# MESAB AAIRLINE S ''••RTMEN TO F

: : J? ! 1 0 ^ . !0 : 2 3 January7 , 201 1 U.S . Departmen to fTransportatio n Docke tManagemen tSyste m Wes tBuildin g Groun d Floor , Roo m W12-14 0 120 0 Ne wJerse yAvenue , S E Washington , D

C 2059 0 Re : Petitio n o fMesab a Aviation . Inc . fo rExemptio n fro m 1 4 CF R Part12 0 an d 4 9 CF

R Par t4 0 Ladle s an d Gentlemen : Pursuan t t o 1 4 C.F.R . Part11 , Mesab a Aviation , Inc . d/b/ a Mesab a Airline s an d Delt a Connectio n ("Mesaba") , whic h hold s certificat e MALA007A , respectfull yrequest s tha tth e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n ("FAA" ) exemp tMesab a an d Colga n Airlines , Inc . {"Colgan" ) fro m certai n provision s o f1 4 C.F.R . Part12 0 an d 4 9 C.F.R . Part40. ^ Th e requeste d exemptio n woul d permi tMesab a t o operat e it s dru g an d alcoho l testin g progra m i n uniso n wit h th e dru g an d alcoho l testin g progra m o fColga n a s th e merge ro fColga n int o Mesab a i s documente d i n a singl e FA Aoperatin g certificat e {th e "SOC") . Mesab a anticipate s tha tth e FA Awil l issu e th e SO

C o n o rbefor e Ma y1 , 2011 , an d I twishe s Mesaba' s an d Colgan' s dru g an d alcoho l testin g program s t o operat e i n uniso n beginnin g a s soo n a s possibl e an d unti l th e dat e th e FA

Aissue s th e SO

C (th e "SOC Date") . DESCRIPTIO N O F AN D RATIONAL E FOR REQUESTE D EXEMPTION S Th e requeste d exemptions , identifie d i n th e tabl e below , ar e consisten twit h relie fgrante d byth e FA Ai n tw o recen tairlin e merger s involvin g Delt a Ai rLine s an d Northwes tAirline s (Exemptio n No . 9927 ) an d Continenta l Airline s an d Continenta l Micronesi a (Exemptio n No . 10160) . Jus ta s th e carrier s i n thos e case s contended , th e dru g an d alcoho l testin g program s o fMesab a an d Colga n ar e similar , an d bot h ensur e tha t activ e substanc e abusers wil l b e detecte d an d prevente d fro m performin g safety-sensitiv e functions . Th e requeste d exemption s fell int o severa l classes. ^ Pre-Employmen tRequirement s Mesab a an d Colga n compl ywit h th e pre-employmen ttestin g requirement s o fPar t120 . Al l new-hir e employee s hav e successfull ycomplete d pre-employmen tdru g screenin g an d backgroun d checks . Thes e 1 / Mesaba understand s tha tPar t4 0 issue s are withi n th e primar

yjurisdictio n ofth e Departmen to f Transportation' s (DOT

) Offic e ofDru g S

t Alcoho l Polic

y& Compliance . T

o th e exten tnecessary , Mesaba requests actio n o n thi s applicatio n b yDO Tunde r4 9 CF

R 40. 7 an d 4 9 CF

R Par t5 . 2 / Item s bearin g onl ynumber s i n th e tabl e ar

e numbere d identicall yt o th e Continenta l requests fo rrelief . Those bearin g number

s an d letters (i.e. , item s 2a-2d , 15a-15b , an d 16a) wer e specificall yliste d onl yi n th e Delta application , bu tthe yreflectform s ofrelie fencompassed b yth e FAA'

s exemptio n fo rContinental .

loo o BLU EGENTIA NROAD , SUIT E200 , EAGAN , M N55121-167 9Mesab a Aviation , Inc . Exemptio n Reques t January? , 201 1

Pag e 2 employee s hav e bee n continuall ycovere d unde ra n FA Adru g an d alcoho l testin g progra m sinc e the y wer e hire d an d hav e bee n subjecte d t o rando m testin g a s required . Thus , Mesab a request s relie ffro m performin g pre-employmen t testin g o n individual s tha ttransfe rfro m th e Colga n certificat e t o th e SOC . Ne whire s wil l continu e t o b e screene d throug h pre-employmen ttestin g a s required . (Ite m 11 ) Mesab a an d Colga n als o verif yth e dru g an d alcoho l testin g record s o fthei remployee s befor e the y begi n performin g safety-sensitiv e duties . Thus , Mesab a request s relie ffro m performin g dru g an d alcoho l violatio n checks a s require d b ysectio n 40.2 5 o n individual s tha ttransfe rfro m th e Colga n certificat e t o th e SOC . Ne whire s wil l continu e t o b e subjec tt o suc h checks . (Ite m 1 ) Servic e Agent s Mesab a an d Colga n us e variou s collectio n sites , on-sit e collectors , an d vendor s t o perfor m dru g scree n collection s an d breat h alcoho l testin g acros s ou rsystems . Bot h companie s ar e awar e o fth e requirement s i n Par

t4 0 fo rservic e agents , includin g collector s an d breat h alcoho l technicians , t o hav e th e prope rDE R contac tinformation , an d the yrealiz e th e importanc e o fcommunicatio n betwee n th e DE R an d servic e agents . Unti l th e SO C Date , al l servic e agent s wil l b e advise d throug h writte n correspondenc e o fth e change s i n th e DE R name , phon e numbers , mailin g addresses , an d additiona l contac tinformation . Thi s correspondenc e wil l b e distribute d t o primar yservic e agent s i n perso n t o ensur e complianc e wit h th e regulations . However , replacemen to fth e chai n o fcustod yform s (CCF ) an d breat h alcoho l testin g form s (ATF) currentl ydistribute d t o servic e agent s woul d tak e tim e an d coul d no t feasibl yb e complete d o n th e SO C Date . Thus , Mesab a request s temporar yrelief , t o exten d si xmonth s fro m th e SO

C Date , fro m th e requiremen ttha tchai n o fcustod yform s o rbreat h alcoho l testin g form s lis tcorrec t DE R contac tinformation . Mesab a als o request s temporar yrelie fpermittin g i tt o modif yth e CCF an d AT F durin g th e transitio n phase . (Item s 3-8,10 ) Educatio n an d Trainin g Afte rth e SO

C Date , Colga n employee s wil l perfor m th e sam e safety-sensitiv e function s the yperforme d a tColgan , an d the ywil l alread yhav e bee n educate d an d traine d i n dru g an d alcoho l issue s throug h Colgan' s comprehensiv e FAA-approve d dru g testin g program . Thus , Mesab a request s permanen trelie f fro m th e educatio n an d trainin g requirement s fo rColga n employee s wh o ar e currentl ytraine d an d wh o transfe rt o th e Mesab a SO C (Item s 14,18 ) Colgan' s supervisor ypersonne l ar e traine d a s require d b yth e FA

At o detec tth e sign s an d symptom s o f dru g and/o ralcoho l abuse . Thus , Mesab a request s permanen trelie ffro m trainin g fo rColgan' s supervisor s wh o ar e currentl ytraine d i n directin g reasonabl e cause/suspicio n testing . Allowin g supervisor s fro m acros s bot h carriers ' operatin g certificates , unti l th e SO C Date , t o mak e reasonabl e cause / suspicio n testin g determinations , eve n wher e th e require d concurrenc e i s betwee n supervisors fro m differen tcarriers , woul d increas e th e numbe ro fsupervisor s availabl e t o mak e suc h determination s i n a timel yfashio n an d therefor e enhanc e safety . (Item s 12,14,16,18 ) Whil e sectio n 120.11 5 require s distributio n o fa n employer' s dru g an d alcoho l policy , Mesab a contend s tha tColgan' s compan ypolic yo n dru g an d alcoho l us e i n th e workplac e i s substantiall y simila rt o tha ti n plac e a tMesab a an d therefor e shoul d no trequir e redistributio n byMesaba . Thus ,Mesab a Aviation , Inc . Exemptio n Reques t January? , 201 1

Page s Mesab a request s permanen trelie ffro m havin g t o redistribut e it s compan ypolic yo n workplac e dru g an d alcoho l us e t o employee s tha ttransfe rfro m Colgan . (Ite m 17 ) Confldentialit van d Administrativ e Rule s Th e dru g an d alcoho l program s o fbot h Mesab a an d Colgan , a s require d b yPar

t40 , maintai n th e confidentialit yo femployees ' dru g an d alcoho l testin g records . Nonetheless , Mesab a contend s tha t allowin g suc h record s t o b e share d betwee n th e carrier s durin g th e transitio n woul d allo wfo rbette r managemen to fshare d laborator yan d Medica l Revie wOffice rresources . Thus , Mesab a request s temporar yrelie ffro m confidentialit yrequirement s s o tha tinformatio n pertainin g t o eac h employee' s dru g an d alcoho l testin g record s ca n b e share d betwee n Mesab a an d Colgan . (Item s 9,13,16a ) Integratin g th e Mesab a an d Colga n certificate s wil l als o mea n integratin g thei rrecordkeepin g systems . Mesab a request s temporar yrelie ft o permi tMesab a an d Colga n t o stor e record s a t differen t location s fo rsi xmonth s afte rth e SO C Dat e whil e record s ar e centralized . (Item s 15,15a 15b ) Finally , durin g th e Colgan/Mesab a transitio n i ti s possibl e tha tanomalie s wil l occu ri n rando m testin g accountin g method s o ri n annua l MI S reports . Fo rexample , th e latte rreport s ma yimproperl yindicat e tha t rando m testin g rate s wer e no tme tsimpl ybecaus e o fth e timin g o fth e SO C Date , eve n thoug h bot h carrier s Inten d t o compl yfull ywit h rando m testin g requirements . Mesab a Airline s request s temporar y relie ffro m statistica l anomalie s regardin g th e rando m testin g completio n rate s a s a resul to fth e migratio n o femployee s fro m th e Colga n certificat e t o th e SOC . (Item s 2 , 2a-2d )Mesab a Aviation , Inc . Exemptio n Reques t January? , 201 1

Pag e 4 TABL E O F SECTION S AFFECTE D (DERIVE D FRO M EXEMPTIO N NO . 10160 ) Ite m 1 2 2 a 2 b 2 c 2 d 3

4

5

6

?

8 Regulatio n 4 9 CF R 40.2 5 4 9 CF R 40.2 6 1 4 CF R 120.109(b ) (6)(i)(B ) 1 4 CF R 119(a ) 1 4 CF R 217(c)(6 ) (i){B ) 1 4 CF R 219(b ) 4 9 CF R 40.3 5 4 9 CF R 40.45(c)(2 ) 4 9 CF R 40.209(c ) 4 9 CF R 40.21 5 4 9 CF R 40.22 5 4 9 CF R 40.2? 5 Summaryo f

Requiremen t Dru g an d alcoho l violatio n checks MI S Report s

DE R Contac t Informatio n CC F Require d Informatio n Correctiv e Actio n

DE R Contac t Informatio n Breat h Alcoho l Testin g AT F Correctiv e Actio n -BA T Exemptio n Requeste d

Waiv e requiremen tt o conduc t dru g an d alcoho l record s checks o n curren temployee s covere d b y Colga n program . Relie fregardin g possibl e MI S statistica l anomalie s resultin g fro m th e merger .

Waiv e requiremen tt o provid e appropriat e DE R contac t informatio n t o collector s o n pre printe d forms . Waiv e th e restrictio n t o modif y an d revis e th e CC

F durin g progra m transition . Waiv e enforcemen tactio n base d o n lac k o fdocumentatio n correctin g administrativ e error s o n dru g tests . Waiv e requiremen tt o provid e appropriat e DE R contac t informatio n t o collector s o n pre printe d forms . Waiv e th e restrictio n t o modif y an d revis e th e AT F durin g progra m transition . Waiv e enforcemen tactio n base d o n lac k o fdocumentatio n correctin g administrativ e error s o n akoho l tests . Typ e o f Relie f Permanen t Temporar y

Temporar y Temporar y Temporar y Temporar y Temporar y Temporar y Duratio n o f

Relie f n/a Calenda r yea rofSO C Dat e

Unti l SO C Dat e Unti l 6 month s afte rSO C Dat e Unti l 6 month s afte rSO C Dat e Until e month s afte rSO C Dat e Unti l 6 month s afte rSO C Dat e Unti l 6 month s afte rSO C Dat eMesab a Aviation , Inc . Exemptio n Reques t January? , 201 1

Page s TABL E O F SECTION S AFFECTE D (DERIVE D FRO M EXEMPTIO N NO . 10160 ) Ite m 9 1 0

1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 15 a 15 b 1 6 16 a 1 ? 1 8 Regulatio n 4 9 CF R 40.32 1 4 9 CF R 4 0 Subpart0 1 4 CF R 120.109(a ) 1 4 CF R 120.109(d ) 1 4 CF R 120.111(c ) 1 4 CF R 120.11 5 1 4 CF R 120.11 7 (d)(iv ) 4 9 CF R 40.333(d ) 1 4 CF R 219(a ) 1 4 CF R 120.21 ? (d)(2 ) 1 4 CF R 219(c ) 1 4 CF R 120.223(a ) 1 4 CF R 120.223(b ) Summaryo f

Requiremen t Confidentialit yo f Record s Servic e Agent s Pre-Employmen t Testin g Reasonabl e Caus e Testin g Releas e o f Testin g Informatio n EA R Trainin g Program s Locatio n Requirement s

Reasonabl e Suspicio n Alcoho l Testin g Releas e o f Testin g Informatio n Policyo n Alcoho l Misus e Superviso r Trainin g Exemptio n Requeste d

Waiv e requiremen tfo remploye e consen tt o releas e informatio n betwee n Mesab a an d Colgan . Waiv e restriction s o n servic e agent s so tha teac h airlin e ca n b e use d a s th e servic e agen to fth e other . Waiv e pre-employmen tdru g tes t requirement s fo ractiv e an d inactiv e employee s currentl y covere d unde rColga n program . Allo weithe rMesab a o rColga n supervisors t o determin e reasonabl e cause . Allo wMesab a an d Colga n t o releas e employe e informatio n t o eac h other . Waiv e requirement s fo rtrainin g o fColga n employee s an d supervisors an d allo wMesab a t o receiv e thei rrecords . Waiv e requiremen tt o lis tan d maintai n a single , specifi c locatio n fo ral l testin g records .

Allo weithe rMesab a o rColga n supervisors t o determin e reasonabl e suspicion . Allo wMesab a an d Colga n t o releas e employe e informatio n t o eac h other . Waiv e requiremen tt o re distribut e polic yt o employees . Waiv e requirement s fo rtrainin g o fColga n employee s an d supervisors an d allo wMesab a t o receiv e thei rrecords . Typ e o f Relie f Temporar y Temporar y

Permanen t Temporar y Temporar y Permanen t Temporar y

Temporar y Temporar y Permanen t Permanen t Duratio n o f

Relie f Unti l SO C Dat e Unti l SO C Dat e n/a

Unti l SO C Dat e Unti l SO C Dat e n/a

Unti l 6 month s afte rSO C Dat e

Unti l SO C Dat e Unti l SO C Dat e n/a n/aMesab a Aviation , Inc . Exemptio n Reques t January? , 201 1

Page s

a

b

c d ANTICIPATE D CONDITION S (DERIVE D FRO M EXEMPTIO N No . 10160 ) Mesab a an d Colga n mus tsubmi tMI S annua l repor tdat a tha ti s withi n 2 percen to fth e Administrator' s annua l minimu m rate . Specifically , th e amoun tt o b e teste d fo rdrug s i s n o les s tha n 24. 5 percen t(±2 % o f25% ) an d fo ralcoho l n o less tha n 9. 8 percen t(±2 % o f10%) . Colga n mus tcontinu e t o submi tMI S annua l repor tdat a foreachyearo rportio n thereo ffo rwhic h i ti s i n operation . Al l Mesab a location s mus tb e i n complianc e wit h th e requiremen tt o displa yinformationa l material s an d hotlin e number s withi n 6 month s o fth e SO C Date . Al l dru g an d alcoho l testin g record s fo rth e combine d program s (Mesab a an d Colgan ) mus tb e produce d a ton e centra l employe rlocatio n withi n 6 month s o fth e SO C Date . Ther e i s ampl e preceden tfo rth e relie fMesab a seeks . Th e FA Aroutinel yissue s relie ffro m pre employmen ttestin g requirements , base d o n precedentia l Exemptio n No . 6960 , t o allo wemployee s t o transfe rfro m on e operatin g certificat e t o anothe rwithou t"repeating " pre-employmen ttesting . Mesaba' s request s fo rrelie fi n thi s regar d d o no tdiffe rmateriall yfro m thos e grante d i n Exemptio n No . 696 0 an d late rexemptions . Mesaba' s reques tals o mirror s th e amende d reques to fContinenta l Airline s an d Continenta l Micronesi a tha tth e FA Agrante d i n Exemptio n No . 1016 0 o n Novembe r10 , 201 0 (Docke t FAA-2010-1089) . Tha trequest , i n turn , wa s base d o n th e reques tfo rrelie fo fDelt a Ai rline s an d Northwes tAirline s tha twa s grante d i n Exemptio n No . 9927 . I n bot h cases , th e applicant s state d tha temployee s fro m bot h carrier s ha d alread ybeen , an d woul d continu e t o be , screene d fo rsubstanc e us e pursuan tt o a comprehensive , effectiv e testin g program . Th e FA Afoun d tha ta gran to fth e requeste d exemptions , a s conditioned , woul d no timpac tsafet y adversel yan d woul d b e i n th e publi cinterest . Th e sam e finding s ar e warrante d i n thi s cas e an d suppor t th e requeste d relief . PROCEDURA LMATTER S Since Mesaba' s reques ti s consisten twit h thos e grante d byth e FA Ai n th e Delt a an d Continenta l case s identifie d above , i tshoul d no tb e controversial , an d n o part ywoul d b e prejudice d b ya n earlie rdecision . Thus , Mesab a request s tha tth e FA Aconside rthi s petitio n an d actwithou tregar d t o th e 120-da yperio d contemplate d b ysectio n 11.63(d ) o rpublicatio n o fa notic e i n th e Federa l Registe rpublicatio n an d publi ccommen tunde rsectio n 11.8? . Mesab a i s no tseekin g t o exercis e th e privileg e o fth e exemptio n outsid e o fth e Unite d State s a tthi s time . CONCLUSIO N Mesab a respectfull yrequest s tha tth e FA Agran tthi s petitio n fo rexemption , an d suc h othe rrelie fas th e FA Ama ydee m necessar

yo rproper , expeditiousl ys o tha t Mesab a an d Colga n ma yoperat e thei rdru g an d alcoho l testin g program s i n uniso n durin g th e merge rprocess . I fw e ca n provid e additiona lMesab a Aviation , Inc . Exemptio n Reques t January7 , 201 1

Page ? informatio n o rb e o fan yothe rassistance , pleas e contac tm e o rSusa n M . Gulden , Leave & Complianc e Manageran d Designate d Employe rRepresentative , a t651-36?-52? 7 (fax651-367-5392) . Respectfull ysubmitted , \ 

# -f^^'^m c Pegg yG ro e b e Vic e Presiden t- Huma n Resource s