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Tod dC.Emerson , #817 5 44 4 Sout h Rive r Roa d St . George , Utah , 8479 0 Telephone : (435 ) 634-353 0 Facsimile : (435 ) 634-350 5 Email : temerson@skywest.co m -an d- Michae l L . Dworki n #6404 7 46 5 Californi aStreet , Suit e 21 0 Sa n Francisco , Californi a9410 4 Telephone : (415 ) 421-0250 0 Facsimile : (415)421-256 0 Email : law@avialex.co m Attorney s fo

r Sk y Wes t Airlines , Inc . 

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### V(^rY\ S ^0l{'O77 ? In th e Matte r

of :

SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC . FA A Cas e No . 2011NM06003 3 SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC.' S FIRS T AMENDE D ANSWE R Judge : Th e Honorabl e Richar dC . Goodwi n SkyWes t Airlines , Inc . ("SKYWEST") , b y it s counsel , hereb y files it s Firs t Amende d Answer , pursuan t

t o Rul e 21 3 o f

th e Rule s o f

Practice , (1 4 CF R§ 13.213) , an dstate s a s follows :I .

SKYWES T admit s that

it wa s advise dthroug h aFina l Notic e o f Propose dCivi l Penalt

y that th e COMPLAINAN T propose dt o asses s acivi l penalty i n th e amoun t o f $33,000 , an do n Jul y 12 , 201 1 SKYWES T submitte dawritte n reques t fo r ahearing . II . 1 . In respons e t o Paragrap h 1 , SKYWES T admit s that it i s no w an dwas a

t al l time s materia l hereto , th e holde r

o f Schedule dAi r

Carrie r Certificat e No . SWIAO l lA , an dconduct s it s operation s pursuan t

t o Part 12 1 o f th e Federa l Aviatio n Regulation s (FAR) . 2 . In respons e t o Paragrap h 2 , SKYWES T admit s that Paragrap h D08 5 o f

SKYWEST' s Operation s Specification s (O p Specs ) authorize s SKYWES T t o us e N709BR , aBombardie r CL-600-2B1 9 civi l aircraft , in th e conduc t o f SKYWEST' s Part

12 1 operations . 3 . In respons e t o Paragrap h 3 , SKYWES T admit s that Paragrap h A09 8 o f

SKYWEST' s OpSpec s require s that

aircraf t loadin g fo

r Bombardie r

CL-600-2B1 9 aircraf

t b e accomplishe di n accordanc e with SKYWEST' s Weigh t & Balanc e Operation s Manual , SP4100 , Part

XII , revisio n origina l o f

Apri l 1 , 201 0 (W«&

B Manual) . 4 . In respons e t o Paragrap h 4 , SKYWES T admit s that SKYWEST' s W& B Manual contain s th e loadin g schedule s an dinstruction s fo r SKYWEST' s Bombardie r CL-600-2B1 9 aircraft .

FA A Cas e No . 20nNM06003 3 SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC.' S FIRS T AMENDE D ANSWE R 25 . In respons e t o Paragrap h 5 , SKYWES T admit s that SKYWEST' s W& B Manual , Chapte r 2 , paragrap h 2.A.2 4 define s "Heav y Checke dBags " a s any ba g weighin g mor e than 5 0 pounds , bu t

les s tha n 10 0 pounds . 6 . In respons e t o Paragrap h 6 , SKYWES T admit s that SKYWEST' s W& B Manual , Chapte r 3 , paragrap h 2.D. 1 require s th e loadin g agen t t o mar k th e numbe r

o f standar dan dheav y bag s o n th e Carg o Loa dReport (CLR) . 7 . I n respons e t o Paragrap h 7 , SKYWES T admit s that SKYWEST' s W& B Manual , Chapte r 3 , paragrap h 2.1. 2 require s th e loadin g agen t t o verif y th e piec e coun t

o f al l Standar d Checked , Heav y Checked , an dplanesid e loaded/Servic e Ite mBaggag e upo n completio n o f loading . 8 . In respons e t o Paragrap h 8 , SKYWES T admit s that SKYWEST' s W& B Manual , Chapte r 4 , paragrap h 8. 9 require s th e loadin g agen t t o writ e th e tota l numbe r o f Heav y Checke d Baggag e loade di n eac h carg o bi n o n th e CL Ri n th e "Heav y Checked " block . 9 . In respons e t o Paragrap h 9 , SKYWES T admit s that SKYWEST' s W& B Manual , Chapte r 4 , paragrap h 1 1 - Aircraf t Loading , contain s th e warning : A i WARNIN G - INACCURAT E LOADING , REPORTING , O R FAILUR E T O REPOR T INFORMATIO N COUL D CAUS E ISSUE S WIT H AIRCRAF T PERFORMANC E AN D HANDLING , RESULTIN G I N TH E ENDANGERMEN T O F HUMA N LIFE .

FA A Cas e No . 2011NM06003 3 SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC.' S FIRS T AMENDE D ANSWE R 3III .

10 . In respons e t o Paragrap h 10 , SKYWES T admit s that o n February 11 , 2011 , at Sal t Lake Cit y Internationa l Airport

(SLC) , Salt

Lake City , Utah , SKYWES T loade dpassenger s an d baggag e ont o N709BR , t o b e operate da s Fligh t 445 1 boun dfor

Casper/Natron aCount

y Internationa l Airport

(CPR) , Casper , Wyoming . 11 . I n respons e t o Paragrap h 11 , SKYWES T i s withou t sufficient informatio n o r

knowledg e fro mwhic h t o for

mabelie f

a s t o th e truth o f

th e allegatio n that

SKYWEST' s personne l at SL C loade don e Heav y Checke dBa g marke dwith aHeav y Ba g Tag , ont o N709BR , an d therefor e denie s eac h an devery , al l an dsingular , allegation s containe dtherein , an deac h an dever y part thereof , both generall y an dspecifically , conjunctivel y an ddisjunctively . 12 . I n respons e t o Paragrap h 12 , SKYWES T admit s that th e CL Rfo

r Fligh t 445 1 liste d0 Heav y Checke dBag s o n boar dN709BR . 13 . In respons e t o Paragrap h 13 , SKYWES T admit s that the y operate dN709B Ra s Fligh t 445 1 t o CPR . IV . 14 . In respons e t o Sectio n IV o f th e Complaint , paragraph s l(a)-(e) , SKYWES T denie s eac h an devery , al l an dsingular , allegation s containe dtherein , an deac h an devery part thereof , both generall y an dspecifically , conjunctivel y an ddisjunctively .

FA A Cas e No . 2011NM06003 3 SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC.' S FIRS T AMENDE D ANSWE R 415 . I n respons e t o Sectio n I V o f th e Complaint , paragrap h 2 , SKYWES T denies eac h an d every , al l an dsingular , allegation s containe dtherein , an deac h an devery part thereof , bot h generall y an dspecifically , conjunctivel y an ddisjunctively . 16 . In respons e t o Sectio n I V o f th e Complaint , paragrap h 3 , SKYWES T denie s eac h an d every , al l an dsingular , allegation s containe dtherein , an deac h an devery par t thereof , bot h generall y an dspecifically , conjunctivel y an ddisjunctively .

FIRS T AFFIRMATIV E DEFENS E A s an dfo r aseparat e an ddistinc t

defense , SKYWES T alleges : I . Th e sanctio n sough t

b y Complainan t

i s unwarrante db y th e facts , safet y i n commerc e an dth e publi c interes t

an di s no t

onl y excessive , but , fa

r exceed s policy , preceden t an dComplainant' s ow n Sanctio n Guidanc e Table . Further , th e sanctio n i s compounded , i n violatio n o f th e Complainant' s ow n Sancfio n Guidanc e Table . SECON D AFFIRMATIV E DEFENS E A s an dfo r aseparat e distinc t

defense , SKYWES T alleges :

I . Th e Complainant' s case , i s unwarrante dan dwithou t basi s o r jurisdictio n i n law o r

fact .

FA A Cas e No . 2011NM06003 3 SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC.' S FIRS T AMENDE D ANSWE R 5THIR D AFFIRMATIV E DEFENS E

A s an dfo r aseparat e distinc t

defense , SKYWES T alleges :

I . Th e complaine do f

aircraf t weigh t differentials , i f

any , wer e nomina l a

t bes t an dhad absolutel y n o effec t

o n aircraf

t cente r o f gravity , performance , performanc e computation s o r safety . FOURT H AFFIRMATIV E DEFENS E A s an dfo r aseparat e distinc t

defense , SKYWES T alleges :

I . SKYWES T ha s proactivel y mitigate dany an dal l damag e suc h that thi s actio n i s unwarrante dby polic y o r th e nee dfo

r safety . Specifically , SKYWES T has : i . Counsele dal l personne l involve di n th e loadin g an dcountin g o f th e bag s followin g eac h o f th e allege dincidents ; ii . Issue dSKYWES T Custome r Servic e Trainin g Bullefi n 2010-14 , Designate dLoadin g Agen t Responsibilities , directe da t providin g additiona l trainin g i n avoidin g ba g coun t discrepancies ; iii . Issue dSKYWES T Custome r Servic e Trainin g Bulleti n 2010-04 , Aircraf t Loadin g Procedures , directe dat

providin g additiona l trainin g i n avoidin g ba g coun t discrepancies ; iv . Update dan drevise dth e aircraf t loadin g procedure s se t

fort h i n it s Statio n Operation s Manual S P 550 0 t o specificall y addres s sai dproblem s an densur e futur e compliance ; FA A Cas e No . 2011NM06003 3 SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC.' S FIRS T AMENDE D ANSWE R 6V

. Implemente dinitiative s t o ensur e al l station s ar e physicall y staffe dt o allo w on e agen t t o directl y accoun t

for th e aircraf

t loadin g proces s o n eac h SKYWES T flight, t o ensur e accurat e physica l baggag e counts , carg o weights , an dweigh t an dbalanc e communicatio n wit

h flight dec k crews ; vi . Performe dinterna l evaluation s o f carg o loa dreportin g an ddetermine dthat complianc e ha dbee n achieved . FIFT H AFFIRMATIV E DEFENS E A s an dfo r aseparat e distinc t

defense , SKYWES T alleges :

I . Th e averag e weigh t

program s contemplate db y AC120-27 E full y acknowledge s that

th e us e o f actual baggag e an dpassenge r weight s ar e impractical , an db y thei r ver y nature , permi t discrepancie s betwee n what i s containe di n th e loa dmanifes t an dth e actual weigh t

o f th e aircraft . SIXT H AFFIRMATIV E DEFENS E A s an dfo r aseparat e distinc t

defense , SKYWES T alleges :

I . An y an dal l discrepancie s upo n whic h thes e action s ar e base dar e th e produc t o f simpl e huma n arithmeti c erro r

an di n n o wa

y are indicativ e o f

SKYWEST' s regulatory complianc e dispositio n a s al l relevan t employee s wer e adequatel y traine dan dqualifie dan dhav e sinc e

FA A Cas e No . 2011NM06003 3 SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC.' S FIRS T AMENDE D ANSWE R 7receive dadditiona l trainin g an dinterna l audit s hav e show n adequat e complianc e level s ha s bee n

reached . SEVENT H AFFIRMATIV E DEFENS E A s an dfo r aseparat e distinc t

defense , SKYWES T alleges :

I . SKYWES T ha s take n al l necessary correctiv e action s t o avoi drepeate dmishap s suc h tha t additiona l penaltie s ar e redundan t an dwil l no t

resuh in any increas e in safety . WHEREFORE , it

i s praye dtha t

th e Administrativ e La w Judg e no t ente r a n orde r that SKYWES T b e assesse dacivi l penalty i n th e amoun t o f $33,000.00 , o r

i n any othe r

amount ; that th e Complain t

b e dismisse dwith prejudice ; an dfor suc h othe r

an dfiirther

relie f a s ma y b e deeme dappropriate .

i t h DATE D thi s 11' " da

y o f October , 201 1

Michae l L . Dworki n

Co-Counse l fo r

SKYWES T Airline s

FA A Cas e No . 2011NM06003 3 SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC.' S FIRS T AMENDE D ANSWE R 8CERTIFICAT E O FSERVIC E

Th e undersigne dhereb y certifie s that o n thi s 11" ' day o f

October , 2011 , atru e an dcorrec t cop y o f th e foregoin g SKYWEST' S FIRS T AMENDE D ANSWE RAN D AFFIRMATIV E DEFENSE S wa s serve da s follows : Th e Honorabl e Richar dC . Goodwi n Offic e o f Hearings , M-2 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Eas t Buildin g Groun dFloor , Roo mE12

- 32 0 Washington , D.C . 2059 0

{Federa l Express } Federal Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenu e S W Washington , D C 2059 1 Attn : Hearin g Docke t

Clerk , AGC-43 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Buildin g - Suit e 2W100 0 (Federa l Express } Jeffrey M . Harpe r

Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n Northwes t

Mountai n Region , ANM- 7 160 1 Lin dAvenu e S.W . Renton , Washingto n 9805 7 FAX : (425 ) 227-100 7

{F^csimt k

an dFedera l Express }

Sher i Becke r

FA A Cas e No . 2011NM06003 3 SKYWES T AIRLINES , INC.' S FIRS T AMENDE D ANSWE R 9