Shawn Martinelli

720 4th Street

Sutersville, PA 15083

Phone: 724-550-3205

e-mail: smartinelli@pia.edu

March 9, 2016

Docket Management Facility

US Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue

SE West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140

Washington DC 20590

To Whom It May Concern:

Please consider this correspondence a Petition for Exemption from 14 CFR §183.1.

In a letter dated December 16, 2015, the Allegheny FSDO indicated that the application I 

submitted for a Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME) appointment was not accepted, as it was

determined that I did not meet the experience requirements as described in Order 8900.2a, as 

follows:

8900.2a Chapter 6, Section 1, paragraph 1. a (3)(b)

five years’ experience performing maintenance on U.S.-registered civil aircraft while employed by an FAA 

Repair Station (14 CFR part 145). Three of the 5 years of experience required must be immediately before 

designation.

I request exemption from the experience requirement as it is stated in the Order 8900.2 on the 

grounds that my total experience performing maintenance on U.S.-registered civil aircraft while 

employed by an FAA Repair Station (8 years and 10 months) far exceeds the 5-year 

requirement, just not within the specified timeframe. The details of this experience were

included in my application, and a copy of this document is also included with this petition for 

your reference.

My DME appointment would be a benefit to the public as a whole by addressing the shortage of 

examiners (both in our area and nationwide) which currently results in extended wait times for 

A&P school graduates and others seeking A&P certification to become employed in the aviation 

industry. Testing delays also result in A&P graduates seeking employment outside of the 

aviation field, further damaging the future of our industry.

This exemption would not adversely affect safety, as I am uniquely qualified for this 

appointment. As I stated above, my total experience exceeds the requirements in the 

regulations. It is only the currency of this experience that does not meet with the regulation. 

However, due to my recent employment history (2.5 years) with Pittsburgh Institute of 

Aeronautics, a Part 147-certified Aviation Maintenance School, I have had the opportunity to 

keep my knowledge of aviation maintenance and aviation safety current, and I have achieved 
an even higher level of competency for A&P testing and skills evaluation than I would have 

attained otherwise.

In addition to the supporting information I have provided above, please refer to the enclosed 

letters of recommendation written by experienced colleagues with whom I have worked closely 

in the aviation maintenance field.

If you require any additional information regarding this petition, please contact me at 724-550-

3205 or 412-346-2178, or via email at smartinelli@pia.edu.

Sincerely,

Shawn Martinelli

Other Documents included with Petition: Previously submitted application; Allegheny FSDO 

response letter; A&P certificate; letters of recommendation






Gary B. Potochnik

FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative - Manufacturing-DARF - Maintenance-DART

783 W Mountain View Rd, Acme, Pennsylvania 15610 USA

: (724) 875-7640 : (815) 642-0219 e-mail: garyp@av-essentials.com 

23 October 2015

Wendy L. Grimm, Manger

Federal Aviation Administration

Allegheny FSDO-03

101 Towne Square Way, Suite 201

Pittsburgh, PA. 15227

Dear Ms. Grimm:

Regarding: Letter of Recommendation for Mr. Shawn Martinelli

Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME) Applicant

 I am both pleased and honored to author a letter of recommendation to Shawn Martinelli and wish 

him nothing but the best in his endeavor to expand his aviation career. I have known Mr. Martinelli

for almost 20 years. Having worked with him from September 1996 through August 2002. 

He has always demonstrated professionalism in performing his work, when interfacing with clients as 

well as coworkers. My professional interfacing has been through his employment at Helicopter 

Aviation Services (HAS) Corporation (now PAC International) as well as at the now, Uniflight West 

Penn. I have had brief encounters with him during his tenure at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. 

In looking at the requirements listed in Order 8900.2A, change 1 for a Designated Mechanic Examiner 

(DME) applicant, I can personally testify that Shawn meets or exceeds the following requirements. 

Chapter 6, Section 1, Paragraph 1.a.(3)

(b) Five years experience performing maintenance on U.S.-registered civil aircraft while employed by 

an FAA Repair Station (14 CFR part 145). He met this requirement (5.9 years) while working at 

HAS Corporation. His experience continued while employed at Uniflight West Penn. 

(c) Five years experience performing maintenance on U.S.-registered civil air carrier aircraft operating 

under 14 CFR part 121 or 135. He met the 14 CFR part 135 portion of this requirement (5.9 years) 

for while working at HAS Corporation. His experience continued while employed at Uniflight 

West Penn. 

Not directly applicable to DME functions, but to further expand on my recommendation of Mr. Martinelli, 

due to his professionalism, integrity, knowledge and skill sets, Mr. Martinelli was promoted to the position 

of Production Manager of HAS Corporation’s Parts Manufacturing (PMA) facility. He quickly adapted to 

this role and the additional responsibilities of managing the manufacture of aircraft parts under 14 CFR part 

21. He was a key person and instrumental in HAS being able to achieve the goals it did while holding 

PMA. 

I believe that Mr. Martinelli will be a value added designee to your office and to the industry. His 

professionalism, integrity, knowledge and overall industry experience is second to none. I offer this letter 

of recommendation for Mr. Martinelli as testimony of his integrity and past experience. I wish him the best 

in this endeavor and know that he will excel as a DME.

Respectfully Submitted,