AFS-11-161-E 

March 10, 2011 

 Exemption No. 10227 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2011-0120 

Mr. Carlos E. Frias 

Director of Operations 

Centurion Cargo 

1851 NW. 68th Ave., Bldg. 706, Ste. 225 

Miami, FL 33126 

Dear Mr. Frias: 

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

decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, 

including the date it ends. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated January 27, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Centurion Cargo (Centurion) for an exemption from § 121.424(c)(1)(ii) of 

Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to allow Centurion 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 that includes a takeoff and a landing when completing initial or upgrade 

training. 

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

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any 

delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Centurion. 

The FAA has issued a grant of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to 

those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 6473 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

found that permitting a limited number of qualified and authorized check airmen to conduct 

certain PIC observations would benefit the public by reducing unnecessary costs that may 
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influence the price of services to the public. It would also improve the airline’s ability to 

provide on-time, dependable air service. In addition, the FAA found that the requested 

exemption would not reduce the level of safety, provided that the petitioner complies with 

certain conditions and limitations. Please note that the candidate referenced in the conditions 

and limitations is the qualifying PIC. 

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that— 

 they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed Grant 

of Exemption No. 6473; 

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 6473 

also apply to the situation you present; and 

 a grant of exemption is in the public interest. 

Our Decision 

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator 

has delegated to me, I hereby grant Centurion Cargo an exemption from 14 CFR 

§ 121.424(c)(1)(ii) to the extent necessary to allow Centurion 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 that 

includes a takeoff and a landing when completing initial or upgrade training, subject to the 

conditions and limitations described below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. A Centurion 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. Centurion, 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 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 Centurion check airman or aircrew program designee conducting a PIC 

observation in place of an FAA inspector must–– 
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a. Be approved by the Administrator to conduct the observation; 

b. Have served as a check airman or aircrew program designee for Centurion 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. 

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

records that demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this 

exemption. 

This exemption terminates on March 31, 2013, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John W. McGraw 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service 

Enclosure