AFS-16-11948-E

July 25, 2016

 Exemption No. 11036A

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-0161

Mr. Alan Kasher

Vice Present Flight Operations

Southwest Airlines Company

2702 Love Field Drive / TOP-8FO, P.O. Box 36611

Dallas, Texas 75235

Dear Mr. Kasher:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption 

No. 11036. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the conditions 

and limitations.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated April 29, 2016, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Southwest Airlines Company (Southwest) for an extension of Exemption No. 11036. 

That exemption from §§ 119.49(a)(4)(ii) and 121.631(a) of Title 14, Code of Federal 

Regulations (14 CFR) allows Southwest Airlines to conduct non-scheduled supplemental 

operations using airports not listed in its operations specifications (OpSpecs), in accordance 

with the regulations applicable to domestic or flag operations as appropriate to the kind of 

operation being conducted, provided certain conditions an limitations are met. This exemption 

applies both inside and outside the United States.

In your petition, you indicate that there has been no change in the conditions and reasons 

relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested extension of the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Southwest.
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Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 11036, as 

amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. Therefore, 

under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. §§ 106(g), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the following conditions 

and limitations.

Conditions and Limitations

1. The certificate holder must maintain economic and operations specification 

authority to conduct domestic, flag and supplemental operations. 

2. Each flight must be operated in accordance with all part 121 domestic or flag 

regulations, as applicable to the kind of operation being conducted. 

3. In addition to the requirements of 14 CFR § 121.105, when conducting operations 

at airports not listed in the certificate holder’s operations specifications, the 

certificate holder must also comply with the requirements of § 121.139.

4. Prior to departure, for flights conducted at airports that are not listed in the 

certificate holder’s operations specifications, the certificate holder and the pilot in 

command must verify that appropriate aeronautical charts containing adequate 

information concerning navigation aids and instrument approach procedures are 

aboard the aircraft for each flight. 

5. Prior to departure, the certificate holder must ensure all required ground handling 

needs will either be available upon arrival or be provided by equipment and 

personnel traveling with the aircraft.

6. When conducting operations at foreign airports, flights must be conducted in 

accordance with flag regulations unless otherwise specified in the certificate 

holder’s operations specifications.

7. When conducting operations outside of the United States, and the District of 

Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States, the certificate holder 

will ensure that foreign airports meet ICAO Annex 14 SARPS.

8. The certificate holder must comply with the destination and alternate airport 

requirements of § 121.619 or § 121.621, depending on the kind of operation being 

conducted. 

9. In addition to the requirements of §§ 121.619 and 121.621 as applicable, when 

conducting operations to airports not listed in the certificate holder’s operations 

specifications, the certificate holder shall list at least one alternate airport for each 
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destination airport in the dispatch release, unless the requirements of subparagraphs 

a and b of Condition No. 9 can be met. This requirement mitigates the risk involved 

when conducting operations to airports not listed in the certificate holder’s 

operations specifications, without a destination alternate airport. This requirement 

also complies with ICAO Annex 6, part 1, SARP 4.3.4.3.1, which applies to 

destination alternate aerodromes (airports).—

a. Two separate runways are usable at the estimated time of arrival at the 

destination airport. For the purposes of this exemption, separate runways 

are two or more runways at the same airport, configured such that if one 

runway is closed, operations to the other runway(s) can be conducted; and

b. At least one of the usable runways has an operational instrument approach 

procedure. 

10. The certificate holder may only exercise this exemption when conducting 

operations within the territory and airspace of a foreign country with the permission 

of the foreign civil aviation authority. This exemption does not exempt the 

certificate holder from any regulations imposed by the foreign state.

11. When operating under the provisions of this exemption, the certificate holder shall 

list this exemption number in the dispatch release. 

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends Exemption No. 11036, as amended, to September 30, 2019, unless 

sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely,

/s/

John Barbagallo

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service