~YEXPRESS 

ExpressJet Airlines Inc. 

PETITION FOR EXEMPTION 

April 16, 2015 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Docket Operations, M-30 

West Building ground floor 

Room W12-140 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

SUBJECT: PETITION FOR GRANT OF EXEMPTION 

Pursuant to Section 11.25 of the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR), ExpressJet Airlines Inc., holder of 

Operating Certificate ASOA029B, hereby petitions the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the 

exemption from FAR Section 121.619(a)(2) to the extent necessary to dispatch flights to domestic airports 

at which for at least 1 hour before and after the estimated time of arrival at the destination airport the 

appropriate weather reports or forecasts, or an combination of them, indicate the ceilings be reduced from 

at least 2,000 AGL to 1 ,000 AGL, and visibility be reduced from at least 3 statute miles to 2 statute miles. 

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RELIEF 

The exemption will allow ExpressJet Airlines Inc. to be'ex-i3mpt from 121.619(a)(2) under the condition that 

a Category II approach is available at the destination in conjunction with aircraft outfitted with operational 

Category II approved equipment and trained pilots. If only a Category I approach can be made due to 

operational or facility limits, the conditions of the exemption shall meet a more restrictive requirement. 

FAR §121.619(a)(2} 

Alternate airport for destination: IFR or over-the-top: Domestic operations. 

(a) No person may dispatch an airplane under IFR or over-the-top unless he lists at least one 

alternate airport for each destination airport in the dispatch release. When the weather conditions 

forecast for the destination and first alternate airport are marginal at least one additional alternate 

must be designated. However, no alternate airport is required if for at least 1 hour before and 1 

hour after the estimated time of arrival at the destination airport the appropriate weather reports or 

forecasts, or any combination of them, indicate_:_:·:- . -· 

(1) The ceiling will be at least 2,do(ffeet above the airport elevation; and 

(2) Visibility will be at least 3 miles. 

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, the weather conditions at the alternate 

airport must meet the requirements of §121.625. 

(c) No person may dispatch a flight unless he lists each required alternate airport in the 

dispatch release. 

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990 Toffie Terrace Atlanta, GA 30354 404.856.1000 
PUBLIC INTEREST 

Granting of this petition for exemption to permit ExpressJet Airlines Inc. to dispatch aircraft to airports with 

reduced visibility minimums is in the public interest for reasons of economics, environmental, and 

reliability. With improved aircraft and airport technology coupled with existing pilot training and Category II 

approval, this exemption will match or exceed the existing efforts required to satisfy and sustain safety. 

EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY 

ExpressJet Airlines Inc. believes that this proposal for the requested exemption will provide an equivalent 

level of safety to operations under this present regulation. Operations under the exemption requested 

herein should enhance operational flexibility and reliability of ExpressJet Airlines Inc. while maintaining 

safe air commerce. 

In summary, this exemption will improve the dispatch of aircraft to destinations whereas Category II 

approaches are available in conjunction with aircraft outfitted with operational Category II approved 

equipment and trained pilots. 

EXCEPTIONS TO PUBLICATION OF SUMMARY OF PETITION FOR EXEMPTION 

In accordance with the provisions of FAR 11.27U)(3)(i) (Exceptions to Publication of Summary of Petition 

for Exemption), ExpressJet Airlines Inc. requests that a finding of good cause be made for waiving 

publication in the Federal Register, since similar exemptions and waivers for this purpose have been 

granted to other Part 121 air carriers electing to conduct operations required by FAR 121.619(a)(2). The 

justifications and supporting arguments are nearly identical to those presented by ExpressJet Airlines Inc .. 

In view of the numerous opportunities to comment in the past, and the analysis previously done by FAA in 

the related industry cases, which ultimately resulted in grants of exemption, ExpressJet Airlines Inc. 

requests that the publication and comment period be waived. 

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SUMMARY 

As required by FAR Section 11.25(d), a summary of the petition is as follows: 

ExpressJet Airlines Inc. requests an exemption from FAR 121.619(a)(2), to the extent necessary to 

dispatch flights to domestic airports at which for at least 1 hour before and after the estimated time of 

arrival at the destination airport the appropriate weather reports or forecasts, or an combination of them, 

indicate the ceiling be reduced from 2,000 AGL to 1 ,000 AGL, and visibility be reduced from at least 3 

statute miles to 2 statute miles. Dispatch with reduced ceiling and visibility minimums is contingent upon 

an available and operational Category II approach at the destination as well as all Category II procedures 

and requirements satisfied by ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. If the flight is limited to Category I approaches for 

any reason, the exemption shall meet a more restrictive visibility requirement of 1 ,000 foot ceilings and 3 

statute miles. 

Sincerely, 

Brad Sheehan 

Vice President, Flight Operations 

cc: Inspector Bill Smith 

ExpressJet Airlines Inc. Principal Operations Inspector 

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