March 30, 2010

U.S. Department of Transportation Docket Management System

400 7 th 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 airlines 1 petitions the Administrator for an extension of Exemptio n No. 6140G. This exemption is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2010.

Exemption No. 6140G provides relief, unde r certain conditions and limitations, from provisions of 14 CFR § 121.309(f )(2) to the extent necessary to locate the af t 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 megaph one located at door 4-left, instead of door 5-left, the most rearward door on the B-747. Th e 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. Repo sitioning the aft megaphone from its current position at door 4-left to the most aft position, door 5-left, would not improv e safety but would require airlines to expend resources unnecessarily.

Good cause exists to complete action on this pe tition by August 31, 20 08, (14CFR § 11.81). With regard to public inte rest 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 Airway s, Polar Air Cargo, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, United Parcel Service, US Airways.

Associate Members : Aeromexico, Air Canada, and Mexicana.circumstances, which warranted th e grant of exemption continue to exist. Over seven years of operational experience unde r this exemption de monstrates that granting a renewal of Exemption 6140G would not advers ely affect safety and would be in the public interest.

Furthermore, the renewal of this exemption is not a controvers ial issue. This petition does not seek to establish a precedent, but merely co ntinue 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 require d by 14 CFR §11. 81. If you have any questions or need additional informat ion, please call me at (202) 626-4012.

Sincerely,

AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCI ATION 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

AttachmentAttachment

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 Sough t: Renew Exemption No. 61 40G with no changes to the existing terms except to exte nd its termination date. Exemption 6140F allows ope rators to locate the aft megaphone at door 4-left on the Boeing 747 (B747)

aircraft.