AFS

- 1 5

- 576

- E March 25, 2015

Exemption No. 11243

Regulatory Docket No. FAA

- 2001

- 8722

Mr. Chris Brown

Director Aircraft Operations

SkyWest Airlines

444 South River Road

S aint George , UT 84 790

Dear Mr

. Brown :

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition for an exemption . It transmits

our decision, explains the basis for our decision, and gives you the conditions and limitations

of the exemption, including the date it ends

.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated January 26, 2015 , you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

on behalf of SkyWest Airlines (SkyWest) for an extension of Exemption No. 7689 , as

amended. That exemption from § 121.434 (c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations

allows SkyWest to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place of an FAA

inspector to observe a qualifying pilot in command (PIC) who is completing initial or upgrade

training specified in § 121.424 duri ng at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and a

landing. That exemption, however, expired on January 31, 2015 ; therefore, we will treat your

request as a new petition.

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 SkyWest

.

The FAA issued a grant of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to those

presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 8054 (copy enclosed), the FAA found2

that subject to certain conditions and limitations, the requirement for an FAA inspector to

observe a qualifying PIC before he or she begin s operations in an airplane unsupervised may

be conducted by and satisfied by the certificate holder’s check airman or aircrew program

designee. The FAA found that this could be accomplished without reducing the level of

safety provided by the regulation.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that

—

• they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed Grant

of Exemption No. 8054 ;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 8054 also

apply to the situation you present; and

• a grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. §§ 106(f), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA

Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant SkyWest Airlines an exemption from

14 CFR § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) to the extent necessary to allow SkyWest to substitute a qualified

and authorized check airman in place of an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying pilot in

command (PIC) who is completing initial or upgrade training specified in § 121.424 during at

least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and a landing , subject to the following conditions

and limitations

.

Conditions and Limitations

1. A SkyWest check airman or aircrew program designe e may conduct a PIC observation in

place of an FAA inspector when

—

a. The Administrator pre

- approves that substitution for each observation of a qualifying

PIC candidate, thus reserving first right of refusal to the FAA in each case. SkyWest,

therefore, must contact an appropriate FAA office in each instance before substituting

that check air man or aircrew program designee;

b. The qualifying PIC candidate has completed no less than 10 hours of sup ervised

operating experience (OE) and accomplished no fewer than two takeoffs and landings;

and

c. The qualifying PIC candidate is performing PIC duties during a complete flight leg,

including flightdeck preparation, before starting eng ines checklist, taxi, takeoff, all

other flight phases, landing, taxi, and securing checklist.3

2. Each SkyWest check airman or aircrew program designee conducting a PIC observation in

place of an FAA inspector must

—

a. Be approve d by the Administrator to conduct the observation;

b. Have served as check airman or aircrew designee for SkyWest for no less than

6 months; and

c. Not supervise the OE or conduct the initial line check for the qualifying PIC

candidate being observed.

3. SkyWest must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew program designee records that

demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this exemption.

The Effect of Our Decision

T his exemption terminates on March 31

, 201 8

, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John Barbagallo

Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service