ToddC . Emerson , #817 5

44 4 Sout h River Roa d St . George , Utah , 8479 0 Telephone : (435)634-353 0 l^icsimiie : (435 ) 634-350 5 Email : tcmerson((5skywest.co m

- an d - Michae l L . Dworki n #6404 7 46 5 Californi aStreet

^ Suite 21 0 Sa n Francisco , Calitorni a9410 4 Telephone : (415)421-0250 0 Facsimile : (415)421-256 0 Email : la\v@aviale.\.co m Attorney s fo

r SkvWcs E Airlines , Inc . 

# RECEIVE D OCT1 2 20t 1 

# HEARIN G DOCKE T

C7 ~ UNITE D STATE S O FAMERIC A DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO N OFFIC E O FHEARING S WASHINGTON , D.C . 

## ' 0 _

—o C O I n the Matter

of :

SkvWes t Airline s In

c *-*•* ' T'^iJ l J ^•'iliiV«J « lil^ » FA A Cas e Nos . 20 1 1NM06001 0 - FCMY)-^.. , and20IINM06001 l ^.O H 

### S^t\-^'i-SSi ^ SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC/ S FIRS T REQUES T FO RPRODUCTIO N O FDOCUMENT S AND OTHE R DISCOVER Y Judge : Th e hlonorabl e Richar dC . Goodwi n

PROPOUNDE D BY : SE T NUMBER : Respondent , SkyWes t Airlines , Inc . ("SKVWEST" ) On e DAT E O FREQUESTS : Octobe r II , 201 1 RESPONSE S DUE : Novembe r 11,201 1T O TH E DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATION , TH E HONORABLE

RICHARD C . GOODWIN ADMINISTRATIV E LA W JUDGE , AND T O THE ADMINISTRATOR , FEDERAL AVIATIO N ADMINISTRATIONXN D HI S ATTORNEY S O FRECORD : Dated : October

1 1.20 1 1 Dworki n Co-Counse l IbrSKYWES '

l-A A Cas e Nos . 20 1 INM06001 0 and2011NM0600 I I SKYWEST' S FIKS T REQUES T FO RPRODUCTIO N O FDOCUMENT S AND OTHE RDISCOVER YATTACHMEN T A 0.1 0 DEFINITION S AND INSTRUCTION S Pleas e note : Cour

t andcounse l are requeste dt o lake judicia l notic e o f

1 4 Cod e o f Federa l Regulations , Part s 1-198 . commonl y referre dto a s the "Federa l Aviatio n Regulations' ' (hereinafter

referre dto a s the "FAR's'' ) andTitl e 49 . Unite dState s Code , Transporiaiion ; al l word s use di n this reques t

shal l hav e th e sam e meanin g a s use di n sai dFAR' s andTitl e 49 , Unite dState s Code , Transporiaiion , unles s th e sens e indicate s to the contrary . O. I Anyon e actin g o

n you r behalf

- includes , bu

t i s no t limite dto , your

attorneys , investigators , andthei r

repreyentaiives , andconsultants , includin g al l experts . 0. 2 Perso n - include s anatura l person , firm, association , organization , partnership , busines s trust , corporation , or publi c entity . 0. 3 Custodian - refer s to th e perso n havin g possession , custod y or control . 0. 4 Writin g - mean s handwriting , typewritten , printing , photostating , photographing , an dever y othe r mean s of recordin g upo n an

y tangibl e thing , an

y for mo f communicatio n or representation , includin g letters , words , pictures , sound , or symbols , or

combination s thereof . 0. 5 Yo u - include s Complainant , it s agents , employees, attorneys , andanyon e els e actin g o n behal f o f Complainant . 0. 6 Document

or document s - include s writings , drawings , graphs , charts , photographs , phono-records , tapes , videotapes , films, an dother compilation s fro

mwhic h informatio n ca n b e obtained , translate dthroug h detectio n device s int o reasonabl y usabl e for

mwhe n translatio n i s practicabl y necessary . FA A Cas e Nos . 201 1 NM06001 0 an d 2 0 i I NM06001 1 SKYWEST' S FIRS T REQUES T FO R PRODUCTIO N O F DOCUMENT S AN D OTHE R DISCOVER Y0. 7 Complainan t - refer s t o th e Federa l Aviatio n Administration , it s Administrator , directors , employee s an dagents , an dincludes , bu t i s no t limite dto , it s attorneys , investigators , an dthei r

representatives , an dconsultants , includin g al l experts .

1. 0 DOCUMENT S SOUGH T T O B E PRODUCE D SKYWES T acknowledge s it s prio r receip t o f portion s o f

wha t Complainan t

ha s represente dwer e th e evideniiar\ ' portion s o f it s cas e file. I

n th e interest s o f

economy , material s an ddocument s heretofor e provide dby Complainant' s counse l t o SKYWIZST' s counse l nee dno t

b e agai n produced . 1.1 . Complainant' s cas e files bearin g Cas e No . 201INM0600I 0 an d 201INM0600 I 1 i

n thei r entirety , including , bu t no t limite dto , item s o f

proof, exhibits . correspondence , memoranda , an dal l othe r document s containe dtherein . 1.2 . Al l document s pertainin g t o th e allegation s se t fort h i n th e Fina l Notic e o f Propose dCivi l Penalt y Case s Nos . 201INM0600I 0 an d2011NM0600 I I , bot h date d Marc h 10 , 20 1 1 , whic h serv e a s th e Complaint s i n thi s matter . 1.3 . Al l document s whic h Complainan t intend s t o utiliz e a s exhibit s a t th e hearin g i n thi s matter . 1.4 . Al l statement s an ddocument s pertainin g t o o r concernin g statement s mad e t o Complainan t

b y SKYWEST . 1.5 . Al l statement s an ddocument s pertainin g t o o r concernin g statement s mad e t o Complainan t

b y an y employee s o r

forme r employee s o f

SKYWEST . 1.6 . -A M statement s an ddocument s pertainin g t o o r concernin g statement s mad e t o Complainan t

b y an y othe r

person , firmo r

corporation , concernin g th e matter s allege d 4 l-A A Cas e Nos . 20 ! INM06001 G and201 1 NM0600 I I SKYWEST' S FIRS T REQUES T FO RPRODUCTIO N O FDOCUMENT S AN

D OTHE RDISCOVER Yi n Complaint . 1. 7 Resumes , curriculu mvita e an dan y an dal l writte n qualification s o f al l person s who mComplainan t

expect s t o utiliz e a s exper t witnesse s a

t th e hearin g i

n (hi s matter . 1.8 . Al l document s pertainin g t o fact s an dopinion s hel db y Complainant' s expert s acquire do r

develope di n anticipatio n o f litigatio n o r

for th e hearin g i

n thi s matter . 1.9 . Al l document s reviewe db y Complainant' s expert s i n connectio n vvit h th e anticipate dlitigatio n o r hearin g i

n thi s matter . MO . Al l document s generate db y Complainant' s expert s i n connectio n with th e anticipate dlitigatio n o r hearin g i n thi s matter .

2. 0 INTERROGATORIE S 2.1 . Stat e th e name , occupation , addres s an dtelephon e numbe r o f eac h perso n Complainan t

intend s t o cal l a s awitnes s {includin g bu t no t limite dt o exper t

witnesses ) a

t th e hearing . 2.2 . Provid e abrie f

statemen t

regardin g th e subjec t

matte r o f th e testimon y o f eac h witness . 2.3 . Provid e copie s o f

al l document s Complainan t intend s t o offe r

int o evidenc e a s exhibit s a

t th e hearing . 2.4 . Fo r eac h exper t

witnes s Complainan t

intend s t o cal l a

t th e hearing , provid e a brie f statemen t

regardin g th e ground s for th e opinio n testimon y o f eac h exper t

witness , an dcopie s o f

an y document s prepare do r reviewe db y sai dexper t witness . 2.5 . I f Complainan t

obtain s additiona l document s no t mentione di

n respons e t o Reques t No . 2.3 , above , SKYWES T request s thes e document s b e produce da s 5 FA A Case Nos . 20 1 I NM06001 0 an d201 1 NM0600

I I SKYWEST' S FIRS T REQUES T FO RPRODUCTION O FDOCUMENI S AN

D OTHE RDISCOVER

Yexpeditiousl y a s possible . 2.6 . II"Complainant

secure s additional witnesse s no t mentione di

n respons e to Reques t No . 2.1 , above , SKYWES T request s asupplementary witnes s lis t an dabrie f statemen t regardin g th e subjec t

matter o f th e testimon y o f

eac h o f the witnesses . 3. 0 REQUEST S FO RADMISSIO N 3.1 . ADMI T tha

t SkyWes t Airlines " Weight

andBalanc e Operation s Manual , StandardPractic e 4100 , ha s been reviewe dan dapprove db

y th e FA A fo r us e i n all SkyU-'est operation s andwa s i

n effect a s o f the date s o f

the allege dviolations . 3. 2 ADMI T tha

t non e o f th e aircraf

t i n the subjec t

fiights exceede dthe maximu mtakeof

f weight fo r th e runwa

y o f use . 3. 3 ADMI T tha

t SkyWes t Airlines ' Weigh

t an dBalanc e Operation s Manual , StandardPractic e 4100 , provide s guidanc e an dinstructio n necessar

y fo r High t cre w and Custome r Servic e personne l t

o complet e weight

andbalanc e calculations , th e Carg o Loa d Repor t (CLR) , andth e Loa

dManifest . 3. 4 ADMI T tha

t SkyWes t Airlines ' Weight

an dBalanc e Operation s Manual , StandardPractic e 4100 . provide s weigh t andbalanc e informatio n sufficient lo ensur e saf

e aircraf t operations . 3. 5 ADMI T tha

t fo r th e aircraf

t type s an dairport s utilize di

n the (ligh

t allege d i n th e Complaint , andwit

h the aircraf

t loads , fiight

crews , t\iel , passenger s an dbaggag e recorde di n the tlight

release s fo

r the fiights i

n question , an

y error s i n loa dmanifes t calculations , producin g aweight erro r o f les s tha n 30 0 pounds , result s in : a . No chang e i

n aircraf t performance ; an

d 6 FA A Cas e Nos . 20 1 I NM06001 0 an d 201 1 NM0600 I I SKYWEST' S FIRS T REQUES T FO RPRODUCTIO N O FDOCUMENT S AN

D OTHE RDISCOVER Yb . A nearl y negligibl e chang e i n aircraf t cente r o f gravity . 3. 6 ADMI T tha

t loa dmanifes t

error s d o not

alway s result

i n aheavier

tha n planne daircraft , tha

t i n som e case s the aircraf

t ma y b e lighte r

tha n planned . 3. 7 ADMI' Ftha

t SkyWes t ha s been FAA-approve dto us e the followin g standardbaggag e averag e weight s i n it s Weight

andBalanc e Program : Standardchecke dbaggag e - 3 0 pound s Heavy checke dbaggag e - 6 0 pound s (baggag e weighin g more tha n 5 0 pound s bu

t les s tha n 10 0 pounds ) Planesid e loaded/carry-o n baggag e - 3 0 pound s Carry-o n baggag e and/o r

personal ite

mstowe d i n aircrat^ t passenge r

cabi n - 0 pound s Non-luggag e baggag e (standard ) - 3 0 pound s Non-Iuggag c baggag e (heavy ) - 6 0 pound s fickete dcabi n baggag e (summer ) - 8 2 pound s Tickete dcabi n baggag e (winter ) - 8 7 pound s 3. 8 ADMI T tha

t FA A A C 120-27 , Chapte r

2 , Sectio n 1.200(a) . state s ". . .difference s betwee n th e actual weight o f passenger s andbag s an

dth e averag e weight of passenger s an

dbag s ca n occu r when usin g averag e weights. " 3. 9 ADMI T tha

t i t i s technicall y possibl e t

o hav e th e correc t

tota l carg o weigh t eve n ii'lh e numbe r

ol"baggag e containe di

n the CL Ri s incorrect . 3.1 0 ADMI T tha

t durin g the subjec t

Fligh t 6573 , fro mDE N to HDN , al

l checke dbaggag e wa s loade dint o th e af i carg o bin .

7 KA A Cas e Nos . 201INMOCOOI O an d 201INM0600 1 1 SKYWEST' S FIRS T REQUES T FO RPRODUCTIO N O FDOCUMENT S AN

D OTHE RDISCOVER Y3.1 1 ADMI T tha t durin g takeoff , a n additiona l 12 0 pound s woul d no t caus e

Fligh t 657 3 t o excee d th e maximu m takeof f weigh t limi t oi'th e runwa yi n use . 3.1 2 ADMLftha t th e subjec t Fligh t 657 3 wa s a minimu m o f 1,30 0 pound s belo w th e maximu m takeof f weigh t limi t fo rth e runwa yi n use . 3.1 3 ADMI T tha t durin g th e subjec t Fligh t 6573 , th e safet yo f flight wa s maintaine d a

s al l operation s fel l withi n th e manufacturer' s operatin g envelope . 3.1 4 ADMI T tha t durin g th e subjec t Fligh t 4659 , fro m BI L t o SL.C , al l checke d baggag e wa s loade d int o th e af t carg o bin . 3.1 5 ADMI F tha t th e subjec t Fligh t 465 9 i s allege d t o hav e ha d a n additiona l 6 0 pound s i n luggag e no t liste d o n th e CLR . 3.1 6 ADMI T tha t th e subjec t Fligh t 465 9 wa s a minimu m oi " 3,20 0 pound s belo w th e maximu m runwa ytakeof f weight . 3.1 7 ADMI T tha t durin g th e subjec t Fligh t 4659 , th e safet yo f fligh t wa s maintaine d a

s al l operation s fel l withi n th e manufacturer' s operatin g envelope . 3.1 8 ADMI T tha t durin g th e subjec t Fligh t 4800 , fro m LA X t o SAN , al l checke d baggag e wa s loade d int o th e af t carg o bin . 3.1 9 ADMI T tha t th e subjec t Fligh t 480 0 i s allege d t o hav e ha d a n additiona l 12 0 pound s o f luggag e no t liste d o n th e CLR . 3.2 0 ADMI T tha t th e subjec t Fligh t 480 0 ha d a takeof f weigh t i n exces s o f 220 0 pound s belo w th e maximu m runwa ytakeof f weight . 3.2 1 ADMI T tha t th e additiona l weigh t allege d b yth e FA A o n subjec t Fligh t 480 0 woul d no t hav e cause d th e subjec t aircraf t t o excee d th e maximu m takeof f weigh t limi t fo rth e runwa yi n use . 8 FA A Cas e No s 20 1 1NM0600I 0 and 201INM0600 1 1 SKYWEST' S FIRS T REQUES T FO R PRODUCTIO N O F DOCUMENT S AN D OTHE R DISCOVER Y3.2 2 ADMI T tha t durin g th e subjec t

Fligh t 480 0 th e safet y o f

flight wa s maintaine da s al l operation s fell withi n th e manufacturer' s operatin g envelope . 3.2 3 ADMI T tha t

durin g th e subjec t

Fligh t 6692 , fro mLA X t o SAN , al l checke dbaggag e wa. s loade dint o th e af t carg o bin . 3.2 4 AD.VIJT tha i durin g th e subjec t Fligh t 669 2 th e safet y o f

flighl wa s maintaine da s al l operation s fel l withi n th e manufacturer' s operatin g envelope . 3.2 5 ADMI T tha t

th e subjec t

Fligh t 669 2 ha d27 0 pound s les s carg o actuall y presen t tha n reporte do n th e aircraf t loa dmanifest . 3.2 6 ADMI T tha t

FA A AS ! Wendel l S . Gehring' s Novembe r 22 , 201 0 writte n statemen t tha t th e actua l weigh t

an dbalanc e o f

Fligh t 465 9 wa s i

n erro r b y 6 0 pound s i s base dsolel y o n th e standar daverag e weigh t o f heav y bag s an ddoe s no t necessar y reflec t th e exac t weigh t o f Fligh t 4659 . 3.2 7 ADMI' Ftha t

unde r ACI20-27 E a n operato r ma y choos e t o us e on e weigh t fo r afleet o r grou p o f aircraf t for establishmen t

o f th e aircraft' s operationa l empt y weigh t i f th e weigh t

an dC G o f

eac h aircraf

t i s withi n th e limit s state di n sai dAC . 3.2 8 ADMH ' tha t

unde r SkyWesl' s W& B Manual , heav y bag s ar e considere d an y ba g thii t

weigh s mor e tha n 5 0 pound s an dles s tha n 10 0 pounds . 3.2 9 ADMI T tha t

Orde r 2I50.3B , FA A Complianc e an dEnforcemen t Program , Chapte r 7. , Sanctio n Guidanc e Policies , Paragrap h 6.b. , Genera l Sanctio n Guidance , state s Simpl y addin g u p th e individua l penaltie s fo r eac h violatio n coul dresul t i n compoundin g asanctio n i n adisproportionatel y hars h manne r fo r th e conduc t involved .

9

FA A Cas e Nos . 2011NM06001 0 an d2011NM0600 1 I SKYWEST' S FIRS T REQUES T FO RPRODUCTION O FDOCUMENT S AN

D OTHE RDISCOVER

Y3.3 0 ADMI T tha t Order 2150.3B , FA

A Complianc e andEnforcement Program , Chapte r 7. , Sanctio n Guidanc e Policies . Paragrap h 7.b. , Limitation s o n Tota l Civi l Penalt y Amount s fo

r Numerou s Multipl e Violations , claus e (1) , state s tha t I n a n averag e cas e involvin g numerou s inadvertent , multipl e violation s resultin g fro masingl e act

or omission , tha

t is , no t on e tha t i s covere db

y chapte r 7 , subparagraph s 7.c . or

7.d. , the tota

l civi l penalt

y fo r the multipl e violation s ordinaril y fall s withi n th e range s provide di n eithe r Figure 7- 1 or

7-2 . Th e grou p classification s ar

e dcFme di n par t I o f Appendi x B . 3.3 1 ADMI'Ftha i Orde r 2150.3B , FA.

A Complianc e an

dEnforcement

Program . Chapte r 7. , Sanctio n Guidanc e Policies , Paragrap h 7.b. , Limitation s o n Tota l Civi l Penalt y Amount s fo

r Numerou s Multipl e Violations , claus e (2) , state s Th e ten n isolate di

n Figure s 7- 1 and7- 2 t>'picall y describe s asingl e instanc e o f a n employee' s failur

e to follo w astatutor) ' or

regulator y requirement , contrary t o the company' s ow n practic e or procedure . A cas e ma

y involv e anumbe r

o f isolate d an dunrelate dviolations . Each grou p o f th e multipl e violation s resultin g fro m eac h isolate dviolatio n ordinaril y i s subjec t to th e isolated , inadvertent range s i n Figure s 7- 1 or

7-2 . 3.3 2 ADMI' Ftha

t Orde r 2150.3B , FA

A Complianc e an

dEnlbrcemcn t

Program , Chapte r 7. , Sanctio n Guidanc e Policies . Paragrap h 7.C. , Penaltie s Outsid e th e Ranges , Claus e (1) . Penaltie s lower tha n th e ranges , state s I t ma y be appropriat e t

o selec t acivi l penalt

y amoun t belo w th e range s i

n Figure s 7- 1 o r 7- 2 if the degre e o f

culpability i s minimal , th e degre e o f potential hazardi s extremel y low , an

dther e are no other

aggravatin g circumstances .

1 0 FA A CascNos . 2011NM0600l0aiid20IINM060U I 1 SKYWEST' S FIRS T REQUES T FO R PRODUCTIO N O F DOCUMENT S AN D OTHE R DISCOVER YCERTIFICAT E O FSERVIC E 'Fh e undersigne dhereb y certifie s tha t o n thi s 11' ^ da

y o f October , 2011 , atru e and correc t cop y o f the foregoin g SKYWEST' S FIRS T SE T O FDISCOVER Y REQUEST S wa s serve da s follows : Th e Honorabl e RichardC . Goodwi n Offlc e o f Hearings , M-2 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Eas t Buildin g Groun dFloor . RoomE12

- 32 0 Washington , D.C . 2059 0

{Federa l Express } Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 800 Independenc e .Avenu e S W Washington , DC 2059 1 Attn ; Hearin g Docke t

Clerk , AGC-43 0 Wilbur Wrigh t Building-Suit e 2Wl00 0 [Federa l Fxpress J Jeffrey M . Harper

Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n Northwes t Mountai n Region , ANM- 7 160 1 LindAvenu e S.W . Rcnton , Washingto n 9805 7 FA X (425 ) 227-100 7

{^^Hcmrrr k an dFedera l Express }

Sher i L . Becker

l-A A Cas e Nos . 201 1 NM06001 0 an d201INMOOUO

I I SKYWEST' S FIRS T REQUES T FO RPRODUCTIO N O FDOCUMENT S AN

D OTHE RDISCOVER Y