AFS

- 13

- 406

- E July 24, 2013

Exemption No. 10831 Regulatory Docket No. FAA

- 2000

- 8222

Ms

. Rebecca Barbaria Manager of Flight Standards Mesa Airlines, Inc.

2710 E. Old To wer Road, Suite B Phoenix, AZ 850 34

Dear Ms

. Barbaria :

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 dat ed June 3, 2013 , you petitioned the Federal Aviation Ad ministration (FAA) on

behalf of Mesa Airlines, Inc

. (Mesa ) for an extension of Exemption No. 10272

. That exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulation s (14 CFR) allow s Mesa to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place of an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying pilot in command (PIC) while that PIC is performing prescribed duties during at least o ne flight leg that includes a takeoff and landing when completing initial or upgrade training as specified in § 121.424. Please note that the previous exemption has expired ; therefore

, we will treat your request as a new petition.

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 pe tition would be detrimental to Mesa

.

The FAA has issued a grant of exe mption in circumstances similar in all material respects to those presented in your petiti on. In Grant of Exemption No. 10272 , the FAA found that subject to certain conditions and limitations, the requirement for an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying P IC before he/she begins operations in an airplane unsupervised may be2

conducted by and satisfied by the certificate holder’s check airman or aircrew program designee. The FAA found that this could be accomplished without reducing the level of safety provi ded by the regulation.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that

—

• they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the e nclosed Grant of Exemption No. 10272 ;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 10272 also apply to the situation you present; and

• a grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

Under the authority containe d in 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant Mesa Airlines, Inc

. , an exemption from

14 CFR § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) to the extent necessary to allow Mesa to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place of an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying PIC while that PIC is perf orming prescribed duties during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and landing when completing initial or upgrade trai ning as specified in § 121.424. This exemption is subj ect to the conditions and limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. A Mesa 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 o f refusal to the FAA in

each case. Mesa , 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 supervis ed 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,

takeo ff, all other flight phases, landing, taxi, and securing checklist.

2. Each Mesa check airman and aircrew program designee conducting a PIC observation in place of an FAA inspector must

—

a. Be approved by the Administrator to conduct the observation ;3

b. Have ser ved as a check airman or aircrew program designee for Mesa 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. Mesa must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew progra m designee records that demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this exemption.

Thi s exemption terminates on Jul y 31, 201 6 , unless sooner superseded or rescinded. Sincerely,

/s/

Michael J. Zenkovich Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards

Service