AFS-16-0876-E 

January 28, 2016 

 Exemption No. 8238F 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2003-16038 

Mr. Alan Kasher 

Managing Director, Director of Operations 

Regulatory Programs & Compliance 

Southwest Airlines Company 

P.O. Box 36611 

Dallas, TX 75235 

Dear Mr. Kasher: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 8238, 

as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the conditions 

and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated September 30, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA) on behalf of Southwest Airlines Company (Southwest) for an extension of Exemption 

No. 8238, as amended. That exemption from §§ 121.623(a) and (d), 121.643, and 121.645(e) 

of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows Southwest to conduct supplemental 

operations within the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia using the 

flight regulations for alternate airports as required by § 121.619 and the fuel reserve 

regulations as required by § 121.639 that are applicable to domestic operations. 

In your petition, you indicate that there has been no change in the conditions and reasons 

relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption. 

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

in the Federal Register because the requested extension of the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental Southwest. 
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Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 8238, as 

amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. 

Therefore, under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113 and 44701, which the 

FAA Administrator has delegated to me, Southwest Airlines Company is granted an extension 

per its petition to be exempted from §§ 121.623(a) and (d), 121.643, and 121.645(e) to 

conduct supplemental operations within the 48 contingent United States and the District of 

Columbia using flight regulations for alternate airports as required by § 121.639 that are 

applicable to domestic operations, subject to the following conditions and limitations. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Before initiating operations under this exemption, Southwest must amend its 

operations specifications to comply with the following regulations applicable to 

domestic air carrier operations; 

a) Part 121, subpart E, all sections; 

b) Part 121, subpart G, § 121.135; 

c) Part 121, subpart M, §§ 121.385 and 121.395; 

d) Part 121, subpart P, all sections; 

e) Part 121, subpart T, §§ 121.533, 121.541, 121.551, 121.555, 121.557, and 

121.569; 

f) Part 121, subpart U, §§ 121.593, 121.599, 121.601, 121.607, 121.619, 

121.627, 121.635, 121.637, 121.639, 121.659, and 121.663; and 

g) Part 121, subpart V, §§ 121.683, 121.685, 121.687, 121.695, and 121.711. 

2. Southwest must ensure that its aircraft dispatchers hold aircraft dispatcher 

certificates issued under part 65, Subpart C, and are properly qualified under 

 part 121, Subpart P, before permitting those persons to serve in operations 

 conducted under this exemption. 

3. Southwest must conduct its supplemental operations under this exemption— 

a) Within the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia; and 
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b) Except as provided in § 121.637 for unlisted airports, to, from, or between 

those regular, provisional, refueling, and alternate airports listed in its 

operations specifications or in a separate current listing, if that listing is 

referenced in its operations specifications and is authorized by the 

Administrator. 

The Effect of Our Decision 

This exemption terminates on January 31, 2018, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John Barbagallo 

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service