03/11/201 8 IS:2 8 1312853392 4 HOF F & HERRA N PAG E 02/1 0

Joh n Scot t Hof f (IL/IA/NE/CAAVI/MI/CD/IVIN/NY ) Ale x Hetia n (IL ) LA W OFHCE S



## HOF F& HERRA

N A Partnenlit p iDChidin) ; Piofes$toni l Cotpondoi u 13 5 South LaSall e Street , Suit e 330 0 Chicago , Ulinoi s 60603-413 4 Tel : 312/346-811 1 Fax ; 312/853-392 4 WE B Site ; vvww.aviationattomey.co m JefiSre y F . Clemen

t (IL ) Timoth y J . O'Connel

l (IL ) Glen n Collins . O

f Counse l (IL )

Marc h 11,201 0 VI A FACSIMIL E AN D U.S . MAI L Healin g Docke t Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , SW. , Roo m924 A Washington , D C 2059 1 Attention : Hearin g Docke t Clerk RE : FA A v . MIDWES T HELICOPTE RAIRWAYS , INC . Cas e No. : CP09GL000 7 Cas e No . 2 : CP09GL00 9 Ou r Fil e # : 0991 9 Dea r Clerk : Pleas e findenclose da n origina l an don e (1 ) cop y o f th e Respondent' s Motio n fo r Rulin g a s t o Testimon y o f Gerr y F . Yentrell aan dSecon dMotio n fo r Continuanc e o f

Hearin g th e tw o abovc-captione dmatters . Kindl y file thi s documen t vwt h th e Court . Than k yo u ver y muc h fo r

you r cooperatio n i n thi s matter . I f yo u hav e an y question s o r

concerns , pleas e fee l free t o giv e m e acall . Ver y trul y yours , HOF F& HERRA N 

# a. Jef f Clemen t 

## 'pyh^^f^- ^ JFC^a s cc : Kat e Barber , Esq . (on e cop y vi afacsimil e an dU.S . mail ) Th e Honorabl e Richar dC . Goodwi n (on e cop y vi afacsimil e an dU.S . mail )03/11/201 0 16:2 8 1312853392 4 HOF F& HERRA

N PAG E 03/1 0

• - - J cr s U.S . DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO N

OFFIC E O FHEARING S WASHINGTON . D C

I N TH E MATTE RO F MIDWES T HELICOPTE RAIRWAYS , INC . FA A DOCKE T NO , CP09GL00 7 (Civi l Penalt y Action ) DM S No . FAA-2009-084 6

I N TH E MATTE RO F MIDWES T HELICOPTE RAIRWAYS , INC . FA A DOCKE T NO . CP09GL00 9 (Civi l Penalt y Action ) DM S No . FAA-2009-097 3

RESPONDENT' S MOTIO N FO RRULIN G A S T O TESTIMON Y O FGERR Y F . VENTRELL A AN D SECON D MOTIO N FO RCONTINUANC E O FHEARIN G Respondent , MIDWES T HELICOPTE RAIRWAYS , INC. , b y an dthroug h counsel , hereb y respectfiill y reques t tha t th e U.S . Administrativ e La w Judg e ente r apre-Hearin g rulin g tha t Gen y F . VentreU ama y offer opinio n testimon y i n favo r o f Responden t

a t th e Hearing s i n thes e matters . Further , Responden t respectfull y request s tha t th e Court

continu e th e Hearing s i n thes e matter s o n th e basi s tha t Mr . VentreU aha s recentl y bee n redeploye dfo r military servic e oversea s an dwil l no t

b e availabl e fo r

th e Apri l 29-3 0 Hearings . I n suppor t o f sai dMotions , Responden t

respectfiill y state s a s follows :03/11/201 0 16:2 8 1312853392 4 HOF F & HERRA NPAG E 04/1 0



### A . Motio n fo r

Rulin g a s t o Testimon y o f Gerr v F . Ventrell a 1 . The above-reference dCivi l Penalt y matter s wer

e initiate db y th e FA

A a s aresult o f tw o separat

e Par t 13 3 helicopte

r "heavy lift " operation s tha t occurre do n July 14 , 200 8 an d Octobe r 31,2008 , respectively . 2 . I n bot

h Civi l Penalt

y matters , the FA

A contend s tha

t Responden

t violatedFA

R Part s 133.33(d)(1) , 133.33(d ) and91.13(e ) a s aresult

o f Responden

t no t filing aCongestedAre a Pla n (CAP) prior

t o th e subject

lifts . Responden

t maintain s that

aCA P wa s no t requiredfo

r eithe r lift . 3 . Th e Hearing s i n bot

h matter s ar

e currently se

t fo r Apri l 29-30.201 0 i n Chicago . 4 . Responden

t ha s timely disclose dtha t i t intend s to cal l Gerr

y F . Ventrella , a helicopte r an dheavy lif t exper t wit h ove r 4 0 year s o f

experience , a s an exper

t opinio n witnes s in bot h matters . Gerr

y F . Ventrell awil l testif

y tha t neithe r o f th e subject

lift s require daCAP . Se

e report . Exhibit

A . 5 . FA A counsel ha s indicate dtha t the y wil l object

to Mr . Ventrell atestifying on the basi s o f 4 9 C.F.R . § 9.7(b) , whic h states : a . "a n employee ma

y no t testif y a s a n exper t or opinio n witness , wit

h regar dto an y matte r arisin g out

o f th e employee' s officia

l dutie s or

th e function s o

f the Department , fo

r an y part y othe r tha n th e Unite dState s in an

y lega l proceeding i

n whic h th e Unite dState s i s aparty. " (emphasi s added) ' 6 . However , 4 9 C.F.R . § 9. 2 states , "[t]hi s par t doe s no t

appl y t o an y lega l proceeding i n whic h a

n employe e i s to testif

y a s to fact s or

event s tha

t are i n n o wa v relate dto the employee' s oJG5cia

l dutie s or th e fjjpction s of

th e Department .

' Forme r employee s ar

e include dwithin the definition o f "employee of

th e Department.' * 4 9 C.F.R . § 9.3 .03/11/201 0 16:2 8 1312853392 4 HOF F S HERRA NPAG E 05/1 0



### 7 . Ove

r th e cours e o f

Mr . Ventrella' s 4 0 plu s yea r caree r a s aprofessiona

l helicopte r pilot , Mr . Ventrell awa s formerl y an dbriefly employedb y th e FA A a s a n Aviation Safet

y Inspecto r fo r approximately 3 V

S years . 8 . Mos t

Importantiy , the las t

dat e of Mr . Ventrella' s employmen t wit h th e FA A endedove r 20 year s ago . 9 . In th e present

case , Mr . Ventrell awill b e offering objectiv e exper t testimon y abou t heav y lif t operation s tha

t occurredi n 2008,2 0 year s afte r th e cessatio n of

hi s employmen

t wit h the FAA . Mr . Ventrella' s forme r dutie s hav e n o fiactua

l nexu s whatsoeve

r wit h eithe r of th e tw o subject

heavy lif t operations . Clearly , per

th e inten t o f th e Regulations , Mr . Ventrella' s testimon y ha s n o nexu s wit

h andi s i n "no wa

y related " to hi s forme

r dutie s wit

h the FA A ove r 20 year s ago . See 4 9 C.F.R . § 9.2 . 10 . Similarly , 4 9 C.F.R . § 9.7(b ) simpl y doe s no t

apply becaus e Mr . Ventrella' s ophiion s d o not "aris e ou t o f hi s forme r brie f employmen

t wit h th e FAA . Hi s opinion s will not b e basedo

n hi s 3 V i yea r employmen

t wit h the FAA , but

on hi s 4 0 plu s yea

r caree r a s a helicopter/heavy lif

t pilot . Hi s mer

e employmen

t wit h th e FA A (or hi s gaining experienc e through th e FAA ) is , andproperly shoul dbe , insufficien t t o establis h or

invok e th e application o f 4 9 C.F.R . § 9.7(b ) t o ba

r hi s neede dtestimony . 11 . Moreover , i t

woul db e unreasonable , unfair , andprejudicia l to ba r Responden

t fromintroducing th e testimony o f Mr . Ventrell abase don th e uncertai n andinappropriat e application o f

4 9 C.F.R . § 9.7(b ) to thi s matter . In feet, mos t person s who offe

r exper t testimon y within th e fieldo f

aviatio n hav e ha

dsom e forme r nexu s wit

h th e FAA . Simpl

y becaus e tha

t individua l gaine dpar

t o f their genera l experienc e wit

h th e FA A shoid dno t foreve r ba r themfromtestifyin g a s a n exper t o r opinio n provide

r i n aviatio n safet

y proceedings . To03/11/201 0 16:2 8 1312853392 4 HOF F S HERRA N PAG E 06/1 0



### appl y 4 9 C.F.R . § 9.7(b ) i n a

n overly stric t

manne r wouldunfairly limit

th e fieldof

expert s from which aRespondent

ma y choose , an

db e potentially violativ e of aRespondent' s due proces s rights. I n the imique fieldo f

heavy lif t operations , th e numbe

r of suitabl e expert s i s extremel y small , eve n mor e s o i f Responden

t i s restricte dto individual s without an y forme r nexu s wit h the FAA . 12 . Finally , th e applicatio n an dinterpretatio n o f

th e Par t 13 3 CA P requirement s ar

e a distinc t issu e tha t require s ful

l airin g befor

e th e Judge . In orde

r fo r th e Administrativ e La

w Judg e t o b e full

y informed , i t

i s essentia

l tha t Responden

t b e abl e to offe

r suitabl e opinion testimon y on thi s uniqu e andpreviously unteste dissue . 13 . Accordingly , Responden t seek s aPre-Hearin g Rulin g tha t Mr . Ventrell ama

y appea r an doffe r opinio n rebutta

l testimon y in favo r o f Responden

t a t th e Hearing s in thes e matters . Motio n fo r Continuanc e 14 . Additionally , counsel fo r Responden

t ha s jus t been infonne dtha

t Mr, Ventrell a ha s bee n redeploye db y th e Unite dState s Governmen t fo r militar y servic e i

n the Middle East . A s aresult , Mr . Ventrell awil l b e out of th e countr

y fromth e endo f

Marc h unti l the middl e of June , afte r th e schedule dApri l 29-30,201 0 Hearings . Thus , Mr . Ventrell awil l not b e availabl e to testif y on Apri l 2 9 o r

Apri l 30,2010 . 15 . Therefore , Responden t respectfull

y request s that

th e Judg e continu e th e scheduled Hearing s i n thes e matter s to adate afte r Jul y 201 0 whe

n Mr . Ventrell aca

n ^pea r i n perso n t

o testify . 16 . Coimsel fo

r Responden

t ha s mad e agoo dfait

h effor t t o resolv e thi s matter , an

d ha s conferredwit

h counse l fo

r the FA A regardin g th e above-reference dcontinuance . Counse l03/11/201 0 16:2 8 1312853392 4 HOF F& HERRA

N PAG E 07/1 0

for th e FA A state dtha t

the y objecte dt o th e continuance , a s wel l a s t o th e us e o f Mr . Ventrell a b y th e Respondent . WHEREFORE , Responden t respectfull y request s th e Administrativ e La w Judg e ente r a n Orde r (1 ) holdin g tha t

Gerry Ventrell ama y proffe r opinio n testimon y o n behal f o f th e Responden t

a t th e Hearing s i n tiiese matters , an d(2 ) continuin g th e Hearing s i n thes e matter s t o adat e after

July , 2010 , an dfo r

an y furthe r

relie f a s th e Judg e deem s jus t

an dproper . Dated : Marc h 11,201 0 Respectfull y submitted , HOF F& HERRA N 

# Ua^^rn^ ^ Jef f Clemen t Joh n S . Hof

f Jef f Clemen t Hoff&Herra n 13 5 South LaSall e St. , Suit e 330 0 Chicago , I L 6060 3 (312)346-811 1 (312 ) 853-392 4 (FAX )03/11/201 0 16:2 8 1312853392 4 HOF F S HERRA N.. . PAG E 08/1 0 A « ^ > M ^ QEBB Y EVENTBELL A

. • PILO T SgRVlOE S ^ ^ ^ PMDEStSNATS O PILO T eXAMINE R



# o ^^^*^* ' " " ' ' " -•il l I , -^•^^^—-^^—aw '

P.O.Box3176 3 • ChlO«go,lL«0$31-07fl 3 - Phom;773.793-7382 • Cellphono:7ra'694«27g e - EmaU;gv«mrcl)a««(j|.oo m ' 2 0 Octobe r 200 9 Ouftdflraphlc s Externa l Lif t Operatio n I a m d forme rPedera l Aviatio n Administratio n Aviatio n Safet yInspecto r(Operations) . I wa s employe d a t DuPag a Fllgli t Standard s Distric t Offlc a from ianuor y197 8 thnpug h Octobe r197 9 «n d Septembe r198 7 throug h S6ptemb6 r1989 . I wa s als o th e offic e h^Wcopta rfipedallsL l wa s trftlne d h yThe o Moor e an d D«nle l MattisldWls ^

I n h«IIeopte roperations . The ywer e bot h experience d helicopte rpilot s tha t performe d men vdifferen t helicopte roperation s a s wel l a s externa l flfts, l a m als o a n experience d helicopte rpilo t tha t ha s parforme d man ydifferen t helicopte roperation s a s wel l a s extomalllfts . w « woul d evaluat e helicopte roperato rcongeste d are a plan s fo rsafet yconcernin g th e public . TIt e congeste d are a pla n i s a requiremen t I n «i n are a wher e pedestrian s o rworker s ma yunknowingl y plac e themselve s I n barm s wa ybaceus e o f a h externa l loa d operation . Firs t o f al l w e wil l exemtn e th e ter m congeste d araa . I n th e contex t o f a fixe d win g aircraf t I t I s a n are a tha t 1 $ define d o n a sectiona l o rclas s B char t a s yeltow . A n elrcraf t othe rtha n a helicopte rmus t \ s maintai n minimu m saf e aitftud e becaus e o f It' s requiremen t fo ra larg e spac e t o lan d I n a n emargency .

Th e mor e maneuverabt e helicopte rI s exemp t Th e are a w e ar e addressin g fo ra n externa l loa d mean s congeste d I n th e contex t o f th e publi chavin g acces s wher e the yma yb e i n dange rbecaus e o f th e externa l loa d operation , whe n I serve d a s a n Inspecto rI monitore d man yexterna l loa d operations . Ther e wer s numerou s operation s tha t di d no t requir e a congeste d are a pla n an d di d no t nee d monitorin g becaus e the ywer e no t a hazar d t o th e publi cl hav e als o serve d a s a pilo t o n externa l loa d operations . Performin g thi s typ e o f operatio n elon g publi cacces s street s require s a plan . Th e pla n explain s ho wth e publi cwil l b e prevente d from walkin g nea rth e io«d , I t als o outline s wher e th e loa d ma yb e droppe d i n a n emergenc yan d wher e th e helicopte rma ylan d o reve n cras h I f disabled . Thes e area s mus t b e guarde d I n cas e o f unforesee n problems . Whe n operatin g alon g publi cstreet s an d sidewalk s th e ere a mus t b e blocke d fronr ) publi caccess , Ther e ar e als o job s thattaic e plac e o n building s tha t ar e occupied . Apla n I s require d t o indicat e ho wth e buildin g wil t b e evacuate d an d secure d unti l th e Jo b I s complete . Th e externa l lif t operatio n performe d b yMidwes t Helicopte ro n 3 1 Oc t 200 8 a t Quadgraphlc s I n Menomone e Falls , Wisconsi n wa s a t a buildin g tha t wa s unde rconstruction . Th e buildin g wa s no t operationa l an d i t v/a s I n a n ere a tha t I s no t readil yaccessibl e t o th e public . Th e peopl e presen t wer e ther e fo rth e Job . Th e plan t operation s manager ^ ivir < iviar k Benso n WA

S presen t a t th e jo b site - H e indicate d h e wa s a t th e pic k u p poin t durin g th e operatio n an d woul d b e abl e t o intercep t a pedestria n i n th e unlikel yeven t tha t on e woul d happe n t o pas s by . Thc rlif t wor k

wa s performe d fro m th e Sout h parkin g lot . Th e roa d t o th e Sout h o f th e lo t wa s no t complete d an d wa s barricaded . Th e wes t sid e o f th e buiidin g l a bordere d b ya larg e f ioi d ari d the n a03/11/201 0 15:2 8 1312853392 4 HOF F & HERRA NPAG E 09/1 0

\ ^ bridg e tha t crosse s ove re railroa d whic h border s th e Nort h sid e o f th e building . Non h o f th e tracks

ther e I s a n Industria l area . Eas t o f th e buiidin g I s a larg e ope n field wit h a smel l garage , sout h o f th e roa d o n th e Soui h sid e o f th e foultdlng wher e th e operatio n too k plac e I s a lon g pond . Sout h o f th e pon d i s a thic k tre e line . Ther e er e house s sout h o f th e tre e lin e bu t peopl e livin g ther e woul d no t b e abl e t o wal k throug h th e tre e llr w an d cros s th e pon d an d roa d t o reac h th e jo b alte . Th e enclose d photo s wil l Indicat e tha t thi s are a I s no t accessibl e t o th e public . M y opinio n o f thi s jo b sit e I s tha t a congeste d are a pla n woul d no t b e necessar ybecaus e o f th e locatio n o f th e buildin g an d th e natura l barrier s preventin g access . Please fee l fre e t o conl»c t m « i f yo u hav e an y quesQons , I wi n b e ou t o f th e countr yunti l 2 5 Januar y 201D , i ca n b e reache d a t gvemrella<g)»f^t.»r.. ^ 

# J U ^ Gen yi ^ Ventrell a

K ^03/11/201 0 16:2 8 1312853392 4 HOF F & HERRA N PAG E 10/1 0

CERTIFICAT E O FSERVIC E I certif y tha t o n Marc h 11 , 2010 , acop y o f th e foregoin g wa s serve dupo n th e followin g vi afacsimil e an db y depositin g sai ddocumen t i n an envelope , sealed , first-class postag e fully prepai dan dplace di n th e U.S . mai l locate da t 13 5 S . LaSall e St. , Chicago , Illinoi s 60603 : ORIGINA L AN D ON E COP Y Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Washington , D C 2059 1 Attention : Hearin g Docke t Clerk , AGC-43 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Building—Suit e 2W100 0 FAX : 202-493-514 2 ON E COP Y Kat e Barber , Complainant' s Counse l Grea t Lake s Region , AGL-7 B Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 230 0 Eas t Devo n Avenu e Dcs Plaines , I L 60018-469 6 TEL : 847-294-771 3 FAX : 847-294-749 8 Th e Honorabl e Richar dC . Goodwin , Administrativ e La w Judg e Offic e o f Hearings , M-2 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Eas t Buildin g Groun dFloo r RoomE12-32 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 TEL : 202-366-213 9 Attorney-Adviso r 202-366-512 1 Lega l Assistan t FAX : 202-366-753 6

Jeff " Clemen t 

# m^j^i4 ^