: j 

### CORPORAT E HELICOPTER S Septembers , 201 1

U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Docke t Managemen t

Syste m 120 0 N E Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Wes t Buildin g Groun dFloor , Roo mW12-14 0 Washington , D

C 2059 0 Re : Reques t

fo r Extensio n o f

Exemptio n No . 994 5 Regulator y Docke t

No . FAA-2009-088 4 T o Who mIt

Ma y Concern : Thi s lette r

i s t o reques t

a n extensio n t o Exemptio n No . 9945 , grante dt o ou r company , Shie r

Aviatio n db aCorporat e Helicopters , b y Dr . Frederic k E . Tilton , M.D. , Federa l Ai r

Surgeon , o n Octobe r

21 , 2009 . Thi s exemptio n i s du e t o expir e o n Octobe r 31 , 2011 . Sinc e ou r exemptio n w e hav e continue dt o operat e ou r busines s i n accordanc e wit h al l applicabl e FA

A regulations , includin g th e Ant i Dru g an dAlcoho l Testin g Progra m requirement s o f

Par t 135 . Sincerely , Deanm , Shie r Chie f Executiv e Officer Enclosure s Cc : Dr . Frederic k

E . Tilton , M.D . Federa l Ai r

Surgeo n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Washington , D.C . 2059 1 Carl K.Alle n Aviatio n Safety Inspecto r - Operation s SA N FSDO

adivision of Shie r Aviatio n Corporatio n 375 3 John J. Montgomer

y Dr . Suit e 2 , Sa n Die^o CA 9212 3 US A Phon e (858 ) 505-565 0 Fa x (858 ) 874-303 8 www.CorporateHelicopters.com

# Q

US.Deportmen t 80 0 independenc

e Ave . S w ofTransportaTio n Washington , D O ?059 1 Federa l Avtatio n Administratio n Octobe r 21 , 200 9 Exemptio n No . 994 5 Regulatory Docke t

No . FAA-2009-088 4 Ms , Dean n J . Shie r Chie f Executiv e Officer Shie r Aviatio n Corporatio n db aCorporat e Helicopte r 375 3 Joh n J . Montgomer y Drive , Suit e 2 Sa n Diego , C A 9212 3 Dea r Ms . Shier : Thi s lette r

i s t o infor

myo u tha t

w e hav e grante dyou r

reques t for exemption . I

t transmit s ou r decision , explain s it s basis , an dgive s yo u th e condition s an dlimitation s o f th e exemption , includin g th e dat e i

t ends . Th e Basi s fo r

Ou r Decisio n B y lette r date dSeptembe r

15 , 2009 , yo u petitione dth e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (FAA ) o n behal f

o f Shie r Aviatio n Corporatio n db aCorporat e Helicopter s (Corporat e Helicopters ) fo r a n exemptio n fro mpart

121 , appendice s I an dJ o f Title 14 , Cod e o f Federal Regulation s (1 4 CFR) , Tha t exemption , i f

granted , woul dallo w Corporat e Helicopters , whic h i s operatin g unde r separat e part s o f

th e regulation , t o cove r

it s safety

sensitiv e employee s unde r on e testin g program . Althoug h th e petitione r

requeste drelie f

fro mpart

121 , appendice s I an dJ , tha t sectio n ha s sinc e bee n redesignate dt o part 120 . Th e redesignatio n wa s include di n th e "Dru g an d Alcoho l Testin g Program " fma l rul e publishe di

n th e Federa l Registe r

o n Ma y 14 , 200 9 (7 4 F R22649) . Th e FAA ha s determine dthat goo dcaus e exist s fo

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

becaus e th e requeste dexemptio n woul dno t se t aprecedent , an dany delay i n actin g o n thi s petitio n woul db e detrimenta l t o Corporat e Helicopters . Th e FA A ha s issue dagran t o f exemptio n i n circumstance s simila r i n al l materia l respect s t o thos e presente di n you r

petition . I

n Gran t o f Exemptio n No . 970 3 (cop y enclosed) , th e FA A foun dtha t i n this petitioner' s case , § 91.14 7 ai r tou r operation s b y Soli dEdg e wer e closel y AAM-09-399-Econnecte dt o Soli dEdge' s par t 13 5 operation s an dtha t

combinin g tw o testin g program s int o on e woul db e i n th e publi c interes t an dmaintai n a

n equivalen t

leve l o f safety t o tha t

provide d b y th e curren t

regulations . Unde r

on e testin g program , th e pilot s woul dstil l b e subjec t t o dru g an dalcoho l testin g i

n accordanc e with appendices I an dJ o f par t 121 . Furthermore , th e remova l o f duplicat e testin g woul deliminat e a n unnecessar y financial burde n o n Soli dEdge . Havin g reviewe dyou r

reason s for

requestin g a n exemption , 1 findthat— • the y d o no t

diffe r materiall y fromthos e presente db y th e petitione r i n th e enclose dgrant

o f exemption ; • th e reason s state db y th e FA A fo r grantin g th e enclose dexemptio n als o appl y t o th e situatio n yo u present ; an d • agran t

o f exemptio n i s i n th e publi c interest . Ou r Decisio n Unde r th e authorit} ' containe di n 4 9 U.S.C . 4011 3 an d44701 , whic h th e FA A Administrato r ha s delegate dt o me , I hereb y gran t Shie r Aviatio n Corporatio n db aCorporat e Helicopter s a n exemptio n frompart

12 0 t o th e exten t

necessary t o allo w Corporat e Helicopters , whic h i s operatin g unde r

separat e part s o f

th e regulation , t o cove r

it s safety-sensitiv e employee s under on e testin g program , subjec t t o th e condition s an dlimitation s describe dbelow . Condition s an dLimitation s 1 . Employee s o f

Corporat e Helicopter s ar e subjec t t o th e dru g an dalcoho l regulation s a t al l time s whil e conductin g operation s unde r par t 13 5 o r par t 91 . 2 . Th e dru g an dalcoho l testin g programmus t b e implemente dunde r

th e auspice s o f th e Corporat e Helicopter s part 13 5 operation , no t

unde r part 91 . Thi s exemptio n terminate s o n Octobe r 31 , 2011 , unles s soone r

supersede do r

rescinded .

Dr . Frederic k E . Tilton , M. D Federa l Ai r Surgeo n Enclosure sExemptio n No . 970 3 UNITE D STATE S O F AMERIC A DEPARTMEN T O F TRANSPORTATIO N FEDERA L AVIATIO N ADMINISTRATIO N WASHINGTON , D C 2059 1

I n th e matte r

o f th e petitio n o f SOLI D EDG E AVIATION , LL C fo r a n exemptio n frompa n 12 1 appendices I an dJ o f Title 14 , Cod e o f Federa l Regulation s Regulator y Docke t No . FAA-2007-018 1

GRAN T O F EXEMPTIO N B y lette r date dOctobe r

23 , 2007 , Mr . Harol dWeir , Chie f Pilot/Designate dEmplo>e r Representative , Soli dEdg e Aviation , LLC . (Soli dEdge) , 122 5 Airpor t Road , Sedona

^ AZ 86336 , petitione dth e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (FAA ) o n behal f o f Soli dEdg e fo

r a n exemptio n fro

mpart 121 , appendice s I an dJ o f Title 14 , Cod e o f

Federa l Regulation s (1 4 CFR) . Th e propose dexemption , if granted , woul dpermi t

Soli dEdge , whic h i s operatin g unde r separat e part s o f

th e regulations , t o cove r

it s safety-sensitiv e employee s unde r on e testin g program . Th e petitione r

request s relie f

fro mth e followin g regulation : Par t 121 , appendice s I an dJ o f Titl e 14 , prescribes , i

n pertinen t

part , tha t th e dru g and alcoho l testin g progra mi s designe dt o preven t accident s an dinjurie s tha t resul t fro m th e us e o f prohibite ddrtig s an dth e misus e o f alcoho l b y an y employe e wh o perform s safety-sensitiv e function s fo r apar t 11 9 certificat e holde r

with authorit y t o operat e unde r part s 12 1 and/o r

13 5 o r a n operato r

a s define di n § 91.147 .

AFS-08-080- ETh e petitione r support s it s reques t

wit h th e followin g information : Soli dEdg e petitione dth e FA A fo r a n exemptio n fro

mth e regulatory requirement s t o implemen t

an dmaintai n tw o separat e dru g an dalcoho l testin g program s for it s par t 13 5 ai r carrie r operatio n an dpan 9 1 ai

r tou r operatio n (Re dRoc k

Biplan e an d Helicopte r

Tours) . Th e petitione r

ha s eigh t pilots , several o f

whic h fl y for it s par t 9 1 ai r tou r an dpar t 13 5 operations . I

n thi s situation , thes e pilot s hav e th e possibilit y o f bein g randoml y teste dfo r bot h operation s a

t the same time . Soli dEdg e contend s tha t thi s mor e tha n double s it s dru g testin g expenses , which i s afinancial hardshi p t o a compan y o f

it s size . Soli dEdge' s designate demploye r representative s (DER ) claim s that h e can adequatel y manag e al l personne l unde r on e dru g andalcoho l testin g progra man dstil l mee t

th e FA.-^' s requirements . A summary o f

th e petitio n wa s publishe di n th e Federa

l Registe r o n Decembe r

11 , 200 7 (7 2 F R70370) . N o comment s wer e received . Th e FAA' s analysi s i s a s follows : Th e FA A ha s considere dfull y th e petitioner' s reques t

andsupportin g materials , an d finds tha t agran t o f exemptio n wouldb e i

n the publi c interes t

an dmaintai n aleve l o f safet y equivalen t

t o that provide db

y ihe curren

t regulations . Th e FAA' s dru g an dalcoho l testin g regulation s (pa n 121 , appendice s I an dJ ) requir e apar t 11 9 certificat e holde r

wit h authorir . t

o operat e unde r part s 12 1 and/o r

135 , o r a n operato r a s define di

n § 91.147 . t

o implemen

t adru g an dalcoho l testin g program . Unde r th e regulations , whe n acompany , suc h a s Soli dEdge , conduct s both 13 5 operation s an dpart

9 1 ai r tou r operations , i

t i s require dto implemen t

separat e an d distinc t testin g programs , a s i f

eac h certificat e holder were a n individua l employer . Thi s mean s tha t

al l th e testin g requirements , suc h a s pre-employmen t testing , confidenfiality o f

results , DER . trainin g programs , etc. , mus t b e separate . Therefore , th e FAA concur s that

Soli dEdg e require s a

n exemptio n fro

mappendice s I an dJ o f par t 12 1 i n orde r

t o combin e it s drug an

dalcoho l testin g program s int o one . Soli dEdg e ha s eigh t

pilots , severa

l of whic h fiy fo

r bot h part 13 5 an dpar t

9 1 operations . A s a

n ai r tou r operato r conductin g flights under

§ 91.147 , Soli dEdg e ha s n o othe r obligation s for

purpose s of

conductin g thi s busines s excep t fo r th e requiremen t

t o implemen t

adrug an dalcoho l testin g program . Requirin g separat e dru g an dalcoho l testin g program s wouldunnecessaril y subjec t Soli dEdge' s pilot s t o duplicat e testing . This , i n turn , increase s Soli dEdge' s cos t o f operatio n withou t

a n increas e i n safety . Therefore , the FAA. finds that , i n thi s case , § 91.14 7 ai r

tou r operation s b y Soli dEdg e are s o closely connecte dto Soli dEdge' s part 13 5 operation s that combinin g tw o testin g program s int o on e will be i n th e publi c interes t

an d maintai n aleve l o f

safet y equi\alen t

t o tha t provide db

y th e curren t

regulations . Unde r on e testin g program , th e pilot s will still be subjec t to dru g an dalcoho l testin g i n accordanc e with appendice s I an dJ of par t 121 . Furthermore , th e remova l o f duplicat etestin g VVTI I eliminat e a n unnecessar y financial burde n fo r Soli dEdge . I t

L s simph

unnecessary ' t o burde n Soli dEdg e b y requirin g the mt o conduc t tw o separat e lestm g program s whe n on e testin g progra mwil l suffic e t o ensur e th e leve l o f safer) " reouire c b y th e rules . Th e FA-A' s Decisio n I n consideratio n o f

th e foregoing , I findtha t agran t o f exempiiir n i s i n th e rurli c irieref ^ Therefore , pursuan t

t o th e authorit> ' containe di n 4 9 L'.S.C . § ^ 4011 3 an d4-i701

- deleg^ie- c : . m e b y th e Administrator , Soli dEdg e Aviation , LLC . i s grante da n exempuo n frc m1 4 CF R pa n 121 , appendice s I an dJ t o th e exten t necessar> ' t o permi t

Soli dEdg e A^"ia^on , iha : i i operatin g unde r

separat e part s o f

th e regulations , t o cove r it s safe^\•-sen5iti^" e ercrloyee s uzjc- c on e testin g program , subjec t t o th e followin g condition s an dlimiiaiions . Condition s an dLimitation s 1 . Employee s o f

Soli dEdg e ar e subjec t

t o th e dru g an dalcoho l regnlaticn s £i sJ ] lini i whil e conductin g operation s unde r par t 13 5 o r par t 91 . 2 . Th e dru g an dalcoho l testin g progra mmus t b e implemen:e dunde r ih e .iu5r:ce s : : th e Soli dEdg e par t

13 5 operation , no t

unde r th e pa n 91 . Thi s exemptio n terminate s o n Jun e 30 , 2010 , unles s soone r supersede dc r

resciz-iei . Issue di n \Vashin2t0n . DC . o n Jun e 2 . 2008 .

/s ' Frederic k E . Tilton . M D Federa l Ai r

Sureeo nSeptembe r 15.200 9 CORPORAT E HEI . ICOPT E R S US . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Docke t Managemen t

Syste m 120 0 NE Jerse v Avenue . SE . Wes t Buildin g Groun dFloor , Roo mW12-14 0 Washington . D C 2059 0 T o Who mI

t Ma y Concern : RE : Reques t

fo r Exemptio n Shie r

Aviatio n Corporatio n IVSA655 S Afte r arevie w o f

1 4 CFRPar

t 91.14 7 I respectfull y reques t a n exemptio n t

o operat e unde r

on e TA A Approve dAmi-Dru g Programper regulatio n (1 4 CF RPart 121 . appendice s i an dJ) ; no t tw o identical program s fo

r th e sam e company . 1 believ e th e rulemakin g committe e shoul dchang e thi s regulatio n t o allo w a n on-deman dai r

carrie r operatin g unde r

bot h Part s 13 5 an d91.14 7 t o us e thei r Par t 13 5 Anti-Dni g program . Th e intende dvalu e o ^ th e regulatio n i s good , i

n tha t yo u are no w requirin g testin g fo r companie s tha

t ha dpreviousl y escape dth e requiremen t

unde r Par t 91 . Th e concep t

i s soun dfor

acompan y operatin g solel y unde r Part 91.147 , bu t

th e highe r standar do f

Pa n 13 5 shoul db e th e standar dt o whic h acompany' s programi s held . Let u s examin e wha

t benefi t ther e i s t o hav e tw o completel y separat e program s for th e sam e compan y operatin g unde r

bot h Par t 13 5 an dPar

t 91.147 . Ther e are zer o adde dbenefit s t o th e genera l public . There are man y reason s tha t tw o program s i

n on e compan y shoul dno t b e require dfrombot

h th e FA A and Operato r perspectives . Ther e i s acomplet e duplication o f effor t for th e F.AA , becaus e tw o audit s o f th e sam e peopl e an dsam e infomiatio n waste s th e FAA' s preciou s time , wher e the y can trul y b e makin g a difference . Th e secon daudi t require s th e FA

A t o boo k

a n additiona l da

> fo r tw o FAA staff

, costin g mor e i

n travel , expense s an dwage s fo r th e FA. A employees . I t i s als o aduplicatio n o f

effort s fo r operators . Excep t

for th e fac t tha t th e regulatio n require s aseparat e administrato r

t o ru n th e program , i

t i s acompletel y redundan t procedure . A s presentl y written , asecon d employe e mus t

no w duplicat e th e effort s o f th e origina l administrator . Thi s secon droun do f testin g th e sam e peopl e waste s th e secon dadmlnish-ator' s tim e sinc e th e origina l inten t o f th e regulatio n wa s alread y accomplishe dunde r

th e first program . Both program s requir e th e exac t sam e complianc e o f

pre employmen t

testing , rando m30 % dru g testin g an danti-dru g trainin g fo r safet> ' sensitiv e individuals . Fo r th e secon dprogram , th e FAA ha s federa l fund s t o us e tha t are no t availabl e l o th e operator . Especially , i n thes e economicall y challengin g time s i t i s no t fai r t o caus e th e operato r

t o incu r adde dcost s o f

pre employmen t

testing , rando mdru g testing , record s administratio n an dtw o designate demploye r representatives . Thi s als o means duplicatio n o f audit s an dmor e tim e waste da t th e compan y level . Ihi s duplicat e syste mwoul dals o b e anightmar e a t th e paperwork , filin g an dcomplianc e level , a s ther e i s mor e opportunit ) for

error . I t cost s th e operato r

severa l thousan ddollar s ove r th e cours e o f

eac h year

t o administrat e aprogram . Doublin g thi s cos t i s no t prudent . Ther e i s alo t

o f administratio n require dt o properl y run th e Anti-Dru g Piogram . an d1 believ e thai thi s programi s vital t o al l a.spect s o f aviation . 1 woul db e i

n favo r o f expandin g th e definitio n o f safet y sensitiv e t o anyon e flying , includin g ho t ai r balloons , flight

instructor s an dprivat e pilots . Al l ofthes e pilot s shoul d al l b e o n aprogram , sinc e al l ar e flyin g i n th e sam e airspace . Thi s woul dtrul y mak e ou r industry andskie s safer . Bu t thi s Pa n 91.14 7 regulatio n requirin g a n alread y compliant , safety-orientate dsmal l compan y l o implemen t

acompletel y redundan t

progra mi s jus t

wron g an dshoul db e investigate dan dchanged . adivisio n a t

Shie r .Aviatio n Corporatio n 375 3 Joh n J . Montgomer y Dr . Suit e 2 , Sa n Dieg o C A 9212 3 US A Phon e (858 ) 505-565 0 Fax (858 ) 874-303 8 www.CorporaieHelicoprers.co m

# i

»



# I Shie r

Aviatio n Corporatio n Exemptio n Reques t Pag e Two 1 hav e talke dwit

h man y individual s withi n th e FA A an dth e FA A Anti-Dru g Progra man dth e Helicopte r Associatio n Internationa l an dhav e ye t t o findanyon e wh o see s abenefi t i n thi s redundancy . \hav e hear dthat

you r organizatio n ha s no t

grante dany exemptions . I f m y exemptio n i s no t

granted , I wi

U b e force dt o la y of f severa l employee s an doperat e onl y unde r m y Part 13 5 Anti-Dru g Program , a s i t woul d b e to o costl y an dconvolute dfo r me t o compl y wit

h th e FAA regulation s a s currentl y written . 1 wil l als o brin g thi s issu e l o th e politica l forefron t showin g thai time , energy , resource s an dmone y ar e bein g waste d i n useles s bureaucrati c duplication . Sincerely , )ear mJ . Shie r Chie f Executiv e Officer Shie r Aviatio n Corporatio n Copie s to : Dunca n D . Hunter , Congressma n Barbar aBoxer . U S Senato r Dian e Feinstein . U S Senato r Jerr y Pendzick . Manage r

Sa n Dieg o FSD O