AFS-11-293-E 

May 24, 2011 

 Exemption No. 10272 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2000-8222 

Capt. Alvin L. Isaacs 

Chief Pilot 

Mesa Airlines, Inc. 

410 N. 44th Street 

Phoenix, AZ 85008 

Dear Capt. Isaacs: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. It transmits our 

decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, 

including the date it ends. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated April 29, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Mesa Airlines, Inc. (Mesa) for an extension of Exemption No. 7495. That 

exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows 

Mesa to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place of an FAA inspector to 

observe a qualifying pilot in command (PIC) while that PIC is performing prescribed duties 

during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and landing when completing initial or 

upgrade training as specified in § 121.424. Please note that the previous exemption has 

expired; therefore, we will treat your request as a new petition.

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

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any 

delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Mesa. 

The FAA has issued a grant of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to 

those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 8054 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

found that subject to certain conditions and limitations, the requirement for an FAA inspector 

to observe a qualifying PIC before he/she begins operations in an airplane unsupervised may 

be conducted by and satisfied by the certificate holder’s check airman or aircrew program 
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designee. The FAA found that this could be accomplished without reducing the level of 

safety provided by the regulation. 

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that— 

 they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed Grant 

of Exemption No. 8054; 

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 8054 

also apply to the situation you present; and 

 a grant of exemption is in the public interest. 

Our Decision 

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator 

has delegated to me, I hereby grant Mesa Airlines, Inc., an exemption from 

14 CFR § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) to the extent necessary to allow Mesa to substitute a qualified and 

authorized check airman in place of an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying PIC while that 

PIC is performing prescribed duties during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and 

landing when completing initial or upgrade training as specified in § 121.424. This 

exemption is subject to the conditions and limitations described below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. A Mesa check airman or aircrew program designee may conduct a PIC observation in 

place of an FAA inspector when— 

a. The Administrator preapproves that substitution for each observation of a 

qualifying PIC candidate, thus reserving first right of refusal to the FAA in 

each case. Mesa, therefore, must contact an appropriate FAA office, in each 

instance, before substituting that check airman or aircrew program designee; 

b. The qualifying PIC candidate has completed no less than 10 hours of 

supervised operating experience (OE) and accomplished no fewer than two 

takeoffs and landings; and 

c. The qualifying PIC candidate is performing PIC duties during a complete 

flight leg, including flightdeck preparation, before starting engines checklist, 

taxi, takeoff, all other flight phases, landing, taxi, and securing checklist. 

2. Each Mesa check airman and aircrew program designee conducting a PIC observation 

in place of an FAA inspector must— 

a. Be approved by the Administrator to conduct the observation; 
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b. Have served as a check airman or aircrew program designee for Mesa for no 

less than 6 months; and 

c. Not supervise the OE or conduct the initial line check for the qualifying PIC 

candidate being observed. 

3. Mesa must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew program designee records that 

demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this exemption. 

This exemption terminates on May 31, 2013, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

Raymond Towles 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service 

Enclosure