AAM-11-387-E August 22, 2011

Exemption No. 10335 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2011-0768

Mr. Craig Chilcote Vice President Safety, Security and Compliance Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. 1689 Nonconnoh Boulevard, Suite 111 Memphis, TN 38132

Dear Mr. Chilcote:

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 July 14, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. (Pinnacle) for an exemption from part 120 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to allow Pi nnacle to operate its drug and alcohol testing program in unison with Mesaba Airlines (Mesaba) drug and alcohol program.

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 Pinnacle.

The FAA has issued grant of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 9927 (copy enclosed), the FAA found that granting this exemption would be in the public interest and would maintain a level of safety equivalent to that provided by the current regulations.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that—2

 they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 9927;

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No.9927 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 Pinnacle Airlines an exemption from 14 CFR part 120 to the extent necessary to allow Pinnacle to operate its drug and alcohol testing program in unison with Mesaba Airlines (Mesaba) drug and alcohol program, subject to the conditions

and limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. Pinnacle and Mesaba must submit MIS annual report data that is within 2 percent of the administrator’s minimum annual rate. Specifically, the amount to be tested for drugs is no less than 24.5 percent (2% of 25%) and for alcohol no less than 9.8 percent (2% of 10%).

2. Mesaba must continue to submit MIS annual report data for each year or portion thereof for which they are in operation.

3. All Pinnacle locations must be in compliance with the requirement to display informational materials and hotline numbers within 6 months of the single operating

certificate issuance date.

4. All drug and alcohol testing records for the combined programs (Pinnacle and Mesaba) must be produced at one central employer location within 6 months of the single certificate issuance date.3

5. The FAA’s confidentiality requirements are regulated by the DOT’s procedural regulation 49 CFR part 40, specifically § 40.25. The FAA concurs with the DOT’s determination regarding confidentiality requirements. Pinnacle must refer to the DOT

decision.

This exemption terminates on September 30, 2013, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/
James R. Fraser, M.D. Deputy Federal Air Surgeon

Enclosure