AFS-11-259-E April 22, 2011 Exemption No. 9303B Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2007-27561

Mr. John R. Mietus, Jr. Counsel for Mesaba Aviation, Inc. 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 300 Bethesda, MD 20817-7500

Dear Mr. Mietus:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 9303, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision and describes its effect.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated April 4, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Adm inistration (FAA) on behalf of Mesaba Aviation, Inc. (Mesaba), for an extension of Exemption No. 9303, as amended. That exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows Mesaba to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman or aircrew program designee for 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.

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 Mesaba.

Our Decision

The FAA has determ ined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 9303, 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 FAA2

Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the conditions and

limitations listed below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. A Mesaba check airm an or aircrew program designee may conduct a PIC observation in place of an FAA inspector when –

a. The Administrator preapproves that substitution for each observation of a qualifying PIC candidate, thus reserving first right of refusal to the FAA in each case. Mesaba, 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.

2. Each Mesaba 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 this observation;

b. Have served as check airman or aircrew program designee for Mesaba 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. Mesaba must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew program designee records that demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this exemption.3

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the term ination date of Exemption No. 9303, as amended, to May 31, 2013 unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/ Raymond Towles Acting Director, Flight Standards

Service