### SEABORN E AIRLINE S 121 0 VVatcrgut
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. LISV I 0082 0 I ' 340.773.5')9 I y3'10.773.i,f,7 | .MI H scaborncjiiiim- s o.ii i

Septembe r21 , 201 0 Docke t Managemen t Facilit y U S Departmen t o fTransportatio n 120 0 Ne wJerse yAvenue , S E Wes t Buildin g Groun d Floo r Roo m W12-14 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 Dea rSi ro rMadam , Pleas e fin d enclose d a n origina l an d tw o copie s o fa petitio n fo rexemptio n fro m Seaborn e Airline s relatin g t o relie ffro m specifie d provision s o f14CF R Part 121 , Appendi xK , Paragrap h 5
. Informatio n i n suppor t o fthi s reques t i s containe d i n th e petitio n i n electroni cforma t o n compac t disk s (CDs)
. Thi s petitio n concern s a regulatorycomplianc e deadlin e o fDecembe r20 , 2010 , i s critica l t o th e Seaborne' s floa t plan e operatio n whic h i s th e onl yseaplan e servic e i n th e U S Virgi n Islands
. Seaborn e provide s a critica l ai rbridg e betwee n St
. Thoma s an d St
. Croi xconnectin g vita l Federa l an d Loca l governmen t functions , commerce , an d tourism
. Th e inabilit yt o utiliz e thi s specifi c aircraf t - whic h i s th e ONL Yaircraf t whic h ca n safel yan d effectivel yprovid e floa t plan e servic e du e t o th e ove rwate rdistance s involve d woul d resul t i n th e closur e o fthi s operatio n an d a sever e negativ e impac t t o th e Unite d State s Virgi n Islands
. Mos t sincerely , Ome rErSelcu k Presiden t & CE O

"Flyin g YO U wit h th e Powe ro fTWO "

### •crViRTMENTO F :^'- i OPERATION S \i^: i 1 

### ? ^ AiO : 1 8 Septembe r21 , 201 0 Docke t Managemen t Facilit y U S Departmen t o fTransportatio n 120 0 Ne wJerse yAvenue , S E Wes t Buildin g Groun d Floo r Roo m W12-14 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 Re : Reques t fo rExemptio n Petitioner : Seaborn e Virgi n Islands , Inc. , d.b.a
. Seaborn e Airline s b yit s President/CEO , Mr
. Ome rErSelcu k Petitioner' s Contac t Information : 1210Watergu t Christiansted , V I 0082 0 (340 ) 773-599 1 extensio n 2 3 oerselcuk@seaborneairlines.co m Background : Seaborn e Virgi n Islands , Inc. , doin g busines s a s Seaborn e Airtine s hold s Ai rCarrie rCertificat e Number : S9BA675 J an d ha s operation s specification s authorizin g i t t o conduc t domestic , fla g an d supplementa l operation s i n th e island s o f th e Caribbean
. Seaborn e Airline s primaril y provide s passenge rservic e t o Puert o Ric o an d th e Virgi n Island s usin g DeHavillan d DHC-6-30 0 whee l planes
. Seaborn e Airline s als o conduct s schedule d passenge roperation s usin g th e FLOA Tplan e configuratio n betwee n St
. Thomas , V I (SPB ) Chartott e Amali e Harbo ran d S t Croix , V I (SBB ) Christianste d Harbor
. Seaborn e Airtine s ha s safel yconducte d schedule d passenge rservic e i n floa t plane s fo rove r1 5 years . O n Decembe r20 , 2010 , certai n regulatoryprovision s i n 14CF R Part 121 , Appendi xKregardin g Part 2 3 certificatio n an d performanc e requirement s tha t will , i n th e absenc e o f exemptio n relief , prohibi t th e airtin e fro m conductin g furthe rfloa t plan e operation s i n accordanc e wit h Part 121
. Relie fSough t fro m RegulatorySections : 14CF R Part 121 , Appendi xK , Paragrap h 5 , Fina l Airplan e Perfonnanc e Operatin g Limitations
. Natur e an d Exten t o fth e Requeste d Relie f I n part , th e provision s o f14CF R Part 121 , Appendi xK, requir e that , afte rDecembe r20 , 2010 , th e DeHavillan d DHC-6-30 0 aircraf t operate d b ySeaborn e Airtine s sho wcomplianc e wit h th e commute rcategoryperformanc e requirement s specifie d i n Appendi xK
. Seaborn e Airtine s ca n sho wcomplianc e wit h performanc e requirement s throug h ST C #SA2CH , date d Septembe r21 , 2007 , "Wipair e Airplan e Fligh t Manua l Supplemen t fo rSeaplan e Operations " an d th e DeHavillan d DHC-6-30 0 Aircraf t Fligh t Manual , documen t numbe rPS M 1-63-1A , date d Jun e 30 , Pag e 1 of42005 ; documen t numbe rPS M 1-63-1 , date d Novembe r16 , 2005
. Eac h o f thes e document s i s

FA Aapproved
. Throug h th e supplementa l typ e certificatio n progra m describe d above
. Seaborn e Airtine s ca n sho wcomplianc e wit h eac h Part 2 3 performanc e requiremen t specifie d i n 14CF R Part 121 , Appendi xK
. However , man yo fth e certificatio n specification s i n Part 2 3 simpl ycanno t b e applie d t o airplane s equippe d wit h fixe d float s an d operate d o n th e water . Example s suc h a s th e certificatio n requirement s fo rperformanc e chart s tha t accoun t fo rth e effect s o frunwa y slope/gradien t an d chart s tha t contai n penaltie s fo rstandin g water , slus h o rsno wo n th e runwa y ar e no t applicable
. I n addition , al l certificatio n requirement s relate d t o landin g gea roperatio n i s no t applicabl e sinc e th e floa t assemblie s ar e fixed
. A s a result , Seaborn e Airline s i s askin g th e FA At o accep t th e followin g document s tha t ar e alread yFA Aapprove d t o sho wcomplianc e wit h 14CF R Par t 121 , Appendi xK , Paragrap h 5(a) : • ST C #SA2CH , date d Septembe r21 , 2007 , "Wipair e Airplan e Fligh t Manua l Supplemen t fo rSeaplan e Operations " • DeHavillan d OHC-6-30 0 Aircraf t Fligh t Manual , documen t numbe rPS M 1-63- 1 A , date d Jun e 30 , 2005 ; • DeHavillan d DHC-6-30 0 Aircraf t Fligh t Manual , documen t numbe rPS M 1-63-1 , date d Novembe r16 , 2005
. Secondly , Seaborn e Airlin e i s requestin g t o b e exemp t fro m th e performanc e certificatio n requirement s tha t ar e no t applicabl e t o DHC- 6 aircraf t i n th e floa t plan e configuratio n require d b y14CF R Par t 121 , Appendi xK , Paragrap h 5(b)
. Seaborn e Airtine s i s no t requestin g relie ffro m an yperformanc e requiremen t suc h a s maximu m certificate d weight , runwa ylength , takeof fspeeds , accelerat e sto p distance , takeof f distanc e an d takeof frun , takeof ffligh t path , climb : on e engin e inoperative , landin g distanc e an d balke d landin g clim b tha t ar e containe d i n part 2 3 o rpart 121
. Analysi s Althoug h floa t plan e operation s wer e briefl ymentione d i n th e publicatio n o f th e fina l rul e (F R Vol
. 60 , NO
. 244 , 6583 2 date d Decemibe r20 , 1995) , n o specifi cprovision s fo rfloa t plan e certificatio n wer e include d i n th e fina l rule
. O n page 6584 0 o fthi s rulemaking , on e commente r state d that ; "Becaus e ther e i s n o cost-effectiv e replacemen t aircraf t availabl e fo rfloa t operation s tha t offer s th e sam e capacit ya s th e Otte r(DHC- 6 Twi n Otter) , replacin g the m i s no t a n option. " Th e FAArespons e tha t followe d offere d th e optio n t o petitio n fo rexemptio n relief
. A s a result
. Seaborn e Airtine s believe s tha t it s reques t fo rexemptio n i s prope ran d consisten t wit h th e inten t o fthi s rulemaking
. Unigu e an d Critica l Safet yAttribut e Du e t o it s STO L performanc e an d robus t engineering , th e DHC-6-30 0 i s th e safes t aircraf t availabl e t o operat e betwee n St
. Thoma s an d St
. Croi xo n floats
. I t i s th e onl yaircraf t availabl e u p t o 1 9 seat s (ther e i s nothin g belo wo rabov e thi s capacit yeither ) wit h th e durabilit ynecessary t o withstan d hars h sea-stat e condition s locate d i n departure/arriva l areas . Th e DHC-6-30 0 i s als o th e onl yfloa t equippe d aircraf t wit h th e redundanc yo f tw o engine s an d tw o pilot s necessaryt o safel yan d consistentl ymak e th e approximatel y5 0 mil e journe yove rsom e o f th e roughes t an d deepes t water s anywher e i n th e Caribbean
.

Pag e 2 o f4

### Eguivalen t Leve l ofSafet y Since Seaborn e Airtine s i s not requestin g relie f fro m an yperformance requiremen t ofpar t 2 3 o r par t 12 1 an d has FA

Aapprove d data t o demonstrat e compliance wit h eac h an d ever y applicabl e performanc e requiremen t impose d b ypar t 2 3 an d par

t 121 , we fee l that th e exac t sam e leve l ofsafet

ythat wa s envisione d i n th e origina l rul e makin g i s present . Benefi t t o th e Publi cInterest I fSeaborn e Airiine s i s not provide d th e relie fdescrib e i n thi s request , Seaborn e Airtine s wil l b e force d t o conduc

t operation s i n accordance wit h regulator yrequirement s wit h lesse rsafet y standard s afte rDecembe r20
. As Seaborn e Airiine s woul d b e unabl e t o absor b th e financia l impac t o fthi s restriction , man yo fou rpassenger

s woul d b e force d t o fl yo n significantl yles s saf e " 9 passenger

s o rless " pisto n powere d aircraf t o rworse , singl e engin e aircraf t ove rlon g reache s ofope n wate rw e currentl yserve . Currently , Seaborn e Airtine s carrie s approximatel y 100 percen t ofal l seaplan e passenge rtraffi cbetwee n St
. Croix , V I an d St
. Thomas , VI
. W e believe that th e FA

Aspok e t o thi s concer n i n th e publicatio n ofth e fina l rul e (F R Vol
. 60 , NO
. 244 , 6583 2 date d Decembe r20 , 1995) b ystatin g that som e carriers "...migh t replac e thei requipmen t wit h airplane s configure d fo rfewe rtha n 1 0 passengers . Thi s airplan e grou p i s not covere d b ythi s rulemakin g an d has a highe r acciden t rat e tha n th e 10-1 9 passenge rairplanes
. Therefore , a n unintende d effec t o f thi s rul e coul d b e a n increas e i n th e acciden t rate. " (F R 65857 ) I n additio n t o thi s unintende d consequence , a n unforesee n situatio n occurre d wel l afte rthi s rul e was adopted
. There wa s a presumptio n b yth e rulemakin g that th e 1 5 yea rcompliance perio d containe d i n th e rul e would ; "..
. allowoperators sufficien t tim e t o pla n fo rth e replacemen t o fthes e airplane s withou t incurrin g a n enormou s economi closs
. I t als o wil l allowmanufacturer s tim e t o develo p bette rsubstitute s fo rthes e airplanes. " (F R 65893 ) Contrar yt o thi s presumption
. Seaborn e Airtine s i s not awar e o fan yreplacemen t aircraf t that i s no wavailabl e that wil l replac e th e DHC-6-30 0 Floa t Plan e i n th e market we currentl yserve . Seaborne' s seaplan e operatio n betwee n th e U S Virgi n Island s o fSt
. Thomas an d St
. Croi xi s on e ofextrem e importanc e bot h economicall yas wel l a s politically
. Withou t ou rfrequen t an d convenien t ai rbridg e operatin g safel yunde rPar t 12 1 - man yaspect s ofthi s strategicall yvita l par t o fth e Unite d State s woul d grin d t o a halt
. Thi s matte ri s on e ofgrav e importanc e t o th e U S Virgi n Islands
. Therefore , we believe that grantin g o fthi s exemptio n whic h provide s passenger s wit h continue d acces s t o turbopropelle rpowere d twi n engin e aircraf t i s i n th e publi cinterest
. Summar yfo rPublicatio n i n th e Federa l Registe r Seaborn e Virgi n Islands , Inc. , doin g busines s a s Seaborn e Airiine s hold s Ai rCarrie rCertificat e Number : S9BA675J an d has operation s specification s authorizin g i t t o conduc t domestic , fla g an d supplementa l passenge rcarryin g operation s i n Puert o Rico an d th e Virgi n Islands
. I n additio n t o lan d base d operation s a t airports
. Seaborn e Airiine s conducts wate roperation s usin g DeHavillan d DHC-6-30 0 floa t plane s i n schedule d passenge rservic e betwee n St
. Thomas , V I (SPB ) Chartott e Amali e Harbo ran d S t Croix , V I (SBB ) Christianste d Harbor
. Seaborn e Airiine s has safel yconducte d schedule d passenge rservice i n float plane s fo rove r1 5 years .

Pag e 3 of 4O n Decembe r20 , 2010 , certai n regulatoryprovision s specifie d i n 14CF R Part 121 , Appendi xK ,

Paragrap h 5(a ) requir e th e airtin e t o demonstrat e complianc e certai n certificatio n provision s o f part 2 3 i n orde rt o sho wcomplianc e wit h part 12 1 aircraf t performanc e standards
. Seaborn e Airiine s seek s exemptio n relie f fro m certai n certificatio n requirement s o f part 2 3 tha t ar e no t applicabl e t o aircraf t operate d an d equippe d wit h floats
. Secondly , tha t th e FA Aaccep t FAAapprove d dat a containe d i n th e Wiplin e ST C an d th e AF M dat a t o sho wcomplianc e wit h part 12 1 performanc e requirements
. I n th e absenc e o fthi s exemptio n relief
. Seaborn e Airtine s coul d n o longerconduc t operation s i n accordanc e wit h Part 12 1 wit h thi s aircraf t an d woul d b e force d t o provid e servic e t o it s customer s i n accordanc e wit h regulatoryrequirement s wit h lesse rsafet ystandards
. Technica l Suppor t - Contac t Informatio n Seaborn e Airtine s - Airplan e Performanc e Projec t Leade r Mr
. Lad d Lewi s (954 ) 683-478 6 captainladd(@hotmail.co m Seaborn e Airiine s - Chie fOperatin g Office r Mr
. Davi d Zieme r (340 ) 773-599 1 extensio n 2 3 dziemerOiseaborneairtines.co m Conclusio n Seaborn e Airiine s canno t ove remphasiz e th e importanc e o fthi s issu e t o th e peopl e o fth e Unite d State s Virgi n Island s o n behal fo f th e 200,00 0 passenger s tha t w e wil l transpor t thi s year . O n behal fo fou remployees , customer s an d th e people s o fth e Virgi n Island s I wis h t o than k yo u i n advanc e fo ryou rcarefu l consideratio n o fthi s reques t fo rexemption
. Sincerely , 

# ^^^-ci ^ Ome rErSelcu k President/Chie fExecutiv e Office r Seaborn e Airtine s

Pag e 4 o f4