SOUTHWES TAIRLINE S CO . Lesli e C . Abbot t Attorne y 190 1 L Street , N W - Suit e 64 0 Washington , D C 2003 6 (202 ) 263-628 5 (202 ) 263-629 1 - Fa x Leslie.abbott@wnco.co m



### Januai7l8 , 201 0 C D 

### B YHAND DELIVER Yan d FEDE X U.S . Departmen t o f Transportatio n Docke t Operations , IVI-S O Wes t Buildin g ground floor , R m W12-14 0 120 0 Ne wJerse yAvenue , SE . Washington , D C 2059 0 Joh n M . Alle n . " Director , Fligh t Standard s Service Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 'CJ ' AFS-1 , Fligh t Standards Service , R m 82 1 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Washington , D C 2059 1 t o



### Re : Regulator yDocke t No . 1148 5 Petitio n fo rRenewa l an d Modificatio n o f Exemptio n fro m 14CFR^121.434(cU1Ui n Dea rSir : Pursuan t t o Federa l Aviatio n Regulatio n 1 4 CF R §11.61(b) , Southwes t Airlines Co . ("Southwest" ) hereb ypetition s th e FA Afo rth e fift h renewa l o f Exemptio n No . 713 2 whic h permit s Southwes t t o substitut e a qualifie d an d authorize d chec k airma n i n plac e o f a n FA Ainspecto rt o observ e a qualifyin g pilo t i n comman d ("PIC" ) whil e tha t PI C i s completin g th e initia l o rupgrad e trainin g specifie d i n FA R §121.42 4 (FAARegulatory Docke t No . 11485 , previousl yDocke t No . 29836) . Th e FA Agrante d Exemptio n No . 713 2 o n February28 , 200 0 an d ha s extende d i t fo rfou rconsecutiv e tw o yea rperiods . Unles s thi s exemptio n i s extende d onc e again , i t wil l terminat e o n February28 , 2010 . A cop yo f Exemptio n No . 7132 , an d th e mos t recen t Exemptio n Renewa l No . 7132D , ar e attache d a s Exhibi t A .

I . TH E FA

AHA S FOUN D TH E EXEMPTIO N T O B E I N TH E PUBLI C INTERES T 

### Southwes t request s tha t th e FAArene wExemptio n No . 713 2 fo ra t leas t tw o additiona l years . Thi s reques t i s consisten t wit h th e exemptio n renewal s tha t th e FA A ha s alread ygrante d t o Southwest , a s wel l a s t o othe rairlines .

### Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n

January18 , 201 0 Pag e 2 Exemptio n No . 713 2 grante d Southwes t relie f fro m 1 4 CF R §121.434(c)(1)(ii ) t o th e exten t necessaryt o permi t Southwes t t o substitut e a qualifie d an d authorize d chec k airma n i n plac e o f a n FAAinspecto rt o observ e a qualifyin g PI C wh o i s completin g th e initia l o rupgrad e trainin g specifie d i n FA R §121.42 4 durin g a t leas t on e fligh t le g tha t include s a takeof f an d a landing . Exemptio n No . 713 2 a t p . 2 . I n grantin g Southwest' s exemptio n reques t an d th e subsequen t renewals , includin g th e modification s grante d i n th e mos t recen t 200 8 renewal , th e FA A determine d tha t suc h a n exemptio n was i n th e publi cinterest . Specifically , th e FA A foun d tha t fo rSouthwes t an d othe rsimilarl ysituate d commercia l ai rcarriers , "permittin g a limite d numbe ro f qualifie d an d authorize d chec k airme n t o conduc t certai n PI C observation s woul d benefi t th e publi cb yreducin g unnecessarycost s tha t ma yinfluenc e th e pric e o f service s t o th e publi can d b yimprovin g th e airlines ' abilit yt o provid e on time , dependabl e ai rservice. " Exemptio n No . 713 2 a t p . 1 . Th e FAAals o foun d tha t th e exemptio n "woul d no t reduc e th e leve l o f safety , provide d th e petitione rcomplie s wit h certai n condition s an d limitations. " Id . II . SOUTHWES THA S COMPLIE D FULL YWIT H TH E EXEMPTIO N CONDITION S AN D LIMITATION S 

### Southwest i s i n ful l complianc e wit h al l o f th e condition s an d limitation s specifie d i n Exemptio n No . 713 2 an d it s subsequen t renewals . Southwest believe s tha t it s performanc e unde rth e exemptio n ha s bee n satisfactoryt o th e FAA , a s n o indicatio n t o th e contraryha s bee n received . III . CONCLUSIO N 

### Al l o f th e circumstance s state d i n Southwest' s origina l reques t fo rthi s exemptio n an d th e precedin g request s fo rit s renewal , remai n th e same . Ther e ha s no t bee n an y materia l chang e i n th e finding s relativ e t o publi cinteres t an d safet ytha t wer e th e basi s fo rgrantin g th e origina l exemption . A s th e FA Aha s noted , grantin g thi s exemptio n (an d b yextensio n th e renewa l o f th e exemptio n requeste d herein) , woul d hav e n o advers e effec t o n safety . Instead , i t wil l allo wSouthwes t t o continu e efficien t an d competen t completio n o f observatio n flight s throug h appropriat e utilizatio n o f FA Aresource s an d qualifyin g PIC's . T o minimiz e th e administrativ e burde n o n al l parties . Southwes t seek s a renewa l fo ra minimu m o f tw o years .

### Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n

January18 , 201 0 Pag e 3 W e appreciat e th e FAA' s consideratio n o f thi s request . Respectfull ysubmitted .

Attachment s Exhibi t A - Southwest Exemptio n No . 7132 , February28 , 2000 ; Exemptio n

Renewa l No . 7132D , February28 , 2008 .

# Exhibi t A

### Cof,P.ecre- 6 c^oP y 

# O
U. S Departmen t eO O independence Ave. . S w o f Transportatio n Washlnglon . DC . 2059 1 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n

c c ar > aOfWI Exemptio n No . 713 2 FE B 2 8 tlW

J RegulatoryDocke t No . 2983 6 Mr . Rober t W . Kneisle y Associat e Genera l Counsel , Federa l Affair s Southwes t Airline s Co . 125 0 Eye Stree t NW. , Suit e 111 0 Washington , DC 2000 5 Dea r Mr . Kneisley : Byletter s date d Novembe r 8 , 1999 , an d Novembe r 12 , 1999 , yo u petitione d th e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (FAA ) o n behal f o f Southwes t Airline s Co . (Southwest ) fo r a n exemptio n from§ 121.434(c)(1)(ii ) o f Titl e 14 , Cod e o f Federa l Regulation s (1 4 CFR ) t o th e exten t necessar yt o permi t Southwes t t o substitut e a qualifie d an d authorize d chec k airma n i n plac e o f a n FA Ainspecto r t o observ e a qualifyin g pilo t i n command (PIC ) whil e tha t PI C i s performin g prescribe d dutie s during a t leas t on e fligh t le g tha t include s a takeof f an d a landing whe n completin g initia l o r upgrad e trainin g a s specifie d i n § 121.424 . Th e FA Aissue d a gran t o f exemptio n i n circumstance s simila r i n al l materia l respect s t o thos e presente d i n you r petition . I n Partia l Gran t o f Exemptio n No . 647 3 (cop yenclosed) , th e FA Afoun d tha t permittin g a limite d numbe r o f qualifie d an d authorize d chec k airme n t o conduc t certai n PI C observation s woul d benefi t th e publi c b yreducin g unnecessary cost s tha t ma yinfluenc e th e pric e o f service s t o th e publi c an d b y improvin g th e airlines ' abilit yt o provid e on-time , dependabl e ai r service . Th e FA Aals o foun

d th e requeste d exemptio n woul d no t reduc e th e leve l o f safety , provide d th e petitione r complie s wit h certai n condition s and limitations . Havin g reviewe d you r reason s fo r requestin g an exemption , I fin d tha t they d o no t diffe r materiall yfro mthos e presente d b yth e petitione r i n th e enclose d gran t o f exemption . I n addition , I hav e determine d tha t th e reason s state d b

yth e FA

Afo r granting th e enclose d exemptio n als o appl y t o th e situatio n yo u present . I n consideratio n o f th e foregoing , I fin d tha t a gran t o f exemptio n i s i n th e publi c interest . Therefore , pursuan t t o th e authorit ycontaine d i n 4 9 U.S.C . § § 4011 3 an d 44701 , delegate d t o m e b yth e Administrato r AFS-00-073- E(1 4 CF R § 11.53) , Southwes t Airline s Co . i s grante d a n exemptio n fro m 1 4 CF R § 121.434(c)(1)(ii ) t o th e exten t necessaryt o permi t Southwes t t o substitut e a qualifie d an d authorize d chec k airma n i n plac e o f an FA A inspecto r t o observ e a qualifyin g PI C wh o i s completin g initia l o r upgrad e trainin g specifie d i n § 121.42 4 durin g a t leas t on e fligh t le g tha t include s a takeof f an d a landing . Thi s exemptio n i s subjec t t o th e followin g condition s an d limitations : 1 . Eac h chec k airma n performin g th e dutie s otherwis e appropriat e t o an FA

Ainspector , unde r thi s exemption , must — a . B e a

n employe e o f Southwest ; b . B e qualifie d an d curren t i n th e dutie s o f th e PI C i n the aircraf t being operated ; c . B e approve d b

ythe FA

AAircre wProgra

mManager ; and d . Hav e bee n employe d b ySouthwes t a s a chec k airma n fo r a minimu

m o f 6 months . 2 . Southwes t mus t submi t an d hav e approve d b

yit s FA

Aprincipa l operation s inspecto r (POI) , i n a lette r o f approval , th e nam e o f eac h chec k airma n t o b e use d unde r thi s exemptio n befor e thi s us e occurs . 3 . Befor e eac h observatio n conducte d unde r thi s exemption . Southwes t mus t contac t it s PO I o r th e POI' s designate d representative . N o observatio n mayb e conducte d unde r thi s exemptio n unles s th e FA A determine s ther e i s no t a n FA Ainspecto r availabl e t o observ e th e affecte d operatio n an d s o inform s Southwest . 4 . Th e chec k airma n observin g th e qualifyin g pilo t mus t b e othe r tha n th e chec k airma n conductin g th e operatin g experienc e flight . 5 . Th e chec k airma n observin g th e fligh t mayno t previousl yhav e conducte d an

yoperatin g experienc e fligh t durin g th e current , initial , o r upgrad e training o f th e qualifyin g PIC . 6 . Eac h operatio n conducte d unde r thi s exemptio n mus t b e recorde d i n Southwest' s approve d trainin g records . 7 . N o observation s ma ybe conducte d unde r thi s exemptio n unti l th e qualifyin g PI C ha s complete d the minimu mnumbe r o f hour s specifie d i n § 121.434(c)(3) . 8 . Unde r thi s exemption , n o mor e than 5 0 percen t o f th e require d operatin g experienc e observation s mayb e accomplishe d b ya qualifie d and authorize d chec k airma n rathe r tha n an FA A inspecto r durin g an y6-month period .9 . Southwes t mus t submi t a trainin g schedul e i n writte n for mt o it s PO I tha t include s the date(s ) o f eac h observatio n t o b e conducte d unde r § 121.434 . Thi s trainin g schedul e mus t b e submitte d a t leas t 2 0 day s befor e an yobservation . 10 . Southwes t mus t maintai n th e record s necessar yt o demonstrat e complianc e wit h th e condition s an d limitation s o f thi s exemption . Thi s exemptio n terminate s o n supersede d o r rescinded . 

### FE B 2 8 200 2 unles s soone r Sincerely ,



### Av aL . Mims Actint j Director , Fligh t

Standard s Servic e Enclosur e02/28/200 8 15:1 7 202267507 5 OFFIC E O F RULEMAKIN G PAG E 0 2

^ UiDeparTmen t 80 0 indtptudwe cAve. . S.W . O fTflonsponotio n wuhinBton . DC . 2059 i Fedw i AvMtio n Adnwittitmo n

f^E H 2 8 700 8 Exemptio nNo . 7132 D Regulatory Docke t

No . FAA-2002-1148 5 Mr . Robert

W . Kneisle y Associat e General Counse l Southwes t

Airline s Company 190 1 LStreet , NW. , Suite 64 0 Washington , D C 2003 6 , Dea r Mr . Kneisley : Thi s lette r

i s t o infor

myo u that

w e hav e grante dyou i petitio nt o exten dan damen dExemptio n No . 7132 , a s amended . I t explain s the basi s for

ou r decision , describe s it s effect , an dlist s th e revise dcondition s an dlimitations . Th e Basi s fo r

Ou r Decisio n B y lette r date dJanuary 4,2008 , yo u petitione dth e Federal Aviatio nAdministratio n(FAA ) o n behal f o f Southwes t

Airline s Company (Southwest ) for anextensio no f

an damendmen t

t o Exemptio nNo . 7132 , a s amended . That exemptio nfrom § 121.434(c)(l)(ii ) o f Titl e 14 , Cod e o f Federal Regulation s allow s Southwes t t o substitut e aqualifie dan dauthorize dchec k airman i nplac e o f

a nFA A inspecto r

t o observ e aqualifyin g pilo t i ncomman d(PIC ) whil e tha t PI C i s performin g prescribe ddude s durin g at leas t on e flight le g that include s atakeof

f an dalandin g whe ncompletin g initial or upgrad e trainin g a s specifie di n§ 121.424 . Th e amendmen t yo u reques t would : 1 . Delet e languag e relate dt o th e minimu moperatin g experienc e (OE ) require dfo r a PI C observation ; 2 . Remov e th e 5 0 percen t limi t o nth e numbe r

o f operatin g experienc e observation s achec k airmani s authorize dt o make ; an d 3 . Eliminat e th e reqvurement t o submi t trainin g schedule s for

eac hobscrvatic n2 0 day s inadvanc e o f

th e event .

AFS'08-168- E02/2,8/200 8 15:1 7 202267507 5 OFFIC E O F RULEMAKIN G PAG E 0 3

Inyou r petition , yo u indicate tha t ther e ha s bee nn o chang e inth e condition s an dreason s relativ e t o publi c interes t

an dsafet y tha t were th e basi s fo

r grantin g th e origina l exemption . Th e FA A ha s detcminc dthat goo dcaus e exist s for

no t publishin g asummary o f th e petitio n inth e Federa l Registe r

becaus e th e requeste dextensio no f th e exemptio nwoul dno t se t a precedent , andan y dela

y i nactin g o nthi s petitio nwoul db e detrimental t o Southwest . Ou r Decisio n Th e FA A ha s reviewe dExemptio nNo . 7132 , a s amended . Currently , Southwes t may conduc t n o mor e than5 0 percen t

o f th e O Eobservation s durin g any 6-mont hperiod . Th e FA A ha s reevaluatedit s positio no nth e 5 0 percen t limi t an dfind s tha t

th e limi t i s n o longe r

necessary . Furthermore , w c fin dtha t couple dvrit

hyour reques t t o remov e th e 5 0 percen t limi t o nth e numbe r o f event s achec k

airmani s authorize dt o observe , arequiremen t t o submi t

atrainin g schedul e i nadvanc e become s les s relevant . Moreover , w e agre e tha t th e singl e le g observatio nshoul db e conducte ddurin g OE , no t afte r completin g th e minimu mnumbe r o f hour s required . Th e FA A ha s determine dtha t i f Southwes t

follow s th e revise dcondition s an d lunitation s se t

ou t inthi s exemption , anequivalen t leve l o f safet y wil l b e maintaine dwhil e stil l allowin g Southwes t

an dth e FA A th e greates t busines s an dregulatory flexibility . Th e FA A ha s determine dthat th e justificatio nfo

r th e issuanc e o f

Exemptio nNo . 7132 , a s amended , remain s vali dwithrespec t t o thi s exemptio nandi s inth e publi c interest . Therefore , unde r th e authority provide dby 4 9 U.S.C . 4011 3 an d44701 , whic hth e FA A Administrato r ha s delegate dt o me , I grant your petition , subjec t

t o th e revise dcondition s an dlimitations . Condition s an dLimitation s 1 . A Southwes t

chec k airmano r

aircre w programdesigne e ma y conduc t a PI C observatio ni nplac e o f a nFAA inspecto r

when— a . Th e Administrato r

preapprove s tha t

substitutio nfor

eac hobservatio no f

a qualifyin g PI C candidate , thu s reservin g firs t right o f refusal t o th e FA A i n eac hcase . Southwest , therefore , mus t contac t a nappropriat e FA A office , i n eac hinstance , before substitutin g tha t chec k airmano r

aircre w program designee ; b . Th e quahfyin g PI C candidate ha s complete dn o les s tha n1 0 hour s o f supervise dO Ean daccomplishe dn o fewe r thantw o takcoff

s an dlandings ; an d c . Th e qualifyin g PI C candidate i s performin g PI C dutie s durin g acomplet e flight leg , mcludin g flightdec k

preparation , before startin g engine s checklist , taxi , takeoff , al l othe r flight phases , landing , taxi , an dsecurin g checklist .02/28/200 8 15:1 7 202267507 5 OFFIC E O F RULEMAKIN G PAG E 0 4

2 . Eac hSouthwes t

chec k airmano r

aircre w programdesigne e conductin g aPI C observatio ninplac e o f

a nFAA inspecto r

must — a . Be.approve db y th e Administrato r t o conduc t

th e observation ; b . Hav e serve da s achec k airmano r

aircre w programdesigne e for Southwes t

for no'les s tha n6 months ; an d c . No t supervis e th e O Eo r

conduc t th e initial lin e chec k

for th e qualifyin g PI C candidat e bein g observed . 3 . Southwes t

mus t maintai nsmdent , chec k

aimian , andakcre w programdesigne e record s that

demonstrat e complianc e withtb e condition s andlimitation s o f thi s exemption . Th e Effec t

o f Ou t Decisio n Ou r decisio nextend s th e terminatio ndate o f Exemptio nNo . 7132 , a s amended , t o Februar y 28,2010 , unles s sooner supersede dor

rescinded . Al l condition s an dlimitation s o f Exemptio nNo . 7132 , a s amended , remai nth e same . Thi s letter mus t b e attache dto , andi s apart of , Exemptio nNo . 7132 . Sincerely , 

# ff

i 

# ^!ZU^ jh nM. Alle n •'Actin g Director , Fligh t Standard s Servic e