AFS-15-576-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

Saint George, UT 84790

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

observe a qualifying PIC before he or she begins 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 designee 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 airman or aircrew program designee;

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

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 engines checklist, taxi, takeoff, all 

 other flight phases, landing, taxi, and securing checklist.
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2. Each SkyWest check airman or aircrew program designee conducting a PIC observation in 

 place of an FAA inspector must—

 a. Be approved 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

This exemption terminates on March 31, 2018, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely,

/s/

John Barbagallo

Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service