AFS-10-176-E 

March 12, 2010 

 Exemption No. 6473G 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2002-12343 

J. Mark Hansen, Esq. 

Lead Counsel 

Federal Express Corporation 

3620 Hacks Cross Road 

Memphis, TN 38125 

Dear Mr. Hansen: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 6473, 

as amended. It explains the basis for our decision and describes its effect. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter posted February 23, 2010, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA) on behalf of Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) for an extension of Exemption 

No. 6473, as amended. That exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal 

Regulations allows FedEx to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place of an 

FAA inspector to observe a qualifying pilot in command (PIC) who is completing the 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 FedEx. 
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Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 6473, 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 

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

and limitations. 

Conditions and Limitations

1. A FedEx 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. FedEx, 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 FedEx 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 the observation; 

b. Have served as a check airman or aircrew program designee for FedEx 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. FedEx 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. 6473, as amended, to 

June 30, 2012, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John W. McGraw 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service