Date:g/21/2011 

Exemption No: 10040 from 14 CFR (FAR Section) -

Part: 135.203 (a)(1) 

will expire on 3/31/2012. If appropriate, please submit 

your request to extend this exemption (Including the 

docket number FAA-2003-1610S) within 30 days of 

the date of this notice. Otherwise, the FAA may not be 

able to process your request for extension tjefore the 

expiration date. You may erther submit your request 

electronically through the internet using the Docket 

Management System web site at: 

http://Regulations.gov/ or mail your request to: 

U.S. Department of Transport, tion 

Docket Operations, M'30 

West Building ground floor, 

RoomW12-140 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

X 

$00,290 

lO u3 20 |1 

Mailed From '>059^ 

us POSTAGE evi'n R. Hoof 

Director of Operations 

Venture Travel, LLC Dba Taquan Air 

40B5 Tongass 

Ketchikan, AK 

99901 

Submission to other locations may delay processing. 

Any request for eKtenslon must meet the 

requirements of 14 CFR part 11. If you have already 

requested an extension for this exemption or no longer 

need this exemption, please ignore this notice. 

/J./MM.iiJM//i.Mi>//,i,/n/ii;,J./,//n/M/.ii,/nM// / 
Alaska 

EST. 1977 

October 25, 2011 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Docket Operations, M-30 

West Building ground floor 

RoomW12-140 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE; Extension of Exemption No. 10040 from 14 CFR (FAR section) - Part 135.203(a)(1). 

Docket No. FAA-2003-16105 

Dear Administrator, 

Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air requests an extension of Exemption 10040 from Part 

135.203(a)(1) of Title 14, CFR which allows Venture Travel LLC to conduct operations under 

part 135 to operate seaplanes under visual flight rules outside controlled airspace, over water, 

and below 500 feet above the surface. 

Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air states that the facts, conditions, circumstances, and 

reasons remain the same as presented in the original exemption and subsequent petitions for 

extension. Additionally, Venture Travel LLC has operated successfully under this exemption 

since the date of decision by the FAA. 

AMENDMENTS: To Exennption 10040 Docket No. FAA-2003-16105 

Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air would like to add an amendment from the original issued 

exemption under "Conditions and Limitations": 

1. Venture Travel LLC must conduct operations under this exemption: 

(e) Within U.S. airspace defined by a line from: Change to read the following (in 

correspondence with numbers on the included sectional chart): 

Confinement to the area of Tongass Narrows, to Confinement to the area of Clarence 

Strait (southern portion) defined by a line extending from (1) Kendrick Island (latitude 

54* 53 N. longitude 131" 58 W) to (2) Percy Island (latitude 54*55 N. longitude 131' 35 

W), to Clarence Strait (northern portion) defined by a line extending from (3) Point 

Colpoys (latitude 56' 20 N. longitude 133'11 W) to (4) Macnamara Point (latitude 56° 

19 N. longitude 133" 03 W), to Confinement to the area of (5) Whale Passage, to 

Confinement to the area of (6) Lake Bay, to Confinement to the area of (7) Thome bay, 

to Confinement to the area of (8) Tolstoi bay, to Confinement to the area of (9) Kasaan 

Bay, \o Confinement to the area of (10) Karta Bay, to Confinement \o the BT&a of (11) 

Twelvemile Arm, to Confinement to the area of (12) Skowl Arm, to Confinement to the 

_ygQtureTrayel, LLC » dba Taquan Air » 4085 Tongass Avenue V Ketchikan, AK_99901__^^ fx 

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area of (13) Polk Inlet, to Confinement to the area of (14) McKenzie Inlet, to 

Confinement to the area of (15) Cholmondeley Sound, to Confinement to the area of 

(16) Moira Sound, to Confinement to the area of (17) Nichols Passage, to Confinement 

to the area of (18) Felice Strait, to Confinement to the area of (19) Revillagigedo 

Channel southern portion defined by a line extending from (20) Mary Island Edge Point 

(latitude 55' 02 N. longitude 131' 11W) to (21) Kah Shakes Cove (latitude 55'02 N. 

longitude 130*59 W), to Confinement to the area of (22) Boca de Quadra, to 

Confinement to the area of (23) East Behm Canal and (24) West Behm Canal, to 

Confinement to the area of (25) Thome Arm, to Confinement to the area of (26) Carroll 

Inlet, to Confinement to the area of (27) George Inlet, to Confinement to the area of 

(28) Clover Passage, to Confinement to the area of (29) Helm Bay, to Confinement to 

the area of (30) Traitors Cove, to Confinement to the area of (31) Meets Bay, to 

Confinement to the area of (32) Gedney Pass, to Confinement to the area of (33) 

Spacious bay, to Confinement to the area of (34) Yes Bay, to Confinement to the area 

of (35) Hassler Pass, to Confinement to the area of (36) Bell Arm. 

Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air petitions the amendment "Conditions and Limitations" of the 

above mentioned Airspace Defined. As that will greatly reduce the Original Airspace defined to 

a much smaller scale and scope, and provide a more practical usage to our areas of air 

commerce in which we operate. 

Also note that the amendment Airspace Defined does not include any points in Canadian 

airspace. 

Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air Equivalent Level of Safety Areas: 

Pilot Flight Training: 

Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air is proposing that an equivalent level of safety to Exemption 

10040 can be achieved through pilot flight training in which, each Taquan Air pilot operating 

under this exemption will receive annual flight training en-route at 200 feet above the surface in 

a simulated emergency landing downwind to allow for a safe accomplishment of an 

unscheduled water landing. 

Pilot Flight Training and Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air Company Culture Safety: 

The Medallion Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit aviation safety organization that provides 

management resources, training, and support to the Alaskan aviation community. The Medallion 

Five-Star Shield program is an enhanced Safety Management System (SMS) that takes a 

businesslike approach to safety, providing for the setting of goals as well as planning and 

measuring performance in specific areasthrough the use of System Safety concepts. A Safety 

Management System can be defined as a systematic, explicit and comprehensive process for 

the management of safety risks. Another definition is an integrated seat of work practices, 

beliefs, and procedures for monitoring and improving the safety and health of all aspects of an 

operation. 

The Medallion Five-Star Sheild program is voluntary and focuses on establishing and sustaining 

an elevated level of safety performance through: 

• The development of a safety culture that holds safety as a core value. 

• Continuous professional development of individual skills and competence. 
• Proactive sharing of operational control responsibilities. 

• Hazard identification and risk management. 

• Management practices that support the organization's safety objectives. 

Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air is a participant in the nationally acclaimed Medallion 

Foundation Aviation Safety Program. The program was established to provide safety 

management systems and support to Alaska aviators. The foundation uses a Five-Star Program 

to provide process guidelines, training, and follow up with audit support and coordination to 

ensure compliance. Following being awarded 5 out of 5 stars, Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan 

Air has been awarded—and a carrier of—the coveted Medallion Shield since February 2008. 

The five stars and shield are awarded in the following disciplines: 

• CFiT Avoidance Star (Awarded May 2004): Awarded for developing an effective 

training program for all pilots that emphasizes recognition and operation in flat-light, 

white-out and deteriorating visibility weather conditions, using Aircraft Training Devices 

(ATD's) or simulators. 

• Operational Control Star (Awarded May 2004): Awarded when the participant has 

developed an effective flight operations management system that considers all hazards 

and associated risks and requires shared decisions for dispatching all flights with 

appropriate management involvement as risk levels increase. 

• Maintenance and Ground Service Star (Awarded April 2005): Awarded upon 

developing quality assurance in maintenance and ground service departments through 

implementation of a proactive surveillance and trending program incorporating hazard 

identification, risk management, personnel training requirements, and documented 

management involvement and follow-up. 

• Safety Star (Awarded May 2006): Awarded upon developing practical and effective 

safety policies and procedures by implementation of a company-wide safety program 

with commitment from top management, including a non-punitive and anonymous safety 

reporting system, an emergency response plan, a safety committee, and a viable safety 

information collection and distribution system. 

• Internal Audit Star (Awarded February 2008): Awarded when the participant develops 

an effective internal evaluation program that assesses company adherence to the other 

four Medallion Foundation Star Programs. 

• Medallion Shield (Awarded February 2008): After being awarded the final star, the 

Medallion Foundation sends a representative to conduct an evaluation of the participant. 

This evaluation focuses on company management, corporate safety culture, and frontline employees to determine if the concepts associated with the stars are successfully 

incorporated into day-to-day company operations. If all criteria are met, the participant is 

awarded with the Medallion Shield. 

The Alaska Region's "Capstone Program" Technology: 

Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air has installed state-of-the-art navigation technology in all 8 

DeHavilland Beaver DHC-2 aircraft because of an uncompromising commitment to safety. This 

program is intended to reduce the incidence of weather-related accidents, mid-air collisions, and 

terrain-based concerns. This is achieved by improving a pilot's situational awareness through 

advanced technologies, modern avionics, and information services. 

The Alaska Region's "Capstone Program" is a technology-focused safety program in Alaska that 

seeks near term safety and efficiency gains in aviation by accelerating implementation and use 

of modern technology. Capstone links multiple programs and initiatives under a common 
umbrella for planning, coordination, focus, and direction. It also develops capabilities and 

requirements jointly with FAA, the Alaskan community, and aviation industry in a manner 

consistent with future National Airspace System plans and concepts, with implementation in a 

manner leading to self-equipage. 

The Capstone program began in Southeast Alaska in FY2001. Capstone is an accelerated effort 

to improve aviation safety and efficiency through the installation of government furnished Global 

Positioning System (GPS) based avionics and data-link communications suites in commercial 

aircraft. Compatible ground systems, equipment, and services are also provided. The name 

"Capstone" is derived from the program's effect of drawing and holding together concepts and 

recommendations contained in reports from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Mitre 

Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development, and Alaskan aviation 

industry representatives. In addition to the avionics suites. Capstone will deploy a ground 

infrastructure for weather observation, data-link communications, surveillance, and Right 

Information Sen^ices to improve safety and enable eventual implementation of new procedures. 

Cue-Based Training: 

As part of the Medallion Foundation's CFIT Avoidance Star. Venture Travel LLC dba Taouan Air 

has been conducting cue-based training since May 2004. This training was not required by the 

FAA until July 2009. Each Taguan Air pilot participates into the utilized program every year 

during initial and recurrent training. The following is a summary of the program: 

In 2007, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) proposed Safety Recommendations 

A-07-18 through -26 specific to Hawaii in response to past fatal air tour operator accidents. In 

light of the fatal air tour accidents in Alaska in 2007, A-07-18 was deemed relevant in Alaska as 

well. Work was therefore begun on the FAA Cue-Based Pilot Training Project under the Federal 

Aviation Administration Safety Team (FAASTeam) business plan in fiscal year 2008 to reduce 

air tour accidents in Alaska an Hawaii. 

The NTSB then proposed Safety Recommendations A-08-59 through -62 for Alaska. A-07-18 

(Hawaii) and A-08-61 (Alaska) are very similar. They recommend that the FAA develop, in 

cooperation with commercial air tour operators, aviation psychologists, and meteorologists, 

among others, a cue-based training program for commercial air tour pilots that specifically 

addresses the hazardous aspects of local weather phenomena and in-flight decision-making. 

This product is the first stage in answering that challenge. 

Product Philosophy 

The NTSB concluded, "...Cue-Based training, tailored to the dynamic local... climate 

conditions, could provide an important safety benefit to pilots who are new to flying in the state." 

We understand the importance of "Staying ahead of the aircraft," -and staying ahead of the 

weather. In-flight decisions-making skills are local weather phenomena can be taught with 

advanced cue-based training technologies at a fraction of the cost of traditional in-aircraft 

experience; and the more realistic the training experience, the better it transfers as a positive 

real-world habit for the pilot. 

To demonstrate this reality, this product is intended to impart the following capabilities: 

1. Understanding alternative route options. 

2. Visualizing decision points at which visibility and wind velocity are checked. 

3. Recognizing situational cues that must be evaluated before proceeding into an area of 

restricted maneuvering room. 
Proof-of-Concept- Misty Fjords 

This first iteration of visual cue-based training products is presented as a shared Standard 

Operating Procedure (SOP) program for Part 135 air tours operating in the Ketchikan, AK -

Misty Fjords area. This area is commonly known for its stunningly beautiful geographic features; 

equally impressive are the flight challenges posed by such dramatic terrain and volatile weather 

conditions. 

In order to standardize the decision making process for flight continuation in deteriorating 

weather, the cue-training development team has enlisted the help of local flight operators to 

break the common tour routes into a series of shared flight segments. The end of each 

segments represents a fixed geographic location where pilots are expected to review conditions 

and make a conscious decision whether to continue on the route, select an alternate route, or 

return to base. This tool presents each of these routes in turn, with the decision points along the 

way. At each of these decision points, there is a visual cue or landmark that may be used in 

determining whether continued flight along the route is acceptable. 

These decision points, and their landmarks are set into geographic context through a series of 

virtual flight renderings and text descriptions. In order to help users apply the training in realworid circumstances, the tool will also present three views of each landmark under different 

weather conditions. The first view will set the stage for identifying the landmark by presenting a 

clear day view of the landmark from the perspective of the decision point. The second view 

presents a view of the landmark on a marginal day, so that one may see how the context 

changes when the cue is just barely visible. The last view is an image of the landmark on a day 

that is considered impassible. Under these circumstances, visibility limits the pilot's perspective 

such that the visual cue is barely obscured. The possible responses to each of these conditions 

are described alongside the images. 

Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air requests that the renewal of this exemption not be delayed 

by publishing in the Federal Register and states that this will not set a precedent. 

Your timely extension of the exemption, which expires on March 31, 2012, will allow us to 

continue to provide safe, efficient, and timely commerce to the traveling public. 

Authority to conduct In accordance with this exemption is in public interest. 

Your assistance in this matter is appreciated. 

Best regards, 

Kevin Roof / 

Director of Operations 

Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air 

Enc: Map—amendment airspace defined 

Cc: Brad Sapp 

FAA/FSDO-05 

Juneau 
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