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 Administration (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 determined 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 FAA 
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Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the conditions and 

limitations listed below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. A Mesaba check airman 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. 
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The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination 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