354-E June 26, 2014 Exemption No. 11016 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-0444

Mr. Donald Dillman Managing Director, Flight Operations

Airlines for America 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue

Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20004

Dear Mr. Dillman:

This letter is to inform you that we have gran ted your request for exemption from Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) § 61.39(b). This document explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and list s the conditions and limitations, including the date it ends.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated April 7, 2014, you petitioned th e Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of the Air Transport Asso ciation of America Inc., dba Air lines for America (A4A) for an extention to Exemption No. 10566. However, the FAA has construed the request as a new petition for exemption due to change s to the regulations that were part of the Pilot Qualification and Certification Requirements fo r Air Carrier Operations final rule issued on July 15, 2013, (78 FR 42324). 1 Section 61.39(b)(2) permits an applicant for an airline trans port pilot certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating or airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane type rating to take the practical test with an expired knowledge test if the applicant passed the knowledge test after July 31, 2014, and is employed as a flightcrew member by a part

1 In anticipation of the impending statutory requirement fo r all pilots in part 121 operations to hold an ATP certificate by August 2, 2013, A4A petitioned the FAA for a grant of exem ption for its member carriers that would permit SICs who completed an air carrier’s approved SIC training program to take the practical test with an expired knowledge test. The FAA granted the exemption on June 21, 2012. Former § 61.39(b) only permitted pilots who had completed an air carrier’s p ilot in command training program to take the practical test with an expired knowledge test.2

119 certificate holder conducting oper ations under part 121 at the tim e of the practical test and has satisfactorily accomplished th e certificate holder’s approv ed initial training program.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition on the Federal Register because the requested ex emption would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition woul d be detrimental to A4A.

The FAA has issued a grant of exemption in circ umstances similar in all material respects to those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 10930 (copy enclosed), the FAA found that a grant of exemption would be in the public interest and w ould provide a level of safety equivalent to that pr ovided by current regulations. A pproved part 121 training programs provide extensive ground and fli ght training specific to the ai rcraft type and the part 121 operation in which the pilot will be serving. The F AA feels that the comprehe nsive nature of this training provides sufficient assurance that the pilot’s knowledge has been adequately checked prior to the certification evalua tion for the ATP certificate.

Having reviewed your reasons for re questing an exemption, I find that—

 they are similar in all material respects to reli ef previously requested in the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 10930;

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting th e enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 10930 also apply to the situati on you present; and

 a grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

The FAA has determined that under the terms of this exemption, a pilot who passed the knowledge test prior to August 1, 2014, may continue to use an expired knowledge test result when applying for the practical test for an ATP certificate or a type rating completed concurrently with an ATP certificate after succes sful completion of an approved part 121 initial training program. Under the authority cont ained in 49 U.S.C. §§ 106(f), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator has delegated to me, Airlin es for America is granted an exemption from the date restriction in § 61.39(b) to the extent necessary to al low pilots serving in part 121 operations to take the practical test for an ATP certificate with an expire d knowledge test and is subject to the conditions and lim itations described below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. Pilots must meet the eligibility requir ements for ATP certification in § 61.153, the

applicable flight proficie ncy requirements in § 61.157, and the aeronautical experience requirements in §§ 61.159 or 61.160.3

2. Any expired knowledge test results from test s taken before August 1, 2014, cannot be used to apply for the practical test af ter July 31, 2014 under this exemption.

This exemption terminates on July 31, 2014, unless sooner superseded or re scinded. This grant of exemption will not be extended or renewed.

Sincerely,

/s/ John Barbagallo Acting Deputy Director, F light Standards Service