AFS-13-490-E

September 20, 2013

 Exemption No. 10460B

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2011-1329

Mr. Alan Kasher

Director of Operations

Southwest Airlines Co.

P.O. Box 36611

Dallas, Texas 75235

Dear Mr. Kasher:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to amend Exemption 

No. 10460, 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 April 1, 2013, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Southwest Airlines (SWAA) for an extension of Exemption No. 10460, as amended. 

That exemption from § 121.291(b) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows

SWAA to add the Boeing 737-700 to its operations specifications without conducting the 

required partial ditching (overwater) demonstration. Upon further review, the FAA has 

determined that the date of November 30, 2013, to include the dates listed in the conditions

and limitations, was intended to be November 30, 2014.

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 to SWAA.
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Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 10460, 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. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator 

has delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the following conditions and limitations.

Conditions and Limitations 

1. This exemption will remain in effect until the air carrier successfully conducts the 

required partial evacuation and ditching demonstrations, no later than November 30, 

2014.

2. SWAA must submit a plan to complete the partial emergency evacuation demonstrations 

to the FAA for approval in accordance with the guidance in FAA Order 8900.1 for those 

new aircraft types and models to be used in passenger-carrying operations that are not 

currently on the SWAA certificate. The plan must be submitted at least 15 days prior to 

the conduct of the demonstration and ensure that all demonstrations are completed by 

November 30, 2014.

3. All crewmember operating manual revisions and training will be completed and training 

records updated prior to commingling of crewmembers.

4. Until the partial emergency evacuation and ditching demonstrations are completed on 

these aircraft, no cross utilization of crewmembers on these aircraft will be permitted. 

Pre-merger SWAA crewmembers will not be scheduled with pre-merger Air Tran 

Airways , Inc. (ZZDA) crewmembers until the partial emergency evacuation and 

ditching demonstrations have been completed.

This exemption terminates November 30, 2014, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely,

/s/

Robert C. Carty for

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service