AFS-16-2027-E 

February 22, 2016 

 Exemption No. 7132I 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2002-11485 

Mr. Alan Kasher 

Managing Director, Director of Operations 

Southwest Airlines Company 

2702 Love Field Drive/ TOP-1DO 

P.O. Box 36611 

Dallas, TX 75235 

Dear Mr. Kasher: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 7132, 

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 November 12, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA) on behalf of Southwest Airlines Company (Southwest) for an extension of Exemption 

No. 7132, as amended. That exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal 

Regulations (14 CFR) allows Southwest to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman 

in place of an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying pilot in command (PIC) while that PIC is 

performing prescribed duties during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and a 

landing when completing initial or upgrade training. 

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 Southwest. 
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Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 7132, 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, Southwest Airlines Company is granted an 

exemption to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place of an FAA inspector 

to observe a qualifying PIC while that PIC is performing prescribed duties during at least one 

flight leg that includes a takeoff and a landing when completing initial or upgrade training, 

subject to the following conditions and limitations. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. A Southwest 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. Southwest, 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 operational 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 flight deck preparation, before starting engines checklist, 

taxi, takeoff, all other flight phases, landing, taxi, and securing checklist. 

2. Each Southwest 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 Southwest 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. 

d. Conduct the observation from the observer seat only (i.e. not a required 

flightcrew member seat). 

3. Southwest must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew program designee 

records that demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this 

exemption. 
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The Effect of Our Decision 

This exemption terminates on February 28, 2018, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John Barbagallo 

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service