U.S . Departmen t Souther n Regio n

o f Transportatio n Offic e o f tli e Regiona l Counse l Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 

### ^ O 8 20f » P.O . Bo x 2063 6 Atlanta , Geor g (404 ) 305-520 0 (404 ) 305-522 3

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### X I r o r o C O i a 3032 0 FA X

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### --^'p-' ^ '^-—1— ' c/: - CERTIFIB D - RETURN RECEIP T REQUESTE D Hcntin g Docke t

Cler k FAA , AGC-430 , Suite 2W100 0 Wilbur Wrigh t Buildin g 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S W Washington , D C 2059 1 Re : I n th e Matte r

o f Coasta l Air

Transport , Inc . /

C^ \| - Pi\)^ ^ "Cfl p - | " i 7^) 0 FAAC!ascNo.2010SO70003 7 / p,^.^ ^ . ^oi,-/OCf i Enclose dherewit

h pleas e fin

dacop y o f

areques t fo r hearin g an dth e origina l an don e cop y o f th e Complain t

i n th e above-reference dproceeding . Th e FA A request s tha

t th e hearin g i

n thi s matter

b e heldi n th e Sa n Juan , Puert o Ric o area , an d expect s tha

t th e hearin g will las t

on e day . Pleas e addres s all communication s fo r th e FA A to th e undersigned , at : Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n Offic e o f th e Regional Counsel , ASO- 7 Souther n Regio n P.O . Bo x 2063 6 Atlanta , Georgi a3032 0 Telephone : (404 ) 305-5200 , facsimil e (404 ) 305-5223 . S>cprely , 

# .m _ N RICH G'Hl&RG

E Attorne y Offic e o f th e Regiona

l Counse l Enclosure s ' t • - ' i__( ^ ^ ^ ftw, W- ^

# Coasta l c4l r

UranSpor t

Eddi e L.Thoma s Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n Souther n Regiona l Offic e P.O . BOX20636-AS O Atlanta , Ga . 3032 0 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n Hearin g Docke

t Clerk, AGC-43 0 PJ_'A.L[ V h.: y 80 0 Independenc e Av e S W ; | Wilbu rWrigh t Building , Suit e 2W10Q 0 ' i 3^ p _ 2 20: 1 ' Washington , D C 2059 1 : \ J Au g 30 , 201 1 'jni.iTMr-R N M'iL\\\0> l Case s 2010SO70003 7 Dea rM rThomas , W e apologiz e fo rth e delay.i n answerin g you rreques t fo rinformatio n fro m ou rconference . Th e researc h ha s take n mus h longe rtha n expected . W e hav e discusse d thi s actio n a t lengt h wit h man y aviatio n professional s bot h insid e an d ou t o f th e Agency . Thei rrespons e ha s bee n fairl y consistant , i n tha t thi s cas e shoul d no t hav e bee n filed . Tha t a simpl e warnin g lette rwoul d hav e bee n sufficient . The y als o disagre e wit h you rCounse l i n tha t the"smal l quantity , properl y package d "exemptio n i s stil l i n • effect . W e regularl y observ e "si x pack " boxe s o f alcoho l bein g transporte d o n passenge raircraft . Thes e boxe s ar e no t labele d "flammabl e liquid" . Th e smal l fue l sample s yo u mentione d wer e considerabl y smalle rtha n thes e "si x packs" . The y wer e no t carrie d i n th e cabi n o ro n th e fligh t dec k a s yo u mentioned . The y wer e confine d t o th e approve d carg o compartmen t o f th e aircraft . Th e pilo t wa s advise d a s t o thei rlocatio n an d content . Fo r suc h amirio rincident , you rpropose d fin e o f $59,00 0 wa s no t realisti c fo ra smal l airlin e suc h a s ours .

W e hav e bee n advise d no t t o accep t you rsuggestio n o f a reduce d fine , a s i t woul d amoun t t o admissio n o f a seriou s offence . W e onc e agai n as k tha t thi s cas e b e dismissed . I n th e even t yo u wis h t o continue . W e hereb y reques t a hearin g o n th e abov e mentione d case . Sincerely^ rchBk\\kAe r

Presiden t

P.O . BO X 398 5 • CHRISTIANSTED , U.S.V.I . 0082 2 • TELEPHON E (340 ) 773-686 2U.S . DEPARTMEN T O F TRANSPORTATIO N OFFIC E O F HEARING S FEDERA L AVI.4T10 N ADMINISTRATIO N

FEDERA L AVIATIO N ADMINISTRATION , Complainant . vs . Coastal .Ai

r Transpor t Inc . Respondent . FA A Docke t No . Judg e

JUDGE NO T YET ASSIGNE D COMPLAIN T Th e Federal Aviatio n Administratio n (FAA) , b y counsel , hereb y File s it s Complaint , pursuan t to Rul e 208^of

th e Rule s o f

Practic e (1 4 C.F.R . 13.208) , an dstate s a s follows :

L 1 . O n Augus t 19 , 2011 , Respondent , Coastal Air Transport

Inc . wa s advise dthroug h aFina l Notic e o f

Propose dCivi l Pejialt

y tha t th e FA A propose dto asses s acivi l penalt y i n th e amount o f $59,600 . O

n Augus t 30 , 2011 , th e Agenc y Attorne y receive dawritte n reques t fo r a hearin g fro

mth e Respondent . II . 2 . O n or abou t Octobe r 21 , 2009 , Coastal Ai r

Transport , Inc . (hereinafte r Coastal Air ) knowingl y accepte dfo r iranspoi-latio n b

y ai r an dtransporte daboar da

n aircraf t aone-piec e shipmen t consistin g o f

anon-specificatio n ftberboar dbo x containin g hazardou s material s o n fligh t numbe r 41 3 arrivin g a

t th e Alexande r

Hamilto n .Airpor

t (STX) , Saint

Croix , U.S . Virgi n Islands . 3 . Th e above-mentione dshipmen t wa s unnianifeste do

n Coastal Air

Flight #4 1 J . 4 . O n or abou t Octobe r 21 , 2009 , aU.S . Custom s an dBorde r Protectio n Ofiicer discovere dth e above-describe dbo x o n boardFligh t 41 3 a t ST X i n Sain t Croix , U.S . Virgi n Islands .5 . Th e bo x containe dtw o plasti c bag s labele d"Hazmatpac, " whic h containe dtw o

bottle s o f approximatel y 750m

i eac h labele dfue

l oi l (iN#]993 . 6 . Th e abov e describe dnon-spccitlcatio n tlberboar dbo. x di dno t contai n aMSDS , packin g slip s or

an y hazardou s marking s or

warning s labele do

n th e box . 7 . A t al l time s mentione dherein , th e above-describe dshipmen t wa s no t accompanie db

y aShipper' s Certificatio n or Declaratio n o f

Dangerou s Goods . 8 . A t all time s mentione dherein , th e above-describe dshipmen t wa s liste dan

d describe do n th e bill o f

lading . 9 . O n or abou t Octobe r 21 , 2009 , Mike Foster

o f Coasta l Ai r

signe dth e bil l o f ladin g whic h describe dth e above-reference dpackage . 10 . (a) Diese l Fue l i s classifie da s ahazardou s material unde r th e Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Hazardou s IMaierlal s Regulation s (HMR ) (4 9 C.F.R . § 172.101) .

(b ) Th e prope r

shippin g nam e o f

th e material i s Diese l Fuel , i t i s i n Hazard Clas s 3 , Packin g Grou p III , an dha s a n assigne didentificatio n numbe r o f N A 1993 . Th e prope r label i s FLAMMABL E LIQUID . 11 . Coastal Ai r

accepte dth e above-describe dshipmen t o f hazardou s material fo

r transportatio n b

y air whe n th e shippin g paper s di dno t include : (a) th e prope r

shippin g nam e prescribe dfo r eac h material ; (b ) th e hazardclas s prescribe dfo r eac h material ; (c ) th e assigne didentificatio n number prescribe dfo

r eac h material ; (d ) th e packin g grou p prescribe dfo r eac h material ; an d (e ) th e tota

l quantity o f

eac h hazardou s material . 12 . Coastal Air

transporte dth e above-describe dshipmen t aboar da n aircraf t when i t wa s not accompanie db y acop y o f th e require dshippin g papers . 13 . Coastal Air

accepte dth e above-describe dshipmen t o f hazardou s material s fo

r transportatio n b

y ai r whe n th e shippe r

faile dto : (a) certif

y tha t th e material s were I

n accordanc e wit

h th e HM R(4 9 C.FTl . (b ) § § 171 . et

seq. ) b y printin g th e certificatio n se t fort h i n § 172.204(a ) o r

^ j 172.204(e)(1 ) o f

th e HMR ; (c ) prepar e th e require dceitifjcation s ij i duplicate ; (d ) addth e followin g statemen t t o th e certification : Thi s shipmen t

I s withi n th e limitation s prescribe dfo r passenge r aircraft .14 . Coastal Ai r accepte dth e above-describe dshipmen t o f hazardou s material s fo

r transportatio n b

y ai r when : (a ) th e oute r

containe r wa s not marke dwit

h th e prope r

sliippin g name o f

eac h hazardou s materia ! conialnc dtherein ;

(b ) th e oute r

containe r wa s not marke dwit

h th e a.ssignc didenliftcaiio n numbe r o f eac h hazardou s material containe dtherein ; (c ) th e outer

containe r wa s no t marke dwit

h standar dorientatio n marking s o n tw o opposit e vertical side s o f th e packag e wit

h th e arrow s pointin g I

n th e conec t

uprigh t direction ; an d (d ) a"FLAMMABL E LIQUID " labe l wa s not affixe dto th e oute r

container . 15 . Coastal Ai r

carrie dth e abov e shipmen t o f hazardou s material s aboarda n aircraf t an dfailedt o provid e writte n notificatio n o f th e hazmat

to th e pilot-ln-comman da s earl y a s practicabl e prio r

t o departure . 16 . Coastal Ai r

carrie dth e abov e shipmen t o f hazardou s material s aboarda n aircraf t an dfailedto hav e emergenc y respons e Information , Includin g a n emergenc y respons e telephon e number , immediatel y availabl e t o di e pilot-in-comman ddurin g flight . 17 . Coastal Ai r

accepte dfo

r transportatio n or

transporte daboar da

n aircraf t th e abov e shipmen t o f hazardou s material s whe n i t faile dto ensur e tha

t eac h o f It s hazma t employee s wa s traine dI n accordanc e wit

h th e prescribe drequirement s a s se t fort h I n Sectio n 175.20 .

III . 18 . B y reaso n o f

th e abov e Coastal Air

Transpor t Inc . violate dth e followin g Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Hazardou s Material s Regulation s (Titl e 4 9 o f th e Cod e o f

Federa l Regulations) : 1 . Sectio n 171.2(a ) i

n tha t Coastal Air

accepte dhazardou s material fo r transportatio n aboarda

n aircraf t i n commerc e when th e material wa s not properl y classed , described , packaged , marked , labeled , an di n conditio n fo

r shipmen t a s require do r

authorize db

y applicabl e requirement s o f thi s subchapter . 2 . Sectio n 171.2(b ) i n tha t Coastal Air

transporte dahazardou s material I n commerc e whe n th e hazardou s materia l wa s no t handle dan dtransporte dI n accordanc e wit

h applicabl e requirement s o f

thi s subchapter , or

a n exemption , approval or

registratio n issue dunder thi s subchapte r

or subchapte r

A o f this subchapter .3 . Sectio n 175. 3 i n tha t Coastal Air

accepte d(o r

transportatio n or

transporte daboard a n aircraf t ashipmen t

o f hazardou s material s not

prepare dfo

r shipmen t i n accordanc e wit

h thi s subchapter . 4 . Sectio n 1 75.20(a ) i n tha t Coastal Air

di dno t compl y wit

h all applicabl e requirement s i

n part s 106 , 171 , 17 2 an d17 5 o f thi s chapte r

an dfaile dto ensur e eac h o f it s hazma t employee s receive dtrainin g i n relatio n thereto . 5 . Sectio n 175.20(b ) i n (ha t Coastal A h tvLmsportc

dahazardou s material b

y aircraf t whe n eac h o f it s hazma

t employee s Involve dI

n tha t transportatio n wa s not

traine da s require db

y subpar t H o f par t 17 2 o f thi s subchapter . .6 . Sectio n 175.2 5 i

n tha t Coastal Air , engage di

n for-hlre transportatio n o f passengers , faile dt o display notice s o f th e requirement s applicabl e to th e carriag e o f hazardou s material s aboardaircraft , an dth e penaltie s fo

r failur e to compl y wit

h thos e requirements . 7 . ^Sectio n 175.2 6 i

n tha t Coasta l .Air,'engage di

n th e acceptanc e or

transpor t o f carg o fo r transportatio n b

y aircraft , faile dto displa

y notices , a

t eac h facilit

y where carg o i s accepted , to person s offerin g suc h carg o of th e requirement s applicabl e to th e carriag e ol " hazardou s materiai s aboar daircraft , an dth e penaltie s fo r failure to compl y wit

h (hos e requirements . 8 . Sectio n 175.30(a)(2 ) i n tha t Coastal Air

accepte dhazardou s material fo r transportatio n aboar da

n aircraf t whe n th e hazardou s material wa s no t properl y describe dan

d certifie do n ashippin g pape r

prepare di

n duplicat e i

n accordanc e wit

h Subpar t C o f par t 172 or ' a s authorize db y §171.1 1 o f thi s subchapter . 9 . Sectio n 175.30(a)(3 ) i n tha t Coastal Air

accepte dhazardou s material fo r transportatio n aboar da

n aircraf t whe n th e hazardou s material wa s not labele dor

marke dI n accordanc e wit

h Subpart s D an dE o f

par t 17 2 or a s authorize db

y §171.1 1 o f

thi s subchapter , an dplacarde d(whe n required ) i n accordanc e wit

h subpar t F o f par t 17 2 o f thi s subchapter . 10 . Sectio n 175.30(b ) i n tha t Coastal Air

carrie dahazardou s material i n apackage , outsid e container , or

overpac k aboar da n aircraf t when th e operato r

o f th e aircraf

t faile dto Immediatel y inspec t

th e package , outsid e container , or overpac k before placin g i

t aboardth e aircraft . 11 . Sectio n 175.30(e)(2 ) i n tha t Coastal Air

accepte da

n overpac k

containin g package s o f

hazardou s materia l an dfaile dt o take reasonabl e step s t

o establis h tha

t th e proper shippin g names , identificatio n numbers , label s an dspecial handlin g instruction s appearin g o n th e insid e package s are clearl y visibl e o r reproduce do

n th e outsid e o f

th e overpack . 12 . Sectio n 175.30(e)(3 ) i n tha t Coastal Air

accepte da

n overpac k

containin g package s o f

hazardou s materia l an dfaile dto lake reasonabl e step s to determin e tha t astatemen t t o the effect

tha i th e Insid e package s compl y wit h th e prescribe dspeclficalion s appear s o n th e outsid e 0 th e overpack , whe n specificatio n packaging s are prescribed .13 . Sectio n 175.33(a ) I n that Coastal Ai r

carrie dahazardou s materia l subjec t t o ih c provisio n o f

thi s subchapte r

i n a n aircraf t an dfaile dto provid e th e pi!oi-in-comman da t leas t th e followin g informailo n se t fort h I n this paragrap h i

n writin g a s earl y a s possibl e prio r to departure . 14 . Sectio n 175.33(b ) i n tha t Coastal Air

faile dto hav e acop y o f

th e writte n notificatio n to pllot-in-comman dreadil y availabl e t o th e pilot-ln-eomman ddurin g fligh t an d failedto maintai n emergenc y respons e informatio n require db y subpar t G o f par t 17 2 o f thi s subcliapie r

i n th e sam e manne r

a s (he vvrilie

n notificatio n (

o pilot-in-comman ddurin g transpor t o f the hazardou s materia l aboardth e aircraft . 15 . Sectio n 175.35(a ) i n tha t Coasta l Air faile dto ensur e acop y o f th e shippin g paper s require db y § 175.30(a)(2 ) accompanie dth e shipmen t i t covere ddurin g transportatio n aboar da n aircraft . , 16 . Sectio n I75.85(ii ) i n tha t Coastal Air

carrie dahazardou s material subjec t t o th e requirement s o f

thi s subchapter-i n th e cabi n o f apassenger-carryin g aircrat t o r o n th e fiight

deck o f an v aircraft . 1 7 Pursuan t

to 4 9 U.S.C . Sectio n 5123(a) , Coastal Air Transport

Inc . i s subjec t

t o a civi l penalty not

lower than $25 0 ($45 0 fo

r training-relate dviolations) , no r greate r tha n $50,00 0 ($100,00 0 i

f death , seriou s Illness , sever e Injury , o r substantia l property damag e results) , fo r eac h violatio n o f

th e Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Hazardou s Material s Regulations . 18 . Unde r

th e fact s an dcircumstance s o f thi s case , acivi l penalty o f S59 , 60 0 i s appropriate . WHEREFORE , th e Agency , b y counse l respectfull y request s tha t th e Administrativ e La

w Judg e enter a n orde r tha t Responden t

b e assesse dacivi l penalty i n th e amoun t

o f $59,600 . Respeclftill y submitte dthi s Q da y o f September , 2011 . 

# ,au/u.=4rg X R^A^JAW

N RICHXJEORG E Attorne y Offic e o f th e Regional Counse l PLEAS E NOTE : Pursuant to Titl e 1 4 CFRSectio n 13.209(a) , yo u are require dto file awritte n answe r to thi s Complaint , o r

awritte n Motio n t o Dismis s if appropriate , no t

late r than 3 0 day s afte

r th e date show n o n th e Certificat e o f Servic e whic h follows .CERTIFICAT E O F SERVIC E

I hereb y certif

y that acop y o f th e foregoin g Complain t

ha s been maile dthis dat e b y Certifie d Mail , Retur

n Receip t Requested , to th e following : Hearin g Docke t

Cler k (origina l + 1 copy ) FAA , AGC-430 , Suite 2W100 0 Wilbur Wright Buildin g SO O Independenc e Avenue , S W Washington , D C 2059 1 Coasta l .Ai r Transpor t

Inc . Georg e Logan ; Agen t

fo r Servic e (Registere dMail ) 113 1 Kin g Slreet,^Suite 20 4 Christlanste d St . Croix , V ! 00820-497 1

M. MCDOWEL L Legal'T^ssistan

t Offic e o f th e Regional Counse l 

### S£ P 

### 0 6 

## 201 1 Date d