AFS-14-239-E 

May 29, 2014 

 Exemption No. 9758C 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2008-0930 

Mr. David C. Hoffmeister 

Director of Training 

Great Lakes Aviation, LTD 

1022 Airport Parkway 

Cheyenne, WY 82001 

Mr. Joseph F. Linnebur 

Director of Operations 

Great Lakes Aviation, LTD 

1022 Airport Parkway 

Cheyenne, WY 82001 

Dear Messrs. Hoffmeister and Linnebur: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption 

No. 9758, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the 

conditions and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated April 2, 2014, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Great Lakes Aviation, LTD (Great Lakes) for an extension of Exemption No. 9758, 

as amended. That exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal 

Regulations (14 CFR) allows Great Lakes to substitute a qualified and authorized check 

airman or aircrew program designee for an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying pilot in 

command (PIC) who is completing 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 
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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 Great Lakes. 

Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 9758, 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. §§ 106(f), 40113, and 44701, which the 

FAA Administrator has delegated to me, Great Lakes Aviation, LTD is granted an extension 

to their exemption from 14 CFR 121.434(c)(1)(ii) that allows Great Lakes to substitute a 

qualified and authorized check airman or aircrew program designee for an FAA inspector to 

observe a qualifying PIC who is completing initial or upgrade training specified in § 121.424 

during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and a landing, subject to the following 

conditions and limitations. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. A Great Lakes 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. Great Lakes, 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 Great Lakes 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 Great Lakes 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. 
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3. Great Lakes must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew program designee 

records that demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this 

exemption. 

The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 9758, as amended, to 

October 31, 2017, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John Barbagallo 

Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service