AFS-11-384-E 

August 29, 2011 

 Exemption No. 10345 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2011-0747 

Mr. Christopher Edmondson 

Vice President of Flight Operations 

Southern Air, Inc. 

117 Glover Avenue 

Norwalk, CT 06850 

Dear Mr. Edmondson: 

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

decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, 

including the date it ends. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated July 11, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Southern Air, Inc. (Southern Air), for an exemption from part 121, Appendix H of 

Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to allow Southern Air 

to provide the training and checking in a Level C full flight simulator (FFS) of second in 

command (SIC) applicants who, in all other respects, are qualified but do not meet the 

aeronautical experience requirements specified in Appendix H. 

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any 

delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Southern Air. 

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

those presented in your petition. In Partial Grant of Exemption No. 10271 (copy enclosed), 

the FAA found that Centurion’s petition is unique. Airplanes incorporating a flight engineer 

duty position are no longer manufactured; therefore, to advance their careers and continue 
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employment in commercial aviation, airmen holding flight engineer certificates must upgrade 

to SIC. Level D simulators for the DC-10 do not exist. 

In addition, the FAA found that Centurion will also achieve an equivalent level of safety as 

that in the current regulations because of two important factors. First, the flight engineers that 

would be affected by this grant of exemption are currently experienced Centurion Air Cargo 

crewmembers who hold FAA commercial, multiengine certificates with 500 or more hours of 

pilot time. Second, numerous safety precautions and additional qualification safeguards that 

will enable the candidates to gain valuable aeronautical experience before being released to 

unsupervised line operations are proposed by the petitioner and will be conditions to this 

exemption. 

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. 10271; 

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 10271 

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. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator 

has delegated to me, I hereby grant Southern Air, Inc., an exemption from 14 CFR part 121, 

Appendix H to the extent necessary to allow Southern Air to provide the training and 

checking in a Level C FFS of SIC applicants who, in all other respects, are qualified but do 

not meet the aeronautical experience requirements specified in Appendix H, subject to the 

conditions and limitations described below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Southern Air may conduct flight engineer upgrade training under the terms of this 

exemption for those flight engineers who meet the following conditions: 

a. Current and qualified as a Southern Air flight engineer; 

b. Hold a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument-airplane and multiengine 

land ratings; and 

c. Have accumulated a minimum of 500 hours, including a minimum of 100 hours as 

pilot in command (PIC) in multiengine airplanes. 

2. Southern Air must submit the names and pilot certificate details of each applicant to 

be trained under this exemption to its principal operations inspector (POI) prior to 

commencing any portion of the proposed applicant’s upgrade training. The POI will 

review the list to ensure that each applicant meets the experience requirements of this 

exemption. After a review of submitted documentation, the POI may approve or 

disqualify any individual submitted for upgrade training under the terms and 
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conditions of this exemption. Individuals disqualified by the POI for training may be 

resubmitted after the disqualifying event has been corrected or resolved. 

3. All simulator instruction and tests/checks must be conducted under Southern Air’s 

approved part 121, Appendix H, advanced simulation training program. 

4. The hours of operating experience (OE) required by § 121.434(c)(3)(i) are increased 

to 150 hours and must include at least 10 takeoffs and landings under the supervision 

of a qualified line check airman who must occupy the other pilot seat for all takeoff 

and landings specified in this paragraph. The required OE specified in this paragraph 

may be reduced by 10 hours for each additional takeoff and landing accomplished 

during the individual’s OE in excess of the required 10. A qualified Southern Air SIC 

must be assigned to each operating segment during the first 50 hours or six takeoffs 

and landings (whichever occurs first) of the individual’s OE. 

5. At the completion of the required OE, the applicant must receive a line check by a 

Southern Air pilot check airman who is currently qualified on the airplane. This line 

check shall consist of at least two flight segments, one as the pilot flying and one as 

the non-flying pilot. This line check must be conducted over routes which the pilot 

may be expected to be assigned. 

6. The operating limitation of § 121.438(a) is increased from 100 hours to 300 hours; and 

the pairing requirement of § 121.438(b) is increased from 75 hours to 300 hours. 

7. The applicant must satisfactorily complete a proficiency check in accordance with 

§ 121.441 and Southern Air’s Appendix H advanced simulation training program 

within 7 months of initial qualification and within 12 months of initial qualification. 

This exemption terminates on August 31, 2011, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John W. Mcgraw 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service 

Enclosure