AFS-16-4369-E

March 18, 2016

 Exemption No. 15538

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2011-1001

Mr. Michael A. Citrano, Jr.

Assistant to the Director of Operations

Atlas Air, Inc.

101 Forest Road

Fanwood, NJ 07023

Dear Mr. Citrano:

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 the docket comment submission dated December 22, 2015, you petitioned the Federal 

Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of Atlas Air, Inc. (Atlas Air), for an exemption 

from § 121.689(a)(6) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent to allow 

Atlas Air to use a minimum fuel supply designated in kilograms on its flight release forms, 

consistent with the unit of measurement used in the aircraft’s fuel system and weight and 

balance calculations.

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 

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any 

delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Atlas Air.

The FAA has issued a grant of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to 

those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 10273 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

found that granting this exemption would be in the public interest because it would decrease 
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the possibility that an airplane would take off with the incorrect fuel load. By eliminating the 

need to convert from kilograms to pounds in order to satisfy the requirements of 

§ 121.689(a)(6), the chances of an error occurring in fuel load are decreased.

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

• they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed Grant 

of Exemption No. 10273;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 10273 

also apply to the situation you present; and 

• a grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. §§ 106(f), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, Atlas Air is granted an exemption from 

14 CFR § 121.689(a)(6) to the extent necessary to allow Atlas Air to use a minimum fuel 

supply designated in kilograms on its flight release forms, consistent with the unit of 

measurement used in the aircraft’s fuel system and weight and balance calculations, subject to 

the conditions and limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations 

1. Provide pound/kilogram and kilogram/pound conversion tables to all personnel 

involved with flight planning, fuel, and cargo loading of aircraft configured using 

kilograms as a weight measure.

2. Assure all crewmembers and persons who prepare fueling and weight and balance 

forms are trained in kilogram and pound conversion tables.

3. Operations manuals must include procedures for cross checking correct 

kilogram/pound and pound/kilogram-converted weights prior to takeoff.

This exemption terminates on March 31, 2018, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John Barbagallo

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosure