AFS-16-4409-E 

March 9, 2016 

 Exemption No. 15270 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2015-7920 

Mr. Alan Clay 

Director, Flight Operations Specifications 

American Airlines, Inc. 

4601 Highway 360 MD 843 

Fort Worth, TX 76155 

Dear Mr. Clay: 

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 October 18, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of American Airlines, Inc. (American) for an exemption from § 119.49(a)(4)(ii) of 

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

apply domestic and flag rules while conducting non-scheduled supplemental operations to 

airports not listed in its operations specifications (OpSpecs), provided certain conditions and 

limitations are met. 

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 American. 

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

those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 11036 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

found that this would be necessary to allow a certificate holder to specify an airport other than 

one listed in the certificate holder’s OpSpecs as a regular, provisional or refueling airport, as a 

destination for the purpose of original dispatch or release. 
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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. 11036; 

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 11036 

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. §§ 106(f), 40113, and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, American Airlines, Inc. is granted an exemption from 

14 CFR 119.49(a)(4)(ii) to the extent necessary to allow American to apply domestic and 

flag rules while conducting non-scheduled supplemental operations to airports not listed in its 

OpSpecs, subject to the conditions and limitations described below. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. The certificate holder must maintain economic and operations specification 

authority to conduct domestic, flag and supplemental operations. 

2. Each flight must be operated in accordance with all part 121 domestic or flag 

regulations, as applicable to the kind of operation being conducted. 

3. In addition to the requirements of 14 CFR § 121.105, when conducting operations 

at airports not listed in the certificate holder’s operations specifications, the 

certificate holder must also comply with the requirements of § 121.139. 

4. Prior to departure, for flights conducted at airports that are not listed in the 

certificate holder’s operations specifications, the certificate holder and the pilot in 

command must verify that appropriate aeronautical charts containing adequate 

information concerning navigation aids and instrument approach procedures are 

aboard the aircraft for each flight. 

5. Prior to departure, the certificate holder must ensure all required ground handling 

needs will either be available upon arrival or be provided by equipment and 

personnel traveling with the aircraft. 

 

6. When conducting operations at foreign airports, flights must be conducted in 

accordance with flag regulations unless otherwise specified in the certificate 

holder’s operations specifications. 

7. When conducting operations outside of the United States, and the District of 
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Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States, the certificate holder 

will ensure that foreign airports meet the international civil aviation organization 

(ICAO) Annex 14 standards and recommended practices (SARPS). 

8. The certificate holder must comply with the destination and alternate airport 

requirements of § 121.619 or § 121.621, depending on the kind of operation being 

conducted. 

9. In addition to the requirements of §§ 121.619 and 121.621 as applicable, when 

conducting operations to airports not listed in the certificate holder’s operations 

specifications, the certificate holder shall list at least one alternate airport for each 

destination airport in the dispatch release, unless the requirements of subparagraphs 

a and b of Condition No. 9 can be met. This requirement mitigates the risk involved 

when conducting operations to airports not listed in the certificate holder’s 

operations specifications, without a destination alternate airport. This requirement 

also complies with ICAO Annex 6, part 1, SARP 4.3.4.3.1, which applies to 

destination alternate aerodromes (airports).— 

 

 a. Two separate runways are usable at the estimated time of arrival at the 

destination airport. For the purposes of this exemption, separate runways are two or 

more runways at the same airport, configured such that if one runway is closed, 

operations to the other runway(s) can be conducted; and 

 b. At least one of the usable runways has an operational instrument 

approach procedure. 

10. The certificate holder may only exercise this exemption when conducting 

operations within the territory and airspace of a foreign country with the permission 

of the foreign civil aviation authority. This exemption does not exempt the 

certificate holder from any regulations imposed by the foreign State. 

11. When operating under the provisions of this exemption, the certificate holder shall 

list this exemption number in the dispatch release. 

This exemption terminates on March 31, 2018, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John Barbagallo 

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service