07/09/2013 13:48 

U.S. Deportment 

of Tronsportotion 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

July 9, 2013 

4252271007 ANM7 

Northwest Mountain Region 

Office·of Regional Counsel 

Colorado, Idaho, Montana, 

Oregon, Utah, Washington, 

Wyoming 

.1601 Lind Avenue S.W. 

Renton, Washington 98057 

Tel: (425) 227-1417 

Fax: (425) 227~1007 

robert.spitzer@faa.gov ; · .. r, ... ' 

<\" •.. r : 

VIA FACSTh11LE .AND CERTIFIED MAIL -RETURN RECEIPT REQl;JESTED r-.:-

PAGE 02/08 

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Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Hearing Docket 

Federal Aviation Administration · (Wilbur Wright Bldg-~ Room 2Wl 000) f RA J..o 13 ~A UJ A-.. C. fp~ ~ '-/ 0 lf 5 

800 Independence Avenue S. W. . 

Washington, D.C. 20591 fOIYl S · 

Re: . In the ~tter of Sky West Airlines, FAA Case No. 2012NM060025/C).OI3-02C1. "2.. 

Enclosed is an original and one copy of a request for hearing and Complaint in the abovereferenced proceeding. 

The Federal Aviation: Administration (FAA) requests that tbe hearing in this matter be held in Salt · 

Lake City, Utah, and expects that the hearing vvilllast one (1) day. 

For scheduling purposes, FAA attorney, Robert Spitzer wiU. be unavailable in year 2013: 

August 20- 22, November 25 -29 and December 2-20, 2013 .. 

Please address all communications for the FAA to the uudersign&j. at: 

Federal Aviation Adn:rin.istration 

Northwest Mountain Region, ANM-7 

1601 Lind Avenue S.W. 

Renton, Washington 98057 

Telephone: (425) 227-1.847 

FAX: (425) 227-1007 

Since~ 

Ro~rt S~i,er. FAAAttomey 

RS/ds 

Enclosures: Request for Hearing (Appeal) 

Comp la.in t 
07/09/2013 13:48 4252271007 ANM7 PAGE 03/08 

1 ROBERT SPITZER 

2 FAA OFFICE .OF REGlONAJ. COUNSEL 

3 · 1601 LIND AVE-, SW .. 

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RENTON, WASHINGTON 98057 

TELEPHONE; (425)227-1417 

FACslMILE: (425) 227-1007 

UNITED STATES OF AN.[ERlCA . DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

OFFICE OF HEARINGS 

WASHlNGTON, D.C. 

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In the Matter of: 

SkyWcst Airlines, Inc. FAA Case No. 20l2NM060025 

Judge Not Assigned 

JUDGE NOT ASSIGNED: 

CO:MPJ_,AINT 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), by counsel, hereby files its Complaint, 

pursuant to Rule 208 oftJ;le Rules of Practice (14 Code ofFe~eral Regulations (C.F.R.) Section 

13 .208), and states as follows: 

I. 

On June 19, 2013, SkyWest Airlines, Inc., was advised through a Final Notice of 

Proposed Civil Penalty th.at the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty in the amount of$55,000. 

On July 3, 2013, SkyWest Airlines, Inc., through its legal counsel, submitted a 'Written request for 

a hearing. 

IT. 

49 1. Sky West Airlines (Sky West) is now aod was at all times relevant herein the holder of 

FAA issued Scheduled Air Carrier Certificate No. SWIAO 11 A. 50 

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COMPLAJNT 

FAA v. SlcyWcst Airlines, l:nc. 

FAA Ca$e No. 20 12NM060041 

Page 2 of6 

ROBERT ST>:ITZER, :FAAATIORNEY 

TEL: (425) 227~14l.7; FAX; (425} 227-1007 
07/09/2013 13:48 4252271007 ANtv17 PAGE 04/08 

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At all times relevant herein Sky West was authorized to conduct operations pursuant to 

Part 121 of the Federal. Aviation Regulations .. 

At all times relevant herein. Paragraph D085 of Sky West's Operations Specifications 

(OpSpecs) authorized Sky West to use civil aircraft N426SW, a Bombardier CL-600-2B 19 

(the aircraft), in the condnct of SkyWest's Part 121 operations. 

At all times relevant herein, ParagraphA023 ofSkyWest's OpSpecs authorized the use of 

Sky West's Ground Deicing Program Manual SP2800. J.O 

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--12- -s-. --~At all times relevant herein,theabove-described_Grmln_fi·p~i~~g Program. Manual 13 --- --~-~ ~-~------

14 prohibited Sky West aircraft from taking off when frost was present on an aircraft's upper 

15 wing surface. 

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On or about December 7, 201 1., Sky West operated the aJ.rcraft as Flight 7770 (a Part 121. 

flight) between Salt Lake City, Utah and St. George, Utah. 

The above~described flight departed Salt Lake City, Utah despite the fact that frost wa.s 

adhering to-the aircraft's upper wing surfaces. 

By reason of the above, SkyWest took off. an aircraft when frost was adhetjng to the 

wings of the aircraft 

By reason of the above, SkyWest operated as a direct air. carrier in viol~tion of its 

operations specifications. 

By reason of the above, Sky West operated an aircraft under Part 121 in violati~n of its 

Operations Specifications. 

By reason of the above, SkyWest operated an aircraft in a careless manner so as to 

endan:ger the life or property of another. . 

Ill. 

By reason of the foregoin,g facts and circumstances, SkyWest violated. the following 

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a- Section 119.5(g), when it operated as a direct air carri.er when it failed to comply 

with its Operations Specification concerning aircraft deicing~ 

b. Seetion 119.5(1), when it operated the arrcraft·under Part 121 wlien it failed to 

comply with its Operations Specification concerning aircraft deicing; 

COMPLAINT 

P. AA v. Sk)IWcst Airlines. lrlc. 

FAA Case No. 20I2NM060041 

Page 3 of6 

ROBERT SPITZER, FAA ATTORNEY 

TEl~: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-1007 
07/09/2013 13:48 4252271007 ANM7 

1 c. Section 121.629(b ), when it took off the aircraft with frost on the upper wing 

2 surface; and 

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d. Section 91.13(a), when it operated the aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so 

as to endanger the life or property of another in that it operated the aircraft witb 

frost on tbe upper wing surlace. 

In accordance with Sections 4630l(a) and (d) of Title 49 ofthe United States Code 

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l 1 .cu.s:c.) (Tra:o.sportation) [49 U.S.C. Sections 4630l(a) and (d)], Sky West is liable for a ci.vl.l 

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4 penalty not to exceed $27,500 for each of the_ violations noted. 

PAGE 05/08 

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16 3. Under the facts and circumstat;.ces of this case, a civil penalty of$55,000 is appropriate. 

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WHEREFORE. the Agency, by counse1, respectfully requests that the Administrative 

Law Judge enter an order that SkyWest be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of$55,000. 

Respectfully submitted this 9th day of-July, 2013. 

Robert Sp1tzer 

FAA Attorney 

COMPLAlNT 

FAA v, S}cyWcstAirlincs,Jnc. 

FAA Case No. 201:2'N"M06004l 

Page 4 of6 

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ROBERT SPITZE'R., FAA A TTORN:In' 

TEL: (425) 227-J417; FAX: (425} 227"1007 
07/09/2013 13:48 4252271007 ANM7 PAGE 05/08 

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3 In accordance with Section 13.209 ofthe Federal Aviation. Regulations, SkyWest, must answer 

4 tb.is Complaint not later than thirty (30) days from the time it is served on it. Failure to flle an 

5 Answer within thirty (30) days without good cause shall be deemed an admission of the truth of 

6 each allegation contained in. the Complaint [l4.C.F.R. § 13.209(f)]-

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COMl'LAINT 

FAA v. SkyWest Airl.ioes, Inc. 

FAA Case No. 2012NM060041 

Pa.ge:S of6 

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ROBEitr SntZER. F M ATTORNEY 

TEL: (425) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-1007 
~7/09/2013 13:48 4252271007 ANM7 PAGE 07/08 

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I hereby certify that the foregoing Complaint has lpeen served via facsimile. and certified mailReturn Receipt Requested this date, to the following: 

Federal Aviation Administration (Original and one copy) 

800 Independence Avenue SW 

Washington, D.C. 20591 

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2Wl000 

Fax: (202) 493-S 142 ___ 13 ________ ·------- --- ---·· 

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Todd Emerson, Esq. 

· Sky West Airlines, Inc. 

444 South River Road 

St. George, UT 84 790 

TEL: (435) 634-3530 

FAX:. (435)634-3505 

Dated this 9th day of July, 2013. 

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Office ofRegional Counsel (AN1v1-7) 

F ede:r.al Aviation Administration 

1601 Lind Ave. SW 

COMPLAD'fT 

FAA v. SkyWcst Airlines. IDe. 

FMCaseNo. 2012NM06004-l 

Page 6 of.6 

Renton, WA 98057 

(425) 227-2007 . 

ROBERT SJ>ITZER, FAA ATTORNEY 

TEL: (4-25) 227-1417; FAX: (425) 227-1.007 
• 07/09/2013 13:48 4252271007 ANM7 PAGE 08/08 

Dir~ct Dial: 435.634.3530 

Direct Fax: .\3$.634.3505 

ll-t-nail: tcm~rson@~kvwes.L.£Q.m 

Regi'IJ\nal Counsel 

JUL 9 Z0\3 

A~lM~7 

VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS 

Federal Aviation Administration 

ATTN: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC~430 

~ilbur Wright Building- Suite 2Wl000 

800 Independence Avenue SW 

Washington, DC 20591 

Re: Case No. 20l2NM060025 

Dear Sir!Madarn: 

July 3, 2013 

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The Final Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty in the above-referenced case was 

received in our office on June 24, 2013. 

Pursuant to § 13.l6 (e) (2) (ii) of Federal Aviation Regulations, Sky West Airlines 

hereby requests a he~ring on th1s matter. · 

Sincere1y, 

·~·c. 'To~1C1'SOJ:1 Director- Governme11t and Legal.Affnirs 

_ TCE/jb 

cc: Robert Spitzer