March 30, 2010 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Docket Management System 

400 7th Street SW, Plaza 401 

Washington, DC 20591-0001 

Re: Exemption No. 5487H, FAA Docket No. FAA-2002-12455 

Ladies/Gentlemen: 

In accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14CFR) § 11.61, the Air 

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

 and other 

similarly situated Part 121 certificate holders, petitions the Administrator for an extension of 

Exemption No. 5487H. This exemption is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2010. 

14 CFR § 61.3(a) provides, in pertinent part, that no person may, within the United States, act 

as pilot in command or in any other capacity as a required flight crewmember of a U.S. civil 

aircraft unless he has in his personal possession a current pilot certificate issued under Part 

61. §§ 61.3(c) and 121.383(a)(2) state that no person may act as pilot in command or in any 

other capacity as a required flight crewmember unless he has in his personal possession an 

appropriate current medical certificate issued under Part 67. Section 63.3(a) sets forth similar 

requirements for flight engineers. Section 121.383(a)(2) establishes similar requirements for 

airmen. 

Exemption No. 5487H provides relief from 14 CFR §§ 61.3(a) and (c), 63.3(a), and 

121.383(a)(2). It permits the establishment of special procedures that enable an operator to 

issue to its flight crewmembers, on a temporary basis, confirmation of any required 

crewmember certificates based upon information contained in the operator's approved record 

system subject to certain conditions and limitations. Exemption No. 5487H has proved to be 

a useful device that benefits the commercial aviation industry and the flying public. For this 

reason, it should be extended. 

 Operator Members: ABX Air, AirTran Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, ASTAR Air 

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

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

Airlines, US Airways. 

 Associate Members: Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air Jamaica, and Mexicana. 
U.S. Department of Transportation 

Docket Management System 

Docket No. FAA-2002-12455 

March 30, 2010 

Page Two 

Good cause exists to complete action on this petition by July 31, 2010. (14 CFR § 11.81). 

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

circumstances, which warranted the grant of exemption originally, continue to exist. Over 

ten years of operational experience under this exemption demonstrates that granting a 

renewal of Exemption 5487H 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 would 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) 626-4240. 

 Very truly yours, 

 

AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF 

AMERICA 

Paul W. Railsback 

Director of Operations 

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 

Suite 1100 

Washington, D.C. 20004-1707 

(202) 626-4012 

 

prailsback@airlines.org 

Attachment 

 
Attachment 

SUMMARY OF ATA PETITION

Air Transport Association of America (ATA) 

Regulations affected 

14 CFR § 61.3(a) and (c) 

14 CFR § 61.29(c) 

14 CFR § 63.3(a) 

14 CFR § 63.16(d) 

14 CFR § 121.383(a)(2) 

Description of Relief Sought: 

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) petitions on behalf of its member 

airlines and other similarly situated Part 121 operators for an extension of Exemption 

No. 5487H. The exemption permits establishment of special procedures that enable an 

operator to issue to its flight crewmembers, on a temporary basis, confirmation of any 

required crewmember certificates based upon information contained in the operator's 

approved record system subject to certain conditions and limitations.