AFS-13-149-E

February 13, 2013

 Exemption No. 6603I

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2001-9490

Ms. Mindy Waham

Flight Training Compliance Manager

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

P.O. Box 68900, SEAOZ

Seattle, WA 98168

Dear Ms. Waham:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 6603, 

as amended. It explains the basis for our decision and describes its effect.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated January 2, 2013, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Alaska Airlines, Inc. (Alaska Airlines), for an extension to Exemption No. 6603, as 

amended. That exemption from § 121.709(b)(3) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations 

(14 CFR) allows certain Alaska Airlines personnel to install and remove medevac stretchers 

under Alaska Airlines’ approved procedures. 

In your petition, you indicate there has been no change in the conditions and reasons relative 

to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting Exemption 6603, as amended.

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

in the Federal Register. The requested extension of the exemption would not set a precedent, 

and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Alaska Airlines.

Our Decision

The FAA has determined the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 6603, 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. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition, as amended.
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The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 6603, as amended, to 

February 28, 2015, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. Exemption No. 6603, as amended, 

is subject to the following conditions and limitations. 

1. Nonflight crewmembers and noncertificated personnel may install and/or remove 

medvac stretchers at remote locations identified in Alaska Airlines’ General 

Procedures Manual (GPM) only under the direct supervision of a certificated, trained, 

and authorized Alaska Airlines flight crewmember. 

2. A trained and authorized Alaska Airlines flight crewmember who holds a current 

airman certificate may install and/or remove a medevac stretcher. He or she also must 

directly supervise and/or verify the installation and/or removal of a medevac stretcher 

by a nonflight crewmember and/or noncertificated employee.

3. Before exercising the privileges of this exemption, Alaska Airlines must—

a. Develop specific instructions for installing, removing, supervising, and/or 

verifying the installation or removal of a medevac stretcher in its aircraft while 

in a remote location and incorporate those instructions in its GPM.

b. Specify in its GPM that only trained and authorized flight crewmembers, 

nonflight crewmembers, and noncertificated employees may, under the 

supervision of a certificated, trained, and authorized Alaska Airlines flight 

crewmember, install and/or remove a medevac stretcher. Alaska Airlines also 

must include instructions on how and where to document these tasks.

c. Specify in its GPM that only a trained and authorized flight crewmember who 

holds a current airman certificate may supervise and/or verify the installation 

and/or removal of a medevac stretcher. Alaska Airlines also must include 

instructions on how and where to document these tasks.

d. Develop specific instructions for training its flight operations instructors in 

installing, removing, supervising, and/or verifying the installation and removal 

of a medevac stretcher.

4. Before exercising the privileges of this exemption, a properly rated FAA-certificated 

mechanic or a qualified flight operations instructor must train the flight crewmembers 

and noncertificated employees in the medevac stretcher procedures specified in Alaska 

Airlines’ GPM. A flight operations instructor is qualified only after a properly rated

FAA-certificated mechanic has trained him or her in the procedures for installing,

removing, supervising, and/or verifying the installation and removal of a medevac 

stretcher.
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5. Alaska Airlines must keep a list of—

a. The properly rated FAA-certificated mechanics authorized to train Alaska 

Airlines flight operations instructors; 

b. All trained and authorized flight operations instructors;

c. All crewmembers and noncertificated employees trained and authorized to 

install and/or remove a medevac stretcher; and

d. All certificated flight crewmembers trained and authorized to supervise and/or 

verify the installation and/or removal of a medevac stretcher.

6. The certificated flight crewmember who performs and/or supervises the installation 

and/or removal of a medevac stretcher access panel must tell the pilot in command 

that the task was performed.

7. Only a certificated flight crewmember may make a logbook entry in the aircraft 

maintenance records documenting the task was performed. If the installation and/or 

removal of the medevac stretcher was performed by a noncertificated individual, the 

certificated flight crewmember who verified the installation/removal must make the 

logbook entry.

8. A properly rated FAA-certificated mechanic must inspect the installation or removal 

of the medevac stretcher at the first location that Alaska Airlines maintenance is 

available. Alaska Airlines must record this inspection in the aircraft maintenance 

records.

This letter must be attached to, and is a part of, Exemption No. 6603, as amended.

Sincerely,

/s/

John M. Allen

Director, Flight Standards Service