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Geoffrey M. Grindeland 

Caryn Geraghty Jorgensen 

Mills Meyers Swartling 

1000 2nd Avenue Suite 3000 

Seattle, WA 98104 

Tele: 206-812-7451 

Fax: 206-267-6746 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

RECEIVED 

JUN 2 1 2013 

HEARING DOCKET 

9 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

OFFICE OF HEARINGS 

10 WASHINGTON, D.C. 

11 In the Matter of: 

FAA Case No. 2011NM020013 

12 Alaska Airlines Inc. 

ALASKA AIRLINES, INC'S ANSWER 

13 TO COMPLAINT 

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Alaska Airlines, Inc. answers the complaint as follows: 

I. 

The averments in Section I of the complaint are admitted. 

II. 

1. Alaska Airlines admits the averments in Section II, Paragraph 1 of the 

complaint. 

2. Alaska Airlines admits the averments in Section II, Paragraph 2 of the 

complaint. 

3. Alaska Airlines admits the averments in Section II, Paragraph 3 of the 

complaint. 

ALASKA AIRLINES, INC'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT 

(No. 2011NM020013) -1 

LAW OFFICES OF 

MILLS MEYERS SWARTLING 

1000 SECOND A VENUE, 30TH FLOOR 

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98104-1064 

TELEPHONE (206) 382-1000 

FACSIMILE (206) 386-7343 
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4. Alaska Airlines admits the averments in Section II, Paragraph 4 of the 

complaint. 

5. Alaska Airlines admits the averments in Section II, Paragraph 5 of the 

complaint. 

6. 

complaint. 

7. 

8. 

1. 

2. 

Alaska Airlines admits the averments in Section II, Paragraph 6 of the 

The averments in Section II, Paragraph 7 of the complaint are denied. 

The averments in Section II, Paragraph 8 of the complaint are denied. 

III. 

The averments in Section III, Paragraph 1 of the complaint are denied. 

In answer to Section III, Paragraph 2 of the complaint, Alaska Airlines 

admits that the maximum allowable civil penalty is $27,500, but denies that it should 

be liable for any civil penalty in this case. 

3. In answer to Section III, Paragraph 3 of the complaint, Alaska Airlines 

denies that it should be liable for any civil penalty in this case. 

DEFENSES 

In further answer to the complaint, and without conceding that it has the 

burden of proof on any issue, Alaska Airlines asserts the following additional 

defenses: 

1. There was no violation in this case, because Alaska Airlines fully 

complied with its FAA-approved program under 14 CFR 121.629(c). 

ALASKA AIRLINES, INC'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT 

(No. 2011NM020013)- 2 

LAW OFFICES OF 

MILLS MEYERS SWARTLING 

1000 SECOND A VENUE, 30TH FLOOR 

SEATILE, WASHINGTON 98104-1064 

TELEPHONE (206) 382-1000 

FACSIMILE (206) 386-7343 
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2. If there is any finding that a violation occurred, mitigating factors 

should be considered. 

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3. 

RELIEF REQUESTED 

Alaska Airlines requests an oral hearing in this case. 

The relief requested in the complaint should be denied. 

The complaint should be dismissed in its entirety. 

DATED: June 13, 2013. 

MILLS MEYERS SWARTLING 

Attorneys for Alaska Airlines, Inc. 

By: 

ALASKA AIRLINES, INC.'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT 

(No. 2011NM020013)- 3 

Geoffrey 

dtWtd~ M. Grindeland 

WSBA No. 35798 

Caryn Geraghty Jorgensen 

WSBA No. 27514 

LAW OFFICES OF 

MILLS MEYERS SWARTLING 

1000 SECOND A VENUE, 30TH FLOOR 

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98104-1064 

TELEPHONE (206) 382-1000 

FACSIMILE (206) 386-7343 
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

The undersigned certifies under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State 

of Washington that on this date I caused to be served in the manner indicated a copy 

of the within and foregoing document upon the following persons: 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC- 430 

Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2W1000 

Washington, D.C. 20591 

Robert Spitzer 

FAA Office of Regional Counsel 

1601 Lind Ave. SW 

Renton, W A 98057 

DATED June 13, 2013. 

if Via first class mail, postage prepaid 

D Via facsimile to 202-493-5142 

D Via Legal Messengers 

D ViaE-mail 

~Via first class mail, postage prepaid 

D Via facsimile to 425-227-1007 

D Via Legal Messengers 

D ViaE-mail 

Christine Stanley 

ALASKA AIRLINES, INC.'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT 

(No. 2011NM020013)- 4 

LAW OFFICES OF 

MILLS MEYERS SWARTLING 

1000 SECOND A VENUE, 30TH FLOOR 

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98104-1064 

TELEPHONE (206) 382-1000 

FACSIMILE (206) 386-7343