U.S. Department ofTransportation Federal Aviation Administration 

### July 24, 2013

Ms. Rebecca Barbaria Manager ofFlight Standards Mesa Airlines, Inc. 2710 E. Old Tower Road, Suite B Phoenix, AZ 85034 Dear Ms. Barbaria: ExemptionNo. 10831 800 Independence Ave
.. S.W. Washington. D.C. 20591



### Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2000-8222

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. 

### Ittransmits our decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations ofthe exemption, including the date it ends. 

### The Basis for Our Decision By letter dated June 3, 2013, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalfofMesa Airlines, Inc. (Mesa) for an extension ofExemptionNo. 10272. That exemption from§ 121.434(c)(1)(ii) ofTitle 14, Code ofFederal Regulations (14 CFR) allows Mesato substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place ofanFAA 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 takeoffand landing when completing initial or upgrade training as specified in§ 121.424. Please note that the previous exemption has expired; therefore, we will treatyour request as a new petition. · The FAAhas determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary ofthe petition inthe Federal Registerbecause the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting onthis petition would be detrimental to Mesa. The FAA has issued a grant ofexemption incircumstances similar in all material respects to those presented in your petition. In Grant ofExemptionNo. 10272, the FAA found that subject to certain conditions and limitations, the requirement for an FAA inspectorto observe a qualifying PIC before he/she begins operations in an airplane unsupervised may be AFS-13-406-Econducted by and satisfied by the certificate holder's check airman or aircrewprogram designee. The FAA found that this could be accomplished without reducing the level of safety providedbythe regulation. Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that2

• they are similar in all material respects to reliefpreviously requested inthe enclosed Grant ofExemptionNo. 10272; • the reasons statedbythe FAA for granting the enclosed Grant ofExemptionNo. 10272 also apply to the situation youpresent; and • a grant ofexemption is inthe public interest. 

### Our Decision Under the authority contained in49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, whichthe FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant MesaAirlines, Inc., an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.434( c)(1)(ii) to the extent necessary to allow Mesato substitute a qualified and authorized check airman inplace ofan FAA inspector to observe a qualifYing PIC while that PIC is performing prescribed duties during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoffand landing when completing initial orupgrade training as specified in§ 121.424. This exemption is subject to the conditions and limitations described below. 

### Conditions and Limitations 1. A Mesa check airman or aircrewprogram designee may conduct a PIC observation in place ofan FAA inspector whena. The Administratorpreapproves that substitution for each observation ofa qualifYing PIC candidate, thus reserving first right ofrefusal to the FAA in each case. Mesa, therefore, must contact an appropriate FAA office, in each instance, before substituting that check airman or aircrewprogram 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 Mesa check airman and aircrewprogram designee conducting a PIC observation inplace ofan FAA inspector musta. Be approved by the Administratorto conduct the observation;

### b. Have served as a check airman or aircrew program designee for Mesa for no less than 6 months; and
c. Not supervise the OE or conductthe initial line check for the qualifying PIC candidate being observed. 

### 3

3. Mesa must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew program designee records that demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations ofthis exemption. This exemption terminates on July 31, 2016, unless sooner superseded orrescinded. Sincerely,

M chael J. Zenkovich Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service