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# I

Direct Dial: 435.634.3530 Direct Pax: 435.634.3505 e-mail: temerson((i:;·skvwesLcom 

## MAR l5 20!6 HEARING DOCKET

March 14,2016

VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS Federal AviationAdministration ATTN: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2W1000 600 Independence Avenue SW Washinf,>ion, DC 20591 Re: Case No. 2015WP910079 Dear Sir/Madam: The Final Notice ofProposed Civil Penalty inthe above-referenced case was received in our office on March 10,2016. Pursuant to 

### §13.16 (e) (2) (ii) ofFederal Air Regulations, SkyWestAirlines hereby requests a hearing onthis matter. Sincerely,

# We~·

# - Todd C. Emerson Director- Government and Legal Affairs TCE/jb

cc: Jeffrey M. Harper

444 South River Road St. George, Utah 84790 :· Phone 435.634.3000 www.skywest.comU.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 

## MAR 10 2016

Office of the Chief Counsel 

# RECEiVED MAR I 

## 0 2016 SK'{V\!EST-LEGAL Enforcement Division Western Team 1601 Lind Avenue S.W. Renton, Washington 98057

VIA FIRST-CLASS AND CERTIFIED MAIL- RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 

## MAR 0 4 2016
Michael B. Thompson ChiefOperating Officer Sky West Airlines, Inc. 444 South River Road St. George, UT 84790 RE: SkyWest Airlines, Inc., Case No. 2015WP910079 FINALNOTICE OF PROPOSED CIVILPENALTY The FederalAviation Administration (FAA) notified, through a Notice ofProposed Civil Penalty dated October 30,2015, that the FAAproposedto assess a civil penalty inthe amount of$300,000 for SkyWestAirlines, Inc's alleged violation(s) of 14 C.F.R. §§ 120.105 and 120.215(a). After considering all ofthe information presentlypart ofthis proceeding, including information provided by your counsel, Todd Emerson, during an informal conference held on January 26, 2016, it appears that: 1. Sky WestAirlines, Inc. (SkyWest) is now, and was at all times relevant herein, the holder ofAir Carrier CertificateNo. SWIA011A, and conducts its operationspursuant to Part 121 ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), 14 Code ofFederal Regulations (C.P.R.) Chapter I. 2. At all times relevant herein, SkyWest held appropriate Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) certifying it would comply with the requirements of 14 C.F.R. Part 120 and 49 C.P.R. Part 40 for its Antidrug and Alcohol Misuse PreventionProgram. 3. Selections were made from Sky West's Department ofTransportation (DOT) random drug and alcohol testing pools onthe following dates:

a. January 16,2014; b. April23, 2014;

c. July 29, 2014;SkyWest Airlines, Inc.- FAA Case No. 2015WP910079 Page 2 of5 d. October 14, 20 14; and

e. January 9, 2015. 4. The following SkyWest employees were transferred to positions with SkyWest involving theperformance ofsafety-sensitive functions on the dates listed: Diego Aguayo October 3, 2014 Katherine Lewis March 5, 2014 Shridath Balram September 23, 2014 HelenaLundblad August 30, 2014 ChristopherBell April15, 2014 Vanessa Maxey April16, 2014 David Botjer February 6, 2014 Rachael Nowicki April!!, 2014 Gavin Cline October 3, 2014 Lee Palin June 28, 2014 Shelby Cronos April16, 2014 ErikaPetrenko April12, 2014 Lauren Elliott April15, 2014 Marilyn Spiegelman January 15, 2014 Emily Flores April14, 2014 Andrew Stapinski October 8, 2014 Kiera George April 14, 2014 Linnette Stewart Aprill2, 2014 Heidi Hannnacher April16, 2014 Rhiaunon Sutton April!!, 2014 Mary Harris April13, 2014 NormaThomas April16, 2014 Robert Haynes October 7, 2014 Cecilia Toltecatl April12, 2014 SandraHitchcock April15, 2014 James Velasquez April13, 2014 Emily Hostetler April14, 2014 Todd Wick September 13, 2014 Phoupaseath "Seth" October 1, 2014 Bee Yang September 30,2014 Keovangsak 5. The following employees were notincluded in SkyWest's DOTrandom drug and alcohol testing pools before the dates listed: Shridath Balram January 9, 2015 HelenaLundblad Jannary 9, 2015 ChristopherBell October 14, 2014 Vanessa Maxey July 29, 2014 Gavin Cline January 9, 2015 Rachael Nowicki July 29, 2014 Shelby Cronos July 29,2014 Lee Palin October 14,2014 LaurenElliott July 29, 2014 ErikaPetrenko July 29, 2014 Emily Flores July 29,2014 Andrew Stapinski January 9, 2015 Kiera George July 29, 2014 Linnette Stewart July 29, 2014 Heidi Hammacher July 29,2014 Rhiam1on Sutton July 29, 2014 Mary Harris July 29, 2014 Norma Thomas July 29,2014SkyWest Airlines, Inc.- FAA Case No. 2015WP910079 Page 3 of5Robert Haynes January 9, 2015 Sandra Hitchcock July 29,2014 Emily Hostetler July 29,2014 Phoupaseath "Seth" January 9, 2015 Keovangsak Cecilia Toltecatl July29,2014 James Velasquez July 29, 2014 Todd Wick January 9, 2015

6. The following SkyWest employees were not included in SkyWest's DOT random drug and alcohol testing pools between the date oftransfer listed inparagraph4, and the date listedbelow on whichthe employee left Sky West's employ: David Botjer October 2, 2014 

## IKatherine Lewis July9, 2014 7. As ofJanuary 9, 2015, the following employees had notyet been added to SkyWest's

8. 9. DOTrandom drug and alcohol testing pools. Diego Aguayo Marilyn Spiegelman Bee Yang Vanessa Maxey left SkyWest's employ on September 9, 2014. The following employees performed safety-sensitive duties for SkyWest on the date shown: Shridath Balram October 26, 2014 HelenaLundblad September 15,2014 Christopher Bell May 15, 2014 Vanessa Maxey Aprill8, 2014 Gavin Cline October 29, 2014 Rachael Nowicki April12, 2014 Shelby Cronos April17, 2014 Lee Palin July 8, 2014 Lauren Elliott April16, 2014 Erika Petrenko April13, 2014 Emily Flores April15, 2014 Andrew Stapinski November 10, 2014 Kiera George April15, 2014 Linnette Stewart April13, 2014 Heidi Hannnacher April17, 2014 Rhiannon Sutton April12, 2014 Mary Harris April14, 2014 Norma Thomas April17, 2014 Robert Haynes October 14, 2014 Cecilia Toltecatl April13, 2014 Sandra Hitchcock April16, 2014 James Velasquez April14, 2014 Emily Hostetler April15, 2014 Todd Wick October 21,2014 Phoupaseath "Seth" November 4, 2014 Bee Yang November 22, 2014 KeovangsakSkyWest Airlines, Inc.- FAA Case No. 2015WP910079 Page 4 of5 By reason ofthe foregoing, it appears that SkyWest failed to comply withthe following FederalAviation Regulations:

a. 14 C.P.R.§ 120.105, inthat employees performing safety-sensitive functions were not subject to a drug testing program implemented in accordance with 14 C.F.R Part 120, SubpartE. b. 14 C.F.R. § 120.215(a), in that employees performing safety-sensitive functions were not subjectto an alcohol testing program implemented in accordance with 14 C.P.R. Part 120, SubpartF. Pursuantto Title 49, United States Code, Sections 46301(a) and (d), as modified at 14 C.P.R. Part 13, SubpartH, SkyWest is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $27,500 for each of the violations noted. Under 49 U.S.C. §46301(a)(2), a separate violation occurs for each day the violation continues. After reviewing all ofthe information contained in our investigative file, wepropose to assess a civil penaltyinthe amount of$300,000. Unless SkyWest submits the proposed civil penalty or an otherwise agreed-upon amount within 15 days afterreceipt ofthis Final Notice; or mails or personally delivers, in writing, a request for a hearing inthis matter within 15 days after receipt ofthis Final Notice, we will issue an Order Assessing Civil Penalty, and Sky West will have no further rightto a hearing. IfSkyWest does not submit a written request for a hearing or pay an otherwise agreed-upon amount, it must pay the proposed civil penalty. Anyrequest by SkyWest for a hearing must be sentto the address ofthe Hearing Docket as follows: For delivery by hand or expedited courier: Federal AviationAdministration 600 Independence Avenue, S.W. Wilbur WrightBuilding- Suite 2Wl000 Washington, D.C. 20591 Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 2W1000 For delivery by U.S. mail: Federal AviationAdministration 800 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20591 Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 Wilbur Wright Bldg- Suite

A copy ofany requestfor a hearing must also be served on: Jeffrey M. Harper 

### Attorney EnforcementDivision, Western Team 1601 LindAvenue S.W. Renton, WA 98057 Fax: 425-227-1007 Email: Jeffrev.hamer@faa.gov The request for hearing must be dated and signed in accordance with 14 C.P.R.§ 13.16 (enclosed).SkyWest Airlines, Inc.- FAA Case No. 2015WP910079 Page 5 of5 Alternatively, SkyWest maypay the proposed civil penaltyby submitting a certified check or money orderpayable to the Federal Aviation Administration, addressed to: Attention: Peggy Coulter Mike MomoneyAeronautical Center 6500 SouthMacArthur Blvd. GeneralAccounting, AMK-322 Oklahoma City, OK 73169 The check should reference the case number above (Case No. 2015WP910079). To pay the civil penaltywith a major credit over the internet orby electronic funds transfer, follow the Electronic Payment Instructions (enclosed). IfSkyWest has any questions regarding this Final Notice, please contact FAAAttorney J. 

### M. Harper at telephone number (425) 227-2161. Peter J. Lynch Assistant ChiefCounsel for Enforcement

By: 

# 'l

.....



# /1~ JeffreyM. Harper Attorney 1601 Lind Avenue S.W. Renton, WA 98057 Email: Jeffrey.harperialfaa.gov Telephone: (425) 227-2007 (main) (425) 227-2161 (direct) (425) 227-1007 (fax) JMH/ds Enclosures: FAA Regulations 14 C.P.R.§ 13.16 and 14 C.P.R. part 13, subpart G Instructions for Electronic Payment

cc: AAM-860 Todd Emerson, Esq. Logan Phipps Sky WestAirlines, Inc. 444 South River Road St. George, UT 84790