AFS-16-7841-E

April 20, 2016

 Exemption No. 10127C

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2000-8000

Mr. Stephen M. Dickson

Senior Vice President Flight Operations

Delta Air Lines, Inc. 

1010 Delta Boulevard, Department 027

Atlanta, GA 30354

Dear Mr. Dickson:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption 

No. 10127, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists 

the conditions and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated January 20, 2016, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta), for an extension of Exemption No. 10127, as 

amended. That exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations

permits Delta 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.

In your petition, you indicate that there has been no change in the conditions and reasons 

relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested extension of the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Delta.
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Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 10127, as 

amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. Therefore, 

under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. §§ 106(f), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, Delta Air Lines, Inc. is granted an extension to its 

exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) that allows Delta 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 following conditions and limitations.

Conditions and Limitations

1. A Delta check airman or aircrew program designee may conduct a PIC observation 

in place of an FAA inspector when––

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. Delta, therefore, must contact an appropriate FAA office, in each 

instance, before substituting that check airman or aircrew program designee.

b. 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

c. 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.

2. Each Delta check airman or aircrew program designee conducting a PIC 

observation in place of an FAA inspector must––

a. Be approved by the Administrator to conduct the observation;

b. Have served as a check airman or aircrew program designee for Delta for no 

less than 6 months; and

c. Not supervise the OE or conduct the initial line check for the qualifying 

PIC candidate being observed.
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3. Delta must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew program designee records 

that demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this exemption.

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 10127, as amended, to 

August 31, 2019, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service