08/15/2012 09:05 4252271007 ANM7 

FACSIMILE MESSAGE 

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 

OFFICE Ol' REGIONAL COUNSEL 

ANM-7 

1601 LIND AVENUE S.W. 

RENTON, WASHINGTON 98057 

PAGE 01/09 

The information contained in this facsimile message i.s legally privileged and confidential 

information and is intended only for the use of the individual named on this cover sheet. 

If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any 

use, dissemination, distribution, or copy of this facsimile is strictly prohibited. If you 

have received this facsimile in error, please immediately notify us by telephone at 

425-227-2007. 

DATE: August 15, 2012 NO. PAGES: 9 including cover 

TO: Docket Clerk AGC-430 FROM: I effrey Harper 

FAX NO.: 202-493-5142 FAX NO.: 425..:227-l 007 

PHONE NO.: PHONE NO.: 425-227-2007 

RE: Complaint- .FAA Case EMAIL: JEFFREY.HARPER@FAA.GOV 

No. 201lNM060073 

Complaint and request for hearing attached. 

- rJVv0 ease dOl.)- Drt.9 
08/15/2012 09:05 

0 

U.S. Department 

Of Transportation 

4252271007 AN1~7 

1601 Lind Avenue S.W. 

Renton, Washington 98057 

Tel: (425) 227-216! 

PAGE 02/09 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

Office of Regional Counsel 

Northwest Mountain Region 

Colorado, Idaho, .Montru:ta, 

Oregon, Utah, Washington, 

Wyoming Fax: (425) 227-1007 

JEFFREY.HARPER@PAA.GOV 

August 15,2012 

VIA FACSIMILE AND CERTIFIED MAIL" RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Hearing Docket 

Federal Aviation Administration 

(Wilbur Wright Bldg-- Room 2WJ 000) 

800 Independence Avenue S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20591 

Re: In the Matter of Sky West Airlines, FAA Case No. 2011NM060073 

Enclosed is w original and one copy of a request for hearing and Complaint in the abovereferenced proceeding. 

TI1e Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requests that the hearing in this matter be held in 

Salt Lake City, Utah, and expects that tbe hearing will last one (1) day. 

For scheduling pUrposes, FAA Attorney, Jeffrey Harper will be unavailable 'due to military duty on 

October 12-15, November 2-5, and November 31-December 3, 2012. 

Please address all communications for tl1e FAA to the undersigned at 

Sincerely, 

Federal Aviation Adrninjstration 

Northwest Mountain Region, ANM-7 

1601 Lind Avenue S.W. 

Renton, Washington 98057 

Telephone: (425) 227-2161 

FAX: (425) 227-1007 

.tf/h,,~ 

JA~arper. · FAA Attorney 

.JMH/ds 

.Enclosures: Request for Hearing (Appeal) 

Complaint 
08/15/2012 09:05 4252271007 ANM7 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

·a 

9 

10 

ll 

12 

13. 

14 

15 

16 

17 

l.S. 

H 

2D 

21 

22 

23 

24. 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

JEFFREY HARPER 

FAA OFFICE OF REGIONAL COUNSEL 

1601 LINDAVE.,SW 

RENTON, W ASI-!INGTON 98057 

TELEPHONE: (425) 227·2161 

FACSIMILE: (425) 227-1007 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

OFFICE OF HEARINGS 

WASIDNG'rON, D.C. 

tn the Matter of: 

FAA Case No. 2011NM060073 

Sky West Airlines 

Judge Not Assigned 

JUDGE NOT ASSIGNED: 

COMPLAINT 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), by counsel, hereby files its Complaint, 

32 pursuant to R)l!e 208 of the Rules ofPract)ce.(l4 Code of Federal ~egulations (C.P.R.) 

33 

31 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 

10 

11 

42 

43 

Section 13.208), and states as follows: 

I. 

On July 26, 2012, Sky West Airlines, Inc., was advised through a Final Notice of 

Proposed Civil Penalty that the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty in 1he amount of 

44 $40,000. On August 8, 2012, Sky West Airlines, Inc., through legal counsel, submitted a 

45 

46 

17 

1S 

4~ 

50 

Sl. 

52 

53 

written request for a hearing. 

II. 

PAGE 03/09 

COMPLAINT 

FAA v. Sky West Airlines, Inc. 

FAA Case No. 2011NM060073 

hge2 of7 

JEFFREY M. 1'-!P..RPER, FAA ATTORNEY 

TEL: 425.227.1417; FAX: 425.227.1007 
08/15/2012 09:05 4252271007 ANM7 PAGE 04/09 

l 

2 

3 

• 

5 

6 

7 

B 

9 

10 

11 

l2 

13 

14 

l.S 

16 

17 

lB 

19 

20 

2l 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33· 

34 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

41 

42 

. 43 

44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51 

52 

53 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

. 8. 

9. 

Sky West Airlines (Sky West), is now and was at all times material was the holder of 

Scheduled Air Carrier Certificate No. SWIAOllA, and conducts its operations 

pursuant to Part 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. (FAR) . 

Paragraph n·oss of Sky West's Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) authorizes 

Sky West to use N937SW, a Bombardier Ct-600-2B 19 civil aircraft, in the conduct of 

Sky West's Part 121 operations. 

Paragraph A098 of SkyWeses OpSpecs requires that aircraft loading for Bombardier 

CL-600-2819 aircraft be accomplished in accordance with Sky West's Weight & 

Balance Operations Manual, SP41 00, CW &B Manual), "Part XII, revision Orig of I 

APR 10." 

Sky West's W &B Manual contains the loading schedules and instructions for 

Sky West's Bombardier CL-600-2B 19 aircraft. 

Sky West's W&B Man.rial, Chapter 2, paragraph 2.A.58 defines "Standard Checked 

Bag" as a "checked bag weighing 50 lb or less." 

Sky West's W&B Manual, Chapter 2, paragraph 2.A.50 defines "Plancside Valet Bag" 

as "[e]quivalent to a Planeside Lmided Bag or Service Item." 

SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 2, paragraph 2.A.55 defines "Service ltem" as 

"[ e ]quivaJent to aPianeside Loaded or Planeside Valet Bag." 

SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 2, paragraph 2.A.49 defines ''Planeside Loade.d 

Bag as "[a]ny bag or item that is placed at the door or steps of an aircraft or in the 

passenger loadiDg bridge and subsequently placed in the aircraft cargo bin/pit. 

Referred to as Planeside Valet/Service Item on the CLR [Cargo Load Report]." 

SkyWest's W&B Manual (Temporary Revision dated 14 FEB) 1), Chapter 3, 

paragraph 3 .B.2. states the flight deck crewme:inber uses the information from the 

CLR to construct the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System 

(ACARS) load manifest. 

10. SkyWest's W&B Manual (Temporary Revision dated 14 FEB 11), Chapter 3, 

paragraph 2.D.l states the "designated CD Ground Operations loading agent evaluates 

the classification o:fall checked baggage (either standard or heavy). The designated 

loading a.gent must mark the number of standard and heavy checked baggage on the 

CtR." 

11. SkyWest's W&B Manual (Temporary Revision dated 14 FEB 11), Chapter 3, 

paragraph 2.1.2 states that "[u]pon completion ofloading the cargo bin/pit, the 

designated loading agent must verify the piece count of all Standard Checked, Heavy 

Checked, and Planeside Loaded/Service hem Baggage ... " 

COMPLAINT JEFFREY M. HAJ>.?El'., J' AA ATTORNEY 

FAA v. Sky West Airlines, Inc. TEL: 425.227.1417; FAX: 425.227.1007 

FAA Case No. 20llNM060073 

Page 3 of7 
08/15/2012 09:05 4252271007 ANM7 PAGE 05/09 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

9 

9 

12. 

13. 

Sky West's W&B Manual, Chapter4, paragraph 8.8, requires the loading agent to 

write the total number of standard checked baggage loaded in each cargo bin/pit in the 

appropriate "Standard Checked" block on the CLR. 

Sky West's W &B Manual, Chapter 4, paragraph 8.1 0, requires the loading agent to 

write the total number of Planes ide Valet/Service Items loaded in each cargo bin/pit in 

the appropriate "Pianeside Valet'Service Items" block on the CLR. 

10 14. Sky West's W &B Manual, Chapter 4, paragraph 11 - Aircraft Loading, contains the 

wammg: 11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

).9 

20 . 

21 

22 

23 

~WARNING -INACCURATE LOADING, 

REPORTING, OR FAILURE TO REPORT 

INFORMATION COULD CAUSE ISSUES WITH 

AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING, 

RESULTING IN THE ENDANGERMENT OF HUI\IIAN 

LIFE. 

m. 

24 15. On June 2, 2011, at George Bush Intercontinental I Houston Airport (IAH), Houston, 

Texas, Sky West loaded passengers and baggage ontoN937SW, to be operated as 

Flight 5840 bound for Charlotte I Douglas Intemational Airport (CLT), Charlotte, 

North Carolina. 

25 

26 

27 

29. 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 

36 

37 

36 

39 

qO 

41 

42 

43 

17. 

18. 

19. 

SkyWest's personnel at IAH loaded 27 standard checked bags and 20 planeside 

loaded bags onto N937SW. 

The CLR for Flight 5840 lists 19 standard checked bags and 15 planc:;side loaded bags 

on board N93 7SW. 

The inaccurate data on the CLR was used to prepare the A CARS load manifest for 

Flighf5840. 

Sky West thereafter operated N937SW as Flight 5840 to CLT. 

IV. 

44 20. Sky West has paid civil penalties in eight previous cases involving loading of cargo 

and baggage contrary to approved procedures: 45 

46 

47 

4S 

49 

so 

51 

52 

53 

v. 

By reason of the foregoing facts and circumstances, Sky West violated the following sections 

of the Federal Aviation RegulatiOJlS (14 CJ'.R.): 

COMPLAINT 

FAA v. Sky West Airlines, Inc. 

FAA Case No. 2011NM060073 

Page 4 of7 

JEFFREY M. HARPER, FAA A ITORNEY 

TEL: 425.227.1417; FAX: 425.227.1007 
08/15/2012 09:05 4252271007 ANM7 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

a. Section 119 .S(g), in that, as a direct air carrier, it operated in violation of aJJ · 

appropriate operations specifications. 

b. Section 119.5(1), in that it operated aircraft under Part 121 in violation of its 

operations specifications. 

a c. Section 121.693(a), in that it operated flights without a load manifest that 

9 accurately refl.ected the weight of the cargo and bagga.ge. 

10 

11 

'·'" 13 

14 

15 

1~ 

17 

. ,_ 8 

19 

2 . 

d. Section 121.693(c), in that it operated flights when the total weight of the aircraft 

was not computed under appro,ved procedures. 

e. Secti.on 121.693(d), in that it operated fl.ights when the aircraft was not loaded 

according to an approved schedule. 

In accordance with Sections 46301(a) and (d) of Title 49 of the United States Code 

20 (U.S.C.) (Transportation) [49 U.S.C. Sections 46301(a) and (d)], Sky West is liable for a civil 

21 

22 

23 

24 

penalty not to exceed $27,500 for each of the violations noted. 

25 3. 

26 

Under the facts and circumstances of this case, a civil penalty of $40,000 is 

27 

28 

29 

:)0 

n 

32 

3:) 

34 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

41 

42 

43 

44 

45 

46 

47. 

18 

49 

50 

51 

52 

53 

appropriate. 

WHEREFORE, the Agency, by counsel, respectfully requests that tl1e Administrative 

Law Judge enter an order that Sky West be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of$40,000. 

Respectfully submitted this 15'h day of August, 2012. 

/7/);;,~~- rbarper . . 

FAA Attorney 

PAGE 05/09 

COMPLAINT 

FAA v. SlcyWcst Airlilles, Inc.· 

FAA Case No. 2011NM060073 

Page 5 of7 

JEFFREYM. HARPER. FAA ATTORNEY 

TEL: 425.227.1417; FAx: 425.227.1007 
08/15/2012 09:05 4252271007 ANM7 

1 ANSWER 

2 

, In accordance with Section 13.209 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, Sky West Airlines, 

• Inc., must answer this Complaint not later than thirty (30) days from the time it is seJ:Ved on 

s it. Failure to :61e an Answer within thirty (30) days without good cause shall be deemed an 

· 6 admission of the truth of each allegation contained in the Complaint [14.C.F.R, Section 

7 l3.209(f)]. . . 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

l.:l 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

1.9 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

29 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

,,, 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

H 

42 

43 

44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51 

52 

53 

PAGE 07/09 

COMPLAINT 

FAA v. Sky West Airlines, Inc. 

FAA Case No. 2011NM060073 

JEFFREYM. HARPER. FAA ATTORNEY 

TEL: 425.227.1417; FAX: 425.227.1007 

. Page 6 of7 
08/15/2012 09:05 

1 

2 

4252271007 ANM7 

CERTJFICATE OF SERVICE 

3 I hereby certify that the foregoing Complaint has been serv.ed via facsimile and certified mail 

4 - Return Receipt Requested this date, to the following: 

5 

0 

7 

B 

9 

10 

11 

12 

,13 

l4 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 . 

21 

22 

.,. 

Federal Aviation Administration (Original and one copy) 

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Bttilding- Suite 2W1 000 

800 Independence Avenue SW 

Washington, D.C .. 20591 

Fax: (202) 493-5142 

Todd Emerson, Esq. 

Sky West Airlines 

444 S. River Road 

St. George, UT 84790 

TEL: (435) 634-3530 

FAX: (435) 634-3505 

24 Dated this 15th day of August, 2012. 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

. 34 

35 

36 . 

37 

38 

39 

40 

41 

42 

43 

.'~4 

45 

45 

47 

48 

49 

so 

5" 

52 

53 

· ana Stephenson r · . Office of'Regionai Cooosel (ANM-7) 

Federal Aviation Admillistration 

1601 Lind Ave. SW 

Renton, W A 98057 

(425) 227-2164 

PAGE 08/09 

COMPLAINT 

FAA v. Sky West Airlines, Inc. 

FAA Case No. 2011NM060073 

Page 7 of7 

JEfFREY M. HARPER, FAA A TTOR:NEY 

TEL: 425.227.1417; FAx: 425.227.1007 
08/15/2012 09:05 4252271007 

Direct Diol; 435.634.3530 

Direct Fox: 435.634.3505 

e-mail~ l'emersonr1Uskvwest.com 

ANM7 

August 8, 2012 

VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS 

Federa.l Aviation Administration 

ATTN: Bearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building- Suite 2Wl000 

800 .Independence Avenue SW 

Wasl1ington, DC 20591 

Re: Case No. 2011NM060073 

Dear Sir!Jviadam: 

The Final Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty in the above-referenced case was 

received in our office on July 30; 2012. 

Pursuant to§ !3. !6 (e) (2) (ii) ofFeclcral Air Regulations, Sky West Airlines hereby 

requests a hearing on this matter. 

Todd C. Emerson. 

birector- Government and Legal Affairs 

TCE/jb 

cc: Jeffrey M. Harper 

444 South River Road St. Gr~orgG:', Utah $4790 Phot"1e 435.634,3000 w~·vvv.skywest.Wii'1 

PAGE 09/09