385 0 Thre e Mil e Lan e • McMinnville , Orego n 9712 8 • US A Phon e (503 ) 472-001 1 • Fa x (503 ) 472-136 9 • SITA : HDQMCEZ Jun e 11,201 0 Docke t Managemen t

Facilit y U S Departmen t

o f Transportatio n 1200 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S E Wes t Buildin g Groun dFloo r

Roo mW12-14 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 c 5 Subject : Supertanker Systems , Inc . (SSI ) Petitio n fo r aTemporar

y Exemptio n fro

mth e Provision s o f Sectio n 25.1415(b ) a s it

relate s t o th e scop e definitio n i n Technical StandardOrder (TSO ) C70 A tha t

state s Typ e II Lif

e raft s ar e for

us e in Non-Transport

Categor y Airplanes . Tabl e 1 - Effectiv e Aircraft : TAIL N O N479E V VRB L

N O RA63 3 LINE N O 9 4 SERIAL N O 1989 8 References : A . Polic y Lette r

N8900.11 6 B . A D 92-14-0 2 C . STC SA2121CE- D D . Boein g drawin g 65B58005 , -50 9 configuratio n E . STC SA2125CE- D p . Boein g drawin g 016U5920 , - 1 configuratio n G . STCST00185S E H . EIA drawin g 25-4-0026-9 2 Re v I T o WhomI t

Ma y Concern : Supertanke r

Systems , Inc . (SSI ) petition s fo r atemporar

y exemptio n fro

mth e provision s o f

Sectio n 25.1415(b ) fo

r th e airplan e liste di

n Tabl e 1 above . Sectio n 25.1415(b ) require s tha t eac h lif e raf t fo r a transport categor y airplan e b e approved . SS I request s relie f fro mthes e provision s o f

part 2 5 a s i t relate s t o th e scop e definitio n i

n Technical StandardOrder (TSO ) C70 A that

state s Typ e I

I Lif e raft s ar e fo r us e i n Non-Transport

Categor y Airplanes . Sectio n o f th e FA Raffected : Sectio n 25.1415(b ) require s that eac h lif e raf t fo r atransport

categor y airplan e b e approved .

1 o f 5Supportiv e informatio n i s a s follows :

SS I ha s bee n compelle dt o petitio n fo r a n exemptio n t o Sectio n 25.1415(b ) fo r th e SS I B747-10 0 Supertanker

a s liste din Tabl e 1 fo

r abrie f perio do f approximatel y 100 days . Withi n thi s request , SS I wil l sho w that

by grantin g thi s petition , a n equivalen t

leve l o f safet y i s maintained . Failure t o grant th e exemptio n represent s a

n economi c hardshi p t o SS I that wa s no t avoidabl e throug h action s on SSI' s part . Background : Recently , SS I wa s contacte db y it' s CM O an dwa s provide dacop y o f th e Re f A Polic y letter

fo r revie w an daction . SS I ha s reviewe dth e Re f A Polic y Letter . SS I understand s th e issu e th e letter i s raising , but diffe r i n th e assessmen t

o f th e approval statu s o f

it' s curren t

lif e raft s (Easter

n Aer o Marin e (EAM ) Model T9 , P/

N R0103A121) , hereinafter referre dt o a s af 9 lif

e raft . SS I agree s tha

t FAR25.141 5 i s vali dan drequire s th e us e o f approve dlif

e raft s o n it' s 74 7 Supertanker . However , SSI' s positio n i s that neithe r o f thes e regulation s require aspecifi c TS O lif e raft , bu t simpl y state tha t th e lif e raft s mus t

b e approved . There are many example s i n th e FAR s where specifi c TSO s ar e calle dou t fo r variou s item s o f

require dequipment . Lif

e raft s are no t

on e o f thes e cases . Lif

e raft s use d on transpor

t aircraf t coul db e covere db y TS O CI2 , C69 , o r C70 , o r by any othe r

specificatio n approve d b y th e FAA . SS I als o agree s tha

t TS O C70a , Appendi x 1 , Scope , states : "TYPE I - Fo r

us e i n any categor

y aircraft . TYPE I I - Fo r us e i n non-transpor

t categor y aircraft. " However , SSI' s secondar

y positio n i s that

thi s statemen t

i n TS O C70 ai s no t

th e only facto r

t o b e considered . Specifi c intende dus e mus t als o b e considered . There are numerou s case s on a74 7 freighter where special consideratio n i s give n t o th e fac t that onl y crewmember s and"supernumeraries " are carried . Whil e FARPar

t 2 5 doe s no t

specificall y mentio n "supernumeraries" , there i s lon g histor y o f th e FAA considerin g thes e uniqu e personne l durin g rulemakin g an dcertificatio n approvals . Th e histor y o f specifi c FAA approval o f

th e us e o f

th e T 9 lif e raf t i s evidenc e o f

thi s consideration . Th e SS I Supertanker

aircraf t liste di n Tabl e 1 abov e wa s previousl y operate dby SSI' s sister company . Evergree n International Airline s (EIA ) i n freighter service . EIA ha s use dth e T 9 lif e raf t fo r almos t 2 0 year s wit h ful l FAA knowledg e andapproval . I n th e Ref B Airworthines s Directive , th e FA A acknowledge dth e commo n usag e o f th e T 9 lif e raft . Th e FA

A di dno t deemth e us e o f

thi s lif e raf t a safet y concern , but

simpl y require dalanyardn o differen t tha n fo r TS O C70 aTyp e I lif

e rafts . Thi s A D require dcomplianc e wit

h EA M S B T9-25- 1 on lif

e raft s use do n th e 74 7 upper deck , wit h whic h EIA ha s complied . Ha

dth e us e o f

th e T 9 lif e raf t bee n deeme dasafet

y o r complianc e concer

n durin g thi s FA

A rulemakin g process , th e AD woul dhav e prohibite dT 9 us e o n 74 7 freighters . Th e Re f C STC wa s use dt o conver t EIA' s retire dtransport

categor y aircraf t N477E V andN478E V fro m passenge r t o freighter

by Boeing . Thi s STC installe dlif e raft s pe r th e Re f D drawin g o n thes e aircraft . Pleas e note that

th e lif e raf t i s liste da s "EAMT9-121" . Thi s i s th e mode l number fo r ou r lif e raf t P/ N R0103A121 . Th e "EAM " refer s t o Easter n Aero Marine ; th e "T9 " i s th e basi c lif e raf t model ; an dth e "121 " identifie s th e FARpar t 12 1 ki t include di

n th e lif e raft . Ref

s E an dF are essentiall y th e same , but ar e effectiv e t o aircraf

t N485EV . Pag e 2 o f 5I

n bot h cases , thes e STC s were reviewe dan dapprove dby th e FAA fo r us e o f th e T 9 lif e raft s on 74 7 freighters . Thes e lif

e raft s are include di

n th e certificatio n dat ao f

thes e aircraf

t an dar e therefore approve da s require db y FAR25.141 5 a s part o f th e typ e design . Re f G i s a n EI A ST C allowin g th e carriag e o f groom s o n th e mai n dec k o f aproperl y equippe d74 7 freighter aircraft . A s part

o f thi s STC , apalletize dgroo mstatio n wa s constructe dan dapprove da s par t o f th e require dequipment . Thi s palletize dgroo mstatio n i s define db y th e Re f H drawing . Thi s drawin g call s ou t th e us e o f

lif e raf t P/ N RO103-10 5 or

R0103A105 . Thes e are th e same a s lif e raf t P/ N R0103A121 , excep t

the y d o no t

hav e lanyardmodificatio n describe di n Re f B . Thi s i s becaus e thes e lif e raft s are

_intende dt o b e use dfro

mth e mai n dec k

(doo r 5 L or 5R ) an dtherefore th e lanyar

dlengt h i s no t th e safet y concer n i t woul db e if

use don th e upper

deck . Thi s groo mstatio n STC packag e wa s give n extremel y clos e scrutin y by th e FAA Seattl e AC O a t th e tim e o f submittal becaus e i

t wa s th e first

74 7 STC t o specificall y allo w th e carriag e o f groom s in th e mai n dec k carg o compartment . Lif

e raf t informatio n wa s submitte dwit h th e dat apackag e an dth e approval wa s granted . Therefore , a s wa s th e cas e i n th e other

STC s discussed , th e T 9 lif e raf t wa s include di

n th e certificatio n dat ao f

thi s STC . Thi s meet s th e FAR25.141 5 requiremen t fo r th e lif e raf t t o b e approve d a s par t o f th e typ e design . Th e abov e discussio n provide s fou r completel y separat e occasion s where FAA ACO s hav e specificall y approve dth e us e o f

th e T 9 lif e raft s fo r us e on 74 7 freighters . Thes e approval s constitut e par t o f th e typ e desig n fo r thes e aircraft . I f

th e FA A deem s th e us e o f

thes e lif e raft s t o b e asafet

y concern , SS I woul d expec t th e FAA t o issu e ne w rulemakin g an dinvite publi c comment , a s i s th e long-standin g norma l proces s use db

y th e FAA i

n safety-relate dmatters . Further , th e fou

r case s discusse dabov e clearl y demonstrat e that th e historical , o r

defacto , polic y o f

th e FAA regardin g th e T 9 lif

e raf t i s tha t i t i s approve dfo

r us e o n 74 7 freighters . Thre e separate ST C projects , involvin g tw o ACOs , an da n AD rulemakin g proces s reviewe dan dspecificall y approve dth e us e o f T 9 lif e raft s on 74 7 freighters . Th e Transpor t Directorat e i

n Seattl e define s transpor

t aircraf t certificatio n polic y an dthei r demonstrate dpolicy , fo

r a t leas t th e las t 2 0 years , ha s bee n t o approv e th e T 9 lif e raf t fo r us e o n 74 7 freighters . Thi s demonstrate dFA A polic y o f

approval o f

th e T 9 lif e raf t i s contrar y to th e ne w suppose dnational polic y describe di n Re f A , issue dby th e Fligh t

Standard s Service . A revie w o f

th e FAA website fo

r th e Fligh t

Standard s Servic e show s thei r missio n t o be : "Th e Fligh t Standard s Servic e promote s saf e ai r transportatio n b

y settin g th e standard s fo r certificatio n an doversigh t

o f airmen , ai r

operators , ai r

agencies , an ddesignees . W e als o promot e safet

y o f flight o f civi l aircraf

t an dai r commerc e by : * Accomplishin g certification , inspection , surveillance , investigation , an denforcement * Settin g regulation s an dstandard s * Managin g th e systemfo r registratio n o f

civi l aircraf

t an dal l airme n record s "

Pag e 3 o f 5I

n contrast , arevie w o f

th e FA A websit e fo

r Aircraf t Certificatio n Servic e show s thei r missio n t o be : "Th e Aircraf t Certificatio n Servic e o f

th e FjiA i s th e office responsibl e for : * Administerin g safet

y standard s governin g th e design , production , an dairworthines s o f civi l aeronautica l products ; * Overseein g design , production , an dairworthines s certificatio n program s to ensur e complianc e wit h prescribe dsafet

y standards ; * Providin g asafet

y performanc e managemen t systei H to ensur e continue doperationa l safet y o f aircraft ; and , * Working wit

h aviatio n authorities , manufacturers , an dothe r stakeholder s to hel p the

msuccessfully improv e th e safet

y o f th e internationa l ai r

transportatio n system . " Th e Re f A polic y letter

appear s to skir

t th e normal rulemakin g proces s use db y th e FAA an ddoe s no t appea r t o b e in complianc e wit

h th e missio n statemen t

fo r th e Fligh t

Standard s Service . SS I strongl y object s t o bein g compelle dt o remov e th e T 9 lif e raft s fro mour 74 7 Supertanker

a t th e presen t tim e fo r th e followin g reasons : 1 . There ha s bee n n o unsaf e conditio n identifie dfo

r T 9 lif e raf t usag e on th e 74 7 freighter/Supertanker ; 2 . There ha s bee n n o out-of-complianc e conditio n identifie dfo r T 9 lif e raf t usag e on th e 74 7 freighter/Supertanker ; 3 . There ha s bee n n o certificatio n rulemakin g prohibitin g T 9 lif e raf t usag e on th e 74 7 freighter/Supertanker

pe r Par t 39 ; 4 . There ha s been n o opportunit y fo r publi c comment

that th e aforementione drulemakin g proces s woul dnormall y provide ; 5 . Replacemen t

o f th e T 9 lif e raft s in our

74 7 freighter

fleet woul db e asignificant

economi c burde n t o SSI , ye t th e FAA ha s no t

performe da

n economi c cost-benefi t

evaluatio n tha t

woul db e par

t o f th e normal rulemakin g process ; 6 . Whil e removal an dreplacemen t o f th e T 9 lif e raf t woul dsatisf

y th e Re f A letter , i t

run s contrar

y t o th e actual certificatio n polic y issue dby th e Transpor t Directorat e a s evidence db y numerou s previousl y approve dcertificatio n project s that containe dinstallatio n o f

th e T 9 lif e raft . SS I i s committe dt o aircraf t safety . SS I ha s never

hadany reporte din-service , o r shop , issue s reporte d that woul dsugges t

thi s lif e raf t i s unsaf e or incapabl e o f

performin g it' s intende dfunction . No t withstandin g al l o f

th e abov e discussion , SS I ha s bee n compelle dby FAA Fligh t Standards , throug h it' s CMO , t o petitio n fo

r exemptio n fro

mSectio n 25.1415(b) . Safety : SS I believe s that

th e leve l o f

safet y wil l no t b e compromise di f

SS I i s allowe dt o operate th e liste d aircraf t wit h TS O C70 A Typ e II lif

e raft s in lie u o f

th e Typ e I lif

e raft s fo r th e perio drequested .

Pag e 4 o f 5SS I believe s that EAM P/ N R0103A12 1 lif

e rafts , wit

h incorporatio n o f

th e modificatio n describe din Airworthines s Directiv e 92-14-02 , whe n installe di n th e 74 7 Supertanker , wil l perfor mthei r intende d function . SS I therefore doe s no t believ e tha

t th e installatio n o f

th e EA M P/ N R0103A12 1 lif

e raft s o n Mode l 74 7 serie s airplane s operate da s Supertankers , certificate din any categor y constitute s asafet

y issue . Thi s i s supporte dby th e fac t tha t th e FA A ha s no t publishe dafinding o f

a n unsaf e conditio n associate d wit h th e us e o f

th e T 9 lif e raft . Projecte dusag e durin g th e requeste dexemptio n perio do f 10 0 day s represent s ver

y limite dexposure on a fleet wit h a n exceptional safet

y record . Usag e shal l b e limite dt o th e aircraf t liste di n Tabl e 1 . Economi c Hardship : A cessatio n o f

extende doverwate r

operatio n du e t o aTyp e II lif e raf t restrictio n on th e liste daircraf t woul dhav e a

n immediate impac t

on bot h SS I an dit' s customers . Flight s ma y hav e t o b e cancelled , re route d(a t grea t expens e an dinconvenienc e t o our customers ) o r

operate dwit

h more expensiv e equipmen t

(i f available) . SS I respectfull y request s tha t a n exemptio n b e grante dunti l October 1 , 201 0 by whic h tim e th e ne w lif

e raft s wil l b e installed . SS I furthe r request s tha t

thi s exemptio n b e approve do n a n expedite dbasi s t o minimiz e impac t o n currentl y planne dflights. Publi c Comment : SS I request s that

th e FA A no t pos t it' s Petitio n fo

r Exemptio n on th e Federal Registe r fo r publi c comment i n th e norma

l fashio n a s th e reques t

i s virtuall y identical t o Exemption s 9856 , 9874 , an d997 6 grante dfo r other airlines ; an ddu e t o th e fac t that th e normal commen t

perio dwoul dhav e advers e effect s on SS I shoul di

t b e force dt o cance l currentl y planne dflights. Us e Outsid e o f

th e Unite dStates : SS I request s th e petitio n fo r exemptio n b e approve dfo r us e outsid e o f

th e Unite dState s (US ) a s aportio n o f it' s flight activit y ma y tak e plac e beyon dU S borders . Regards , zJLei i (x . G)teC<Mi

a Nei l Steven s Directo r o f Maintenanc e Supertanker

Services , Inc . 520-682-4181x545 3 neil.stevens(^evergreenaviation.co m

Pag e 5 o f 5