March 30, 2010 

 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Docket Management System 

400 7th Street SW, Plaza 401 

Washington, DC 20591-0001 

Re: Exemption No. 6140G, (Docket No. 12416) 

Ladies/Gentlemen: 

In accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, 14CFR § 11.61, the Air Transport 

Association of America (ATA), on behalf of its member airlines1

 petitions the Administrator 

for an extension of Exemption No. 6140G. This exemption is scheduled to expire on 

August 31, 2010. 

Exemption No. 6140G provides relief, under certain conditions and limitations, from 

provisions of 14 CFR § 121.309(f)(2) to the extent necessary to locate the aft megaphone at 

door 4-left on Boeing 747 aircraft. Similarly situated operators may petition to be included 

under an amendment to this exemption. 

As outlined in ATA's petition for exemption, the Boeing 747 (B-747) aircraft was 

certificated in accordance with 14 CFR §25 with the aft megaphone located at door 4-left, 

instead of door 5-left, the most rearward door on the B-747. The B-747 has been in 

worldwide airline operation for more than 30 years, and the positioning of the aft 

megaphone at door 4-left has proved to be an advantageous location in emergency 

evacuations. Repositioning the aft megaphone from its current position at door 4-left to the 

most aft position, door 5-left, would not improve safety but would require airlines to expend 

resources unnecessarily. 

Good cause exists to complete action on this petition by August 31, 2008, (14CFR § 11.81). 

With regard to public interest and equivalent levels of safety, the conditions and 

 

 Operator Members: ABX Air Cargo, Alaska Airlines, Airtrans, American Airlines, ASTAR 

Airlines, Atlas Air, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Evergreen International, Federal Express, 

Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Polar Air Cargo, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, United 

Parcel Service, US Airways. 

 Associate Members: Aeromexico, Air Canada, and Mexicana. 
circumstances, which warranted the grant of exemption continue to exist. Over seven years 

of operational experience under this exemption demonstrates that granting a renewal of 

Exemption 6140G would not adversely affect safety and would be in the public interest. 

Furthermore, the renewal of this exemption is not a controversial issue. This petition does 

not seek to establish a precedent, but merely continue an accepted and established practice. 

Accordingly, ATA requests that publication in the Federal Register be waived as 

unnecessary (14 CFR §11.87). 

A summary of this petition is attached as required by 14 CFR §11.81. If you have any 

questions or need additional information, please call me at (202) 626-4012. 

Sincerely, 

AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA 

By: __________________________ 

Paul W. Railsback 

Director Operations 

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 

Suite 1100 

Washington, D.C. 20004-1707 

(202) 626-4012 

prailsback@airlines.org 

Attachment 
Attachment 

Docket No. 12416 

March 30, 2010 

 

 SUMMARY OF ATA PETITION

Petitioner: Air Transport Association of America (ATA) 

Regulation Affected: 14 CFR § 121.309(f)(2) 

Description of Relief Sought: Renew Exemption No. 6140G with no changes to the 

existing terms except to extend its termination date. 

Exemption 6140F allows operators to locate the aft 

megaphone at door 4-left on the Boeing 747 (B747) 

aircraft.