06/16/2011 0g:52 4252271087 ANM7 PAGE 09/16 

Q 

U.S. Department 

Of Transportation 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

OJffice of Regional Counsel 

Northwest Mountain Region 

Colorado, Idaho, Montana, 

Oregon, Utah, Washington, 

Wyoming 

1601 Lind Avenue S.W. 

Renton, Washington 98057 

Tel: (425)227-2161 

Fax: (425) 227-1007 

JEFFREY.HARPER@FAA.GOV 

-ci'~, 

" i ^ 

JrTJ 

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o 

June 16,2011 

VIA FACSIMILE AND CERTIFIED MAIL ^ RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Hearing Docket 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Wilbur Wright Bldg - Room 2W1000 

800 Independence Avenue Southwest 

Washington, D.C. 20591 

Re: In the Matter of SkyWest Airlines, Inc., Case No, 20HNM0600111 ^ol\ ' AlOft-Cff-/5m3 

Please find enclosed a copy of a request for hearing and the original and one copy of the Complaint 

in this case. 

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

Salt Lake City, Utah and expects that the hearing will last two days. Unavailability dates for the 

undersigned in 2011 (due to military duty) are: May 20 through 23, June 23 through 27, 

July 8 through 11, August, 5 through 8, and September 9 through 12. 

Please address all communications for the FAA to the undersigned at; 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Northwest Mountain Region, ANM-7 

1601 Lind Avenue Southwest 

Renton, Washington 98057 

Telephone; (425)227-2161 

FAX: (425)227-1007 

Sincerely, 

;ffi:ey M. Harper 

FAA Attorney 

Enclosures: Request for Hearing 

Complaint 
^ 06/16/2011 09:52 4252271007 ANM7 PAGE 10/16 

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JEFFREY M. HARPER 

FAA OFFICE OF REGIONAL COUNSEL 

1601 LiND AVE. SW. 

RENTON. WA 98057 

TELEPHONE;' (425)227-2161 

FACSnvflLE: (425) 227-1007 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

OFFICE OF HEARINGS 

WASHINGTON, B.C. 

In the Matter of: 

SkyWest Airlines, Inc. 

FAA DOCKET Not Assigned 

FAA Case No. 2011NM060011 

Judge Not Assigned 

JUDGE NOT ASSIGNED 

COMPLAINT 

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

pursuant to Rule 208 of the Rules of Practice (14 C.F.R. § 13.208), and states as follows: 

I. 

On May 24,2011, SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (SkyWest) was advised through a Final Notice of 

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

$99,000. On May 31,2011, SkyWest Airlines, Inc. submitted a written request for a hearing. 

IL 

1. SkyWest is now and was at all times material hereto the holder of Scheduled Air Carrier 

Certificate No, .SWIAOl 1 A, and conducts its operations pursuant to Part 121 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), 

2. Paragraph D085 of SkyWest's Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) authorizes SkyWest 

to use N410SW, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19 civil aircraft, in the conduct of SkyWest's 

Part 121 operations. 

Complaint 

SfcyWcst Airlines, fnc. - 2011NMOO6001» 

Page 1 of 6 

JEFFREY M . HARPER, FAA ATTORNEY 

TF,L: (425)227-2161; FAX: (425) 227^1007 
06/16/2011 09:52 4252271007 ANM7 

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3. Paragraph D085 of SkyWest's OpSpecs authorizes SkyWest to use N984CA, a • 

Bombardier CL-600-2B19 civil aircraft, in ttie conduct of SkyWest's Part 121 operations. 

4. Paragraph D085 of SkyWest's OpSpecs authorizes SkyWest to use N411SW, a 

Bombardier CL-600-2B19 civil aircraft, in the conduct of SkyWest's Part 121 operations. 

5. Paragraph A098 of SkyWest's OpSpecs requires that aircraft loading for Bombardier 

CL-600-2B19 aircraft be accomplished in accordance with SkyWest's Weight & Balance 

Operations Manual, SP4100, Part XH, revision Orig of 1 APR 10 (W&B Manual). 

6. SkyWest's W&B Manual contains the loading schedules and instructions for SkyWest's 

Bombardier CL-600-2B19 aircraft. 

7. SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 2. paragraph 58 defines "Standard Checked Bags" as 

any bag weighing 50 pounds or less. 

8. SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 2, paragraph 50 defines "Planeside Valet" as 

^ equivalent to a Planeside Loaded Bag or Service Item. 

9. SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 2, paragraph 49 defines "Planeside Loaded Bag" as 

any bag or item that is placed at the door or steps of an aircraft or in the passenger loading 

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

10. SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 2, paragraph 2.A.24 defines "Heavy Checked Bags" as 

any bag weighing more than 50 pounds, but less than 100 pounds. 

11. SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 3, paragraph 2.D. 1 requires the loading agent to mark 

the number of standard and heavy bags on the Cargo J,X)ad Report (CLR). 

12. SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 3, paragraph 2,L2 requires the loading agent to verify 

the piece count of all Standard Checked, Heavy Checked^ and planeside Loaded/Service 

Item Baggage upon completion of loading. 

13. SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 4, paragraph 8.8 requireis the loading agent to write the 

total number of Standard Checked Baggage loaded in each cargo bin on the CLR in the 

"Standard Checked" block. 

14. SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 4, paragraph 8.9 requires the loading agent to write the 

total number of Heavy Checked Baggage loaded in each cargo bin on the CLR in the 

"Heavy Checked" block. 

15. SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 4, paragraph 8.10 requires the loading agent to write 

the total number of planeside valet baggage loaded in each cargo bin on the CLR in the 

"Planeside Valet/Servicc Items" block. 

16. SkyWest's W&B Manual, Chapter 4, paragraph 11 - Aircraft Loading, contains the 

warning: 

Complaint 

SkyWest Airlines. Inc. -201 INMOOGOOl 1 

Page 2 of 6 

JEFFREY M. HARPER, FAA ATTORNEY 

TEL: (425) 227-2161; FAX: (425) 227-1007 
06/16/2011 03:52 4252271007 ANM7 

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AWARNING - INACCURATE LOADING, REPORTING, 

OR FAILURE TO REPORT INFORMATION COULD 

CAUSE ISSUES WITH AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND 

HANDLING, RESULTING IN THE ENDANGERMNET OF 

HUMAN LIFE. 

m. 

On November 22,2010, at Billings Logan International Airport (BIL), Billings, Montana, 

SkyWest loaded passengers and baggage onto N41OSW, to be operated as Flight 4659 

bound for Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah. 

SkyWest's personnel at BIL loaded 38 Standard Checked Bags, and two Heavy Checked 

Bags marked with a Heavy Bag Tag, onto N41 OSW. 

The CLR for Flight 4659 listed "40 Standard Checked Bags" and "0 Heavy Checked 

Bags on board N41 OSW." 

SkyWest thereafter operated N41 OSW as Flight 4659 to SLC. 

IV. 

On. December 14,2010, at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, 

California. SkyWest loaded passengers and baggage onto N984CA, to be operated as 

Flight 6692 bound for San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Diego, California. 

SkyWest's personnel at LAX loaded 19 Standard Checked Bags, and one Heavy Checked 

Bag marked with a Heavy Bag Tag, onto N984CA. 

The CLR for Flight 6692 listed "20 Standard Bags" and "5 Heavy Bags" on board. 

SkyWest thereafter operated N984CA as Fli ght 6692 to SAN. 

V. 

On December 15,2010, at LAX, SlcyWest loaded passengers and baggage onto N411SW, 

to be operated as Flight 4800 bound for SAN. 

SkyWest's personnel at LAX loaded 43 Standard Checked Bags, four Heavy Checked 

Bags marked with a Heavy Bag Tag, and 12 planeside valet bags onto N411 SW. 

The CLR for Flight 4800 listed "59 Standard Checked Bags," "0 Heavy Checked Bags", 

and "0 planeside valet bags on board." 

28. SkyWest thereafter operated N411 SW as Flight 4800 to SAN. 

Complaint 

SIcyWcst Airlines, Inc. - 2011NMO060011 

Page 3 of6 

JEFFREY M. HARPER, FAA ATTORNEY 

TEL: (425) 227-2161; FAX: (425) 227-1007 
06/16/2011 09:52 4252271007 ANM7 PAGE 13/16 

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1. By reason of the foregoing circimistance(s), SkyWest violated the following Sections of 

tlie Federal Aviation Regulations (14 C.F.R.); 

a. Section 119.5(g), in that, as a direct air carrier, it operated in violation of an 

appropriate operations specification. 

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

operations specifications. 

c. Section 12L693(a), in that it operated a flight without a load manifest tliat 

accurately reflected the weight of the cargo and baggage, 

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

was not computed under approved procedures. 

e. Section 121.693(d), in that it operated a flight when the aircraft was not loaded 

according to an approved schedule, 

2. Under 49 U.S.C, §§ 46301 (a) and (d), SkyWest is Uable for a civil penalty not to 

exceed $25,000 for each of the violations noted. 

3. Under the facts and circumstances of this case, a civil penalty of $99,000 is appropriate. 

WHEREFORE, the Agency, by counsel, respectfully requests tliat the Administrative 

Law Judge enter an order that SkyWest be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $99,000. 

Respectfully submitted this 16th day of June, 2011. 

^-^ ^ 

JsOTey M. Harper 

FAA Attomey 

Complaint 

SkyWest Airlines, Inc. ~- 2011NM0060011 

Page 4 of6 

JEFFREY M. HARPEH, FAA ATTORNEY 

TEL: (425) 227-2161; FAX: (425) 227-1007 
06/16/2011 03:52 4252271007 

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ANM7 

ANSWER 

PAGE 14/16 

In accordance with Section 13.209 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, SkyWest Airlines, Inc. 

inust answer this Complaint not later than 30 days from the time it is served on it. Failure to file 

an Answer within 30 days without good cause shall be deemed an admission of the truth of each 

allegation contained in the Complaint (14,C.F.R. § 13.209(f))-

Complaint 

SkyWest Airlines, Inc. - 2011NM0060011 

Page 5 of 6 

JEFFREY M . HARPED, FAA ATTORNEY 

TEL: (425) 227-2J61; FAX: (425) 227-1007 
06/16/2011 09:52 4252271007 ANM7 PAGE 15/16 

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE. 

I hereby certiiy that the foregoing Complaint has been served via facsimile and certified mail 

Return Receipt Requested this date, to the following; 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Ave. SW. 

Washington, DC 20591 

Attn; Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building - Suite 2W1000 

Fax: 202. 493.5142 

Todd Emerson, Esq. 

SkyWest Airlines 

444 S. River Road 

St. George, UT 84790 

TEL: (435) 634-3530 

FAX: (435)634-3505 

Dated this! 6th day of June, 2011. 

MOIFAIR CHIN 

Office of Regional Counsel (ANM-7) 

Federal Aviation Administration 

1601 Lind Ave. SW. 

Renton, WA 98057 

(425)227-2160 

Complaint 

SkyWest Airlines, Inc. -

Page 6 of 6 

201INM00600II 

JEFFREY M . HARPER, FA A ATTORNEY 

TEL: (425) 227-2161; FAX: (425) 227-1007 
06/16/2011 09:52 4252271007 

/\ I U I. I N E S I 

Direct Llial: 4.^5.(.34..15.H) 

Oii'ccil-w: 4.VvfiJ-4.35.05 

0-1 nail: tLMncrsonVrskvwest.com 

ANM7 

May 31, 2011 

PAGE 16/1 6 

^egfoflalCoDMel 

JhN 720H 

VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS 

Federal Aviatron /\dministration 

ATTN: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur VVi-ight Building - Suite 2W1000 

800 Independence Avenue SW 

Washington, DC 20591 . . 

Re: CaseNo. 20UNM0600n. 

Dear Sir/Madam: 

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

received in our office'on May 27,2011. 

Pursuant to § 13.16 (e) (2) (ii) of Federal Air Regulations, SkyWest Airlines hereby 

requests a hearing on this matter. 

Sincerely, 

Todd C. Emerson 

Director - Government and Legal Affairs 

TCE/jb 

cc; Jeffrey M. Harper 

444 South Riv»r Road 

Sf. Ceoi-nE. Utah S479(> 

435.634J0m 

w'ww.skvH'cst.com