AFS-15-725-E

April 17, 2015

 Exemption No. 9825C

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2001-9096

Mr. Paul W. Railsback

Director of Operations

Airlines for America

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1100 

Washington, DC 20004-1707 

Dear Mr. Railsback:

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

No. 9825, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision and describes its effect, and lists 

the conditions and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated March 2, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Air Transport Association of America, Inc. dba Airlines for America (A4A) for an 

extension of Exemption No. 9825, as amended. That exemption from § 121.485(b) of 

Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) permits A4A-member airlines and other 

similarly situated part 121 air carriers to conduct flights of fewer than 12 hours duration with 

an airplane having a flightcrew of three or more pilots and an additional flight crewmember 

without requiring the rest period following that flight to be twice the hours flown since the last 

rest period at each flightcrew’s home base.

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 
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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 A4A-member 

airlines.

Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 9825, 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(f), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, Airlines for America, Inc member airlines is granted an 

extension of Exemption No. 9825 for § 121.485(b) to the extent it allows A4A-member 

airlines and other similarly situated part 121 air carriers to conduct flights of fewer than 

12 hours duration with an airplane having a flightcrew of three or more pilots and an 

additional flight crewmember without requiring the rest period following that flight to be 

twice the hours flown since the last rest period at each flightcrew’s home base, subject to the 

following conditions and limitations.

Conditions and Limitations

1. No pilot may be scheduled to fly in an airplane that has a crew of three or more pilots 

and an additional flight crewmember for more than 12 hours during any 24 

consecutive hours unless the certificate holder complies with the provisions of 

 § 121.485.

2. Any pilot who is away from his or her base on an airplane that has a crew of three or 

more pilots and an additional flight crewmember and is scheduled to fly on any flight 

or series of flights for more than 12 hours during any 24 consecutive hours shall be 

given, upon return to his or her base from any flight or series of flights, a rest period 

that is at least twice the total number of hours he or she flew since the last rest period 

at his or her base.

3. No pilot may be scheduled to fly under this exemption for a certificate holder subject 

to part 117.
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4. After January 3, 2014, this exemption shall only apply to certificate holders 

conducting all-cargo operations under part 121.

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 9825, as amended, to April 30, 

2017 unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John Barbagallo

Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service