U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 

In the Matter of: 

Mesa Airlines, Inc., 

Respondent. 

) 

) FDMS No. FAA-2013-0616 

) 

) FAA Case No. 2012WP370002 

) 

) Judge R. Goodwin 

----------------------------------) ~ 

ANSWER OF MESA AIRLINES, INC. 

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to:u 

Christopher J. Pappaioanou 

V.P. Legal Affairs 

Mesa Air Group, Inc. 

410 North 441

h Street, Suite 700 

Phoenix, AZ 85008 

TEL: 602-685-4000 

FAX: 602-685-4350 

August 9, 2013 

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Robert E. Cohn 

Patrick R. Rizzi 

HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP 

Columbia Square 

555Thirteenth Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20004 

+1 202 637 4999/5659 

robert.cohn@hoganlovells.com 

patrick. rizzi@hogan lovells. com 

Counsel for 

MESA AIRLINES, INC. 

RECEIVED 

AUG 1 2 2013 

HEARING DOCKET 
In the Matter of: 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMJNJSTRATJON 

August 9, 2013 

) 

Mesa Airlines, Inc., 

) FDMS No. FAA-2013-0616 

) 

) FAA Case No. 2012WP370002 

) Respondent. _______________________________ ) Judge R. Goodwin ) 

ANSWER OF MESA AIRLINES, INC. 

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. § 13.209, Mesa Airlines, Inc. ("Mesa" or 

"Respondent"), through undersigned counsel, hereby answers the Complaint 

filed by the Federal Aviation Administration in this matter, and states as follows: 

I. 

1. Respondent ADMITS Paragraph I of the Complaint. 

II. 

1. Respondent ADMITS Paragraph 11(1) of the Complaint. 

2. Respondent ADMITS Paragraph 11(2) of the Complaint, and further 

asserts that Mesa operated the flight on behalf of US Airways Express. 

3. Respondent ADMITS Paragraph 11(3) of the Complaint. 

4. Respondent DENIES Paragraph 11(4) of the Complaint. 

Ill. 

1. Respondent DENIES Paragraph Ill of the Complaint. 

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Answer of Mesa Airlines, Inc. 

Page 2 

IV. 

1. Respondent DENIES Paragraph IV(1) of the Complaint. 

2. Respondent DENIES Paragraph IV(2) of the Complaint. 

Affirmative Defenses 

1. The Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be 

granted. 

2. With respect to the flight 2863, Mesa complied in all respects with 

14 C.F.R. §121.575(c). 

3. The Complaint fails to allege any violation that is supported by 

reliable, probative, and substantial evidence. 

4. The Complaint fails to state a claim warranting the proposed Civil 

Penalty. 

5. The amount of Civil Penalty which the FAA seeks in the Complaint 

is unjustified, excessive, arbitrary, and capricious. 

6. Mesa specifically reserves the right to assert any and all other 

affirmative defenses to the Complaint which may be determined by the 

Respondent to exist as this matter proceeds. 

Hearing Location 

Mesa agrees to the FAA's request for the hearing for this matter to be 

held in Phoenix, Arizona. 

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Answer of Mesa Airlines, Inc. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Robert E. Cohn 

Patrick R. Rizzi 

Counsel for Mesa Airlines, Inc. 

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Answer of Mesa Airlines, Inc. 

Page4 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I hereby certify that a true copy of the foregoing Answer of Mesa Airlines, 

Inc. has been served this 9th day of August 2013, upon each of the following 

addresses: 

By U.S. Mail. postage prepaid, certified mail- return receipt requested (with a copy 

by e-mail) on: 

Theodore P. Byrne 

Attorney 

Office of the Regional Counsel, AWP-7 

Federal Aviation Administration 

P.O. Box 92007 

Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007 

theodore. byrne@faa .gov 

By Overnight Delivery Courier and 

www.regulations.gov (with a copy by 

facsimile): 

Federal Aviation Administration 

600 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Wilbur Wright Building, Suite 2W1 000 

Washington, DC 20591 

Attention: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Fax: 202-493-5123 

(Original and one copy) 

By Overnight Delivery Courier and 

facsimile: 

The Honorable Richard C. Goodwin 

Administrative Law Judge 

Office of Hearings, M-20 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. (E11-310) 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Fax: 202-366-7536 

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