E x pres

sJet Air li nesInc

. PETITIO N FOR E X EM PTION U.S

.Department
of Transportation Docket Operations West Building Ground Floor Room W12-140 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 SUBJECT: PETITION FOR GRANT OF EXEMPTION

12 / 17 / 2015 Pursuant to Section 11.61(b) of the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR), ExpressJet Airlines Inc

.,holder of Operating Certificate ASOA029B, hereby petitions the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the renewal of the exemption from FAR Section 121.434(c)(1 )(ii) to the extent necessary
to permit ExpressJet to observe the pilots in qualification observation
as required by the aforementioned rule. This exemption renewal is requested

i n order for ExpressJet Airlines Inc. to continue to perform this requ

i red observation as allowed by the previously approved Exemption 7135 and 7135G amended, which expires March 31
. 2016. NATURE AND EXTENT OF RELIEF The exemption will allow a FAA authorized Check Airmen

,in the employ of ExpressJet Airlines Inc., to conduct the required observation when a FAA inspector
is unavailable

to conduct the observation

,as required by the below regulation

: FAR 121.434(c)(1)(ii) ...Pilot crewmembers must acquire operating experience and operating cycles as follows

: ( 1 ) A pilot in command must

- (i) Perform the duties of a pilot in command under the supervision
of a check pilot

; and (ii) In addition

,if a qualifying pilot in command

is completing initial or upgrade training specified
in § 121.424, be observed
in the performance
of prescribed duties by an FAA inspector during at least one flight leg which includes

a takeoff and landing

.During the time that a qualifying pilot in command

is acquir

i ng the operating experience

in paragraphs (c)( 1) (i) and

( i i) of this section

.a check pilot who is also serving as the pilot in command must occupy
a pilot station

.However

,in the case of a transitioning pilot in command the check pilot serving as pilot in command may occupy the observer's seat

,if the transitioning pilot has made at least two takeoffs and landings
in the type airplane used

,and has satisfactorily demonstrated

to the check pilot that he is qualified to perform the duties of a pilot in command of that type of airplane

. This relief, to conduct the required observations
as requested, will be implemented under previously approved guidelines which are

: 1 .Each check airman performing the duties otherwise appropriate

to an FAA inspector

,under this exemption

,must: a .Be an employee of ExpressJet

A

i rlines Inc

.; b .Be qualified and current in the duties of the PIC in the aircraft being operated

; 1ExpressJet Airlines Inc. PETITION FOR EXEMPTION 12/17/2015 c.Be approved by the FAA Aircrew Program Manager; and d. Have been employed by ExpressJet Airlines Inc. asacheck airman for aminimum of 6 months. 2. ExpressJet Airlines Inc

.mustsubmit and have approved by its FAA principal operations inspector (POl), in aletter of approval, the nameof each check airman tobe used under this exemption before this useoccurs. 3. Before each observation conducted under this exemption, ExpressJet Airlines Inc. mustcontact its POl orthe POl's designated representative and obtain approval for the observation, thus reserving first right of refusal tothe FAA

. 4.The check airman observing the qualifying pilot mustbe other than the check airman conducting the operating experience flight. 5.The check airman observing the flight maynot previously have conducted any operating experience flight during the current,initial

,or upgrade training of the qualifying PIC. 6.The qualifying PIC candidate mustbe observed performing the duties of aPIC during
a complete flight leg, including flight deck preparation

,before starting engines checklist, taxi, takeoff, all other flight phases, landing, taxi and securing checklist. 7.Each operation conducted under this exemption mustbe recorded
in ExpressJet Airlines Inc
. approved training records. 8. No observations maybe conducted under this exemption until the qualifying PIC has completed noless than 1 0 hours of supervised OE and accomplished
nofewer than twotakeoffs and landings. 9. ExpressJet Airlines Inc. mustmaintain the records necessary
todemonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this exemption. PUBLIC INTEREST Granting of this petition for exemption
to permit an ExpressJet Airlines Inc. Check Airman toconduct the required observation
as previously outlined
is in the public interest for reasonsof safety, economics and being able to complete the requirements
of the FAR in a timely manner

.With the current staffing of the Certificate holding District Office (CHOO), the FAA is not always available toconduct the observation
as scheduled. Allowing ExpressJet Airlines Inc

.toconduct the observation, when the FAA is unavailable, will allow for the completion
of this pilot qualification element
in a timely fashion, thereby reinforcing the training guidance given tothe pilots in training. EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY ExpressJet Airlines Inc

.believes that this proposal for the requested exemption renewal, will not merely provide an equivalent level of safety to operations under this present regulation

,but will in fact, enhance safety

.Operations under the exemption requested herein should enhance total air safety due tothe observations being conducting by ExpressJet Airlines Inc. will allow yetanother review of the FAA 2ExpressJetAirlinesInc. PETITION FOR EXEMPTION 12/17/2015 approved pilot training program

.These additional observations will provide valuable feedback
toenhance the quality of the FAA approved pilot training program. In summary,this exemption,

in addition to supplementing the FAA staffing, will provide valuable information onthe preparedness

of the newly trained pilots

.This exemption,

in addition to making available additional resources,will allow an ExpressJet Airlines Inc. Check Airman toevaluate the training and checking effort where experience has shown
it tobe mostvaluable. EXCEPTIONS TO PUBLICATION OF SUMMARY OF PETITION FOR EXEMPTION In accordance with the provisions of FAR §11

.87(a) (Circumstances

in which FAA maydecide notto publish
a petition for exemption), ExpressJet Airlines Inc. requeststhat a finding of good causebe made for waiving publication

in the Federal Register, since similar exemptions and waivers for this purposehave been granted toother Part 121 air carriers electing toconduct the observations required by FAR 121.434(1 )(c)(ii)

.The justifications and supporting argumentsare nearly identical tothose presented by ExpressJet Airlines Inc

.In view of the numerous opportunities

tocomment
in the past,and the analysis previously done by FAA in the related industry cases,which ultimately resulted
in grantsof exemption, ExpressJet Airlines lnc

.requeststhat the publication and comment period be waived. SUMMARY As required by FAR Section 11.81(f),

a summaryof the petition is asfollows: ExpressJet Airlines Inc

.requestsan exemption from FAR 121.434(1 )(c)(ii), (FAA observation)

,tothe extent necessary
to permit authorized ExpressJet Airlines Inc

.Check Airmen toconduct the required pilot observation when aFAA inspector
is unavailable. Sincerely, reehan Senior Vice President, Operations cc: Inspector Billy Smith ExpressJet Airlines Inc. Principal Operations Inspector 3