J1irMethods·DocketManagementFacilityU.S.DepartmentofTransportation1200NewJerseyAvenue,SEWestBuildingGroundFloor,RoomW12-140Washington,DC20590DEFENDERSDFTOMORROW"SubmittedelectronicallytotheFederalDocketManagementSystemWebsiteatRe:PetitionofAirMethodsCorporationforExemptionfrom14CFRPart120and49CFRPart40AirMethodsCorporation(AirMethods)herebypetitionstheFAApursuantto14CFR§11.61(b)and§11.81foranexemptionfromcertainprovisionsof14CFRPart120and49USCPart40inanticipationoftheintegrationofTristateCareflight,LLC(TSCF)toasingleAirMethodsCorporationOperatingCertificate.Assetforthin14CFR§11.81,AirMethodsprovidesthefollowinginformationinsupportofthispetition.(a)ContactInformation:JohnP.HargleroadAnti-DrugandAlcoholProgramManagerAirMethodsCorp3131SouthVaughnWay,Suite650Englewood,CO80112Off:303-264-2907Fax:303-749-1383DennisR.McCallDirectorofOperationsAirMethodsCorp7301S.PeoriaSt.Englewood,Co80112Off:303-792-7493Fax:303-792-7568(b)Thespecificprovisionof14CFRfromwhichAirMethodsseeksexemptionandabriefdescriptionofeachrequestedexemption.AirMethodscompleteditsacquisitionofTSCFonJanuary19,2016.TSCFwillcontinuetooperateunderitsFAAOperatingCertificateasasubsidiaryofAirMethodspendingthephasedmigrationofallcoveredTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.Uponcompletionofthatprocess,targetedfororsoonafterJanuary19,2016,theTSCFCertificatewillbesurrenderedtotheFAAandthecombinedoperationswillcontinueundertheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.AirMethodsseeksanexemptionfromthefollowingfederalregulationstoaddresstheneedsofsafelymigratingTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodscertificate:RequestRegulationRegulationSubjectDescriptionNumberPartSubpart/Section114CFRPart120.109(a)Pre-PermanentlyexemptTSCF120EmploymentemployeesunderthecurrentTestingTSCFOperatingCertificatefrompre-employmentdrugtestingrequirements.Thisexemptionwouldtakeeffectimmediatelyuponissuanceandapplywhen,priorto7211S.PEORIAIENGLEWOOD,C080112I303.792.7400IAIRMETHODS.COMcompletionoftheentirephasedtransitionprocess,anemployeeismigrated,asappropriate,fromtheTSCFOperatingCertificatetotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.214CFRPart120.33UseofPermanentlyexemptTSCF120ProhibitedDrugsemployeescoveredunderthecurrentTSCFOperatingCertificatefrompreemploymentdrugtestingrequirements.Thisexemptionwouldtakeeffectimmediatelyuponissuanceandapplywhen,priortocompletionoftheentirephasedtransitionprocess,anemployeeismigrated,asappropriate,fromtheTSCFOperatingCertificatetotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.314CFRPart120.109(d)TestingBasedTemporarilymodifythetwo120onReasonablesupervisor/onetrainedCausesupervisorrequirementforreasonablecauseassessments.Thisexemptionwouldpermitsupervisors,asappropriate,fromeithertheAirMethodsorTSCFOperatingCertificatetoconcuronreasonablesuspicion/causetesting,priortocompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.Temporaryreliefisrequestedeffectiveimmediately.414CFRPart120.1ll(c)ReleaseofDrugTemporaryreliefis120TestingrequestedfromInformationconfidentialityrestrictionsallowingfullsharingofpersonnelinformationbetweenAirMethodsandTSCF,effectiveimmediatelyuntilcompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestothe2AirMethodsOperatingCertificate..Thisinformationwouldinclude,butisnotlimitedto,fulldisclosureonpreemployment,random,follow-up,postaccident,reasonablecause/suspiciontestinginfonnation.514CFRPart120.115(b)EAPEducationTemporaryreliefis120Programrequestedfromtherequirementfordisplayanddistributionofinformationalmaterialandcommunityservicebot-linetelephonenumbersforemployeeassistance,includingtherequirementtoredistributetheemployer'spolicyregardingdruguseintheworkplace,effectiveimmediatelyandforonecalendaryearaftercompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.614CFRPart120.115(c)EAPTrainingPermanentlyexemptTSCF120ProgramemployeesfrominitialEAPtrainingforemployeesandinitialsupervisorytrainingrequirements.Thisexemptionwouldtakeeffectimmediatelyandapply,priortothecompletionoftheentirephasedtransitionprocess,whenanemployeeismigratedfromTSCFOperatingCertificatetotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.714CFRPart120.217{d)ReasonableTemporarilymodifytheone120SuspicionsupervisorrequirementforTestingreasonablesuspicionassessments.Thisexemptionwouldpermitasupervisor,asappropriate,fromeitherOperatingCertificatetodirectreasonablesuspiciontesting,priortothecompletionof3themigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.Temporaryreliefisrequestedeffectiveimmediately.814CFRPart120.219(a)RetentionofTemporaryreliefis120Recordsrequestedfromtherequirementthatrecordsbestoredinonelocation.ThisexemptionwouldpermithistoricalrecordstobetemporarilystoredatdifferentlocationspriortoandforoneyearaftercompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.914CFRPart120.219(c)AccesstoTemporaryreliefis120RecordsrequestedfromconfidentialityrestrictionsallowingfullsharingofpersonnelinformationbetweenAirMethodsandTSCF,effectiveimmediatelyuntilthecompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.Thisinformationwouldinclude,butisnotlimitedto,fulldisclosureonpreemployment,random,follow-up,postaccident,reasonablecause/suspiciontestinginformation.1014CFRPart120.223(a)EmployerTemporaryreliefis120ObligationtorequestedforemployeesPromulgateacoveredundereithertheAirPolicyontheMethodsorTSCFOperatingMisuseofCertificatefromtheAlcoholrequirementtore-distributetheemployer'smisuseofalcoholpolicy.TemporaryreliefisrequestedeffectiveimmediatelyandforonecalendaryearaftercompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestothe4AirMethodsOperatingCertificate.1114CFRPart120.223(b)TrainingforPermanentlyexemptTSCF120Supervisorsemployeesfrominitialtrainingforemployeesandinitialsupervisorytrainingrequirements.Thisexemptionwouldtakeeffectimmediatelyuponissuanceandapplywhen,priortocompletionoftheentirephasedtransitionprocess,anemployeeismigrated,asappropriate,fromtheTSCFOperatingCertificatetotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.1249CFRPart40.25DrugandPermanentlyexemptTSCF40AlcoholTestingemployeescoveredunderRecordsthecurrentTSCFOperatingCertificatefromdrugandalcoholtestingrecordcheckrequirements.Thisexemptionwouldtakeeffectimmediatelyuponissuanceandapplywhen,priortocompletionoftheentirephasedtransitionprocess,anemployeeismigrated,asappropriate,fromtheTSCFOperatingCertificatetotheAirMethodsoperatingcertificate.1349CFRPart40.209CorrectiveTemporaryrelieffrom40Actionenforcementactionduetolackofdocumentationofinadvertentadministrativeandqualityassuranceflawsduringourmigration,transition,andcrossutilizationofadministrativeresources.TemporaryreliefisrequestedeffectiveimmediatelyandforonecalendaryearaftercompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate,1449CFRPart40.275CorrectiveTemporaryreliefis540ActionATFrequestedfromenforcementactionduetolackofdocumentationofinadvertentadministrativeandqualityassuranceflawsduringourmigration,transition,andcrossutilizationofadministrativeresources.TemporaryreliefisrequestedeffectiveimmediatelyandforonecalendaryearaftercompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate,1549CFRPart40.321GeneralTemporaryreliefis40ConfidentialityrequestedfromconfidentialityrestrictionsallowingfullsharingofpersonnelinformationbetweenAirMethodsandTSCF,effectiveimmediatelyanduntilthecompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.Thisinformationwouldinclude,butisnotlimitedto,fulldisclosureonpre-employment,random,follow-up,postaccident,reasonablecause/suspiciontestinginformation.1649CFRPart40.333(d)RecordsTemporaryrelieffrom40Retentionproducingrecordsata'principleplaceofbusinessinthetimerequiredbytheDOTagency'.TemporaryreliefisrequestedeffectiveimmediatelyandforonecalendaryearaftercompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.1749CFRPartSubpartQServiceAgentsTemporary,generalrelief40fromrestrictionsof'serviceagents'isrequestedsothateachaircarriercanbemutuallyusedasaservice6agentwithoutrestriction,penalty,orpublicinterestexclusion.Temporaryreliefisrequestedeffectiveimmediatelyandforone.calendaryearaftercompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate,1849CFRPartAppendixFServiceAgentsTemporary,generalrelief40fromrestrictionsof'serviceagents'isrequestedsothateachaircarriercanbemutuallyusedasaserviceagentwithoutrestriction,penalty,orpublicinterestexclusion.TemporaryreliefisrequestedeffectiveimmediatelyandforonecalendaryearaftercompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate,-1949CFRPartSubpartRPublicInterestTemporary,generalrelief40ExclusionsfromrelieffromPIEifservicesarenotconsistentwithagencyregulations.TemporaryreliefisrequestedeffectiveimmediatelyandforonecalendaryearaftercompletionofthemigrationofTSCFemployeestotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificate.(c)TheextentofreliefAirMethodsseeksandthereasonsAirMethodsseekstherelief:OnJanuary191h2016,AirMethodscompleteditsacquisitionofTSCF,creatingthenation'slargestaircarrierdedicatedtoairmedicalservices,withcloseto4,000employeesandmorethan400aircraftatnearly300basesacross44states.Withthecompletionoftheacquisition,TSCFisnowawhollyownedsubsidiaryofAirMethods.TheprocessofintegratingTSCFwithAirMethodsoperationsbeganimmediatelyuponacquisition,butTSCFwillmaintainaseparateoperatingcertificateduringacarefullyplannedtransitiontotheAirMethodsCertificate.ThisintegrationormigrationprocesswilltakeplaceinplannedphasesandAirMethodsanticipatesall7coveredTSCFemployeeswillhavebeenmigratedtotheAirMethodsOperatingCertificatebytheendofMay19th2016orsoonthereafter.AirMethodscontinuestoworkcloselywiththeFAAtoaccomplishthistransitioninasafeandorderlymanner.Infurtheranceofthiseffort,AirMethodshasresearchedadministrativeprecedentforotheraircarriermergersandacquisitions.Otheraircarriermergersandacquisitionshavetakenplaceinthepastandthoseaircarriershavesoughtandobtainedexemptionreliefondrugandalcoholtestingprogramadministrativeandqualityassuranceissues.ThisexemptionpetitionisnotprecedentsettingandisinaccordancewiththeFAA'spreviousgrantsofexemptionssimilarinmostrespectstothisrequest.BothAirMethodsandTSCFhavelong-establishedFAA-approvedworkplacedrugtestingprograms,asrequiredby14CFRPart120,wherebothaircarriersmeetorexceedFAAregulations.UponcompletionofthemergerofTSCF,theAirMethodscertificatewillincludeapproximately2,100individualsperformingsafetyrelatedfunctionsoperationsundertheAirMethodscertificate,withformerTSCF-coveredemployeesperformingthesamefunctionsaspriortotheacquisitionandintegration.Asestablishedprecedentinpreviousacquisitions/mergers,conductingpre-employmentdrugtestingandtestinghistorychecksonformerTSCFemployeeswouldnotfurthercontributetoaviationsafetyandwouldmerelyserveasanunnecessaryadministrativeandfinancialburdento AirMethods.Ampleprecedentexistsforapprovingthisrequest.PrecedentalsoexistsforAirMethods'exemptionrequestsconcerningeducationandtrainingofemployeesandsupervisors.DuetothestrongsimilaritiesbetweentheTSCFandAirMethodsprograms,includingtestingmethods,consequences,generalawareness,andsupervisortraining,AirMethodsrequeststhatallemployeeeducation/trainingbewaivedentirely,withrespecttotheacquisitionandintegration,and that allpreviousTSCFemployeequalificationsbepermanentlyhonoredoncetheemployeesareintegratedundertheAirMethodscertificate.Aswiththeexemptionforpre-employmenttesting,thegrantingofthisrequestwouldallowforasmoothandorderlytransitionofemployeesfromoneoperatingcertificatetotheotherwithouttheexcessiveburdenoftreatingTSCFemployeesas"new."Further,honoringthetrainingandeducationofformerTSCFsupervisorypersonnel,trainedinsignsandsymptomdetection,wouldcreateanimmediate,credible,andeffectivedeterrentthroughoutthecombinedoperatingsystem.Precedentalsoexistsforanexemptiontopermitthetemporaryuseofsupervisorsacrossoperatingcertificates.Thiswillpermittrainedsupervisorsfromeithercertificatetoconductreasonablesuspicion/causeassessmentsoncoveredemployees,regardlessofnormaloperatingcertificatebarriers.Precedentalsoexistsfortheexemptionfromgeneralconfidentialityandadministrativerulestoallowbettermanagementofmerged,single-sourcelaboratoryandMROresources,aswellasthesharingofconfidentialinformationacrossthecertificatespriortocompleteintegration.Thisinformationwouldinclude,butwouldnotbelimitedto,fulldisclosureonpre-employment,random,follow-up,postaccident,reasonablecause/suspiciontestinginformation.Inaddition,thegrantingofanexemption allowingthecorrectionofminoradministrativeerrorswillgreatlyenhancesafetybyallowingseparateprogrammanagerstomakecorrectionsandre-routetestresultstoappropriatecertificatefiles.Theintentionofalloftherequestsintheprecedingtableistoallowareasonable,commonsensecross-utilizationofresourcespriortoandimmediatelyaftercompleteintegrationofthetwocertificatesunencumberedbynormalcertificatebarriers.8AirMethodsplansforthemigrationofallTSCFoperationstotheAirMethodscertificateoverthenextfourmonths.Accordingly,AirMethodsrequeststheexemptiontotakeeffectimmediatelyuponissuanceandtoremainineffect,ingeneral(unlesspermanentreliefhasbeenrequested}untiloneyearaftercompletionofthemigrationofallcoveredemployeesundertheTSCFcertificatetotheAirMethodscertificate(formalcompletionoftheprocesswilloccurwhentheTSCFcertificateissurrenderedtotheFAA}.(d)ThereasonswhygrantingAirMethods'requestwouldbeinthepublicinterest:AirMethodsbelievesgrantingthisrequestforreliefwouldbeinthepublicinterest.CurrentTSCFemployeeswhoperformsafetysensitivefunctionshavebeenscreenedforsubstanceuseandaresubjecttoarobust,ongoing,andcomprehensiveFAA-approvedtestingprogram.Thepublicinteresttherebyisalreadyservedbyensuringactivesubstanceabusersaredetectedandpreventedfromperformingsafety-sensitivefunctions.Further,TSCFemployeeswhoperformsafety-sensitivefunctionshavebeenscreenedforanypriordrugandalcoholtestingviolationsatactualandpotentialemployers.TSCFprocessedthesehistorychecks,consistentwith49CFR§40.25.Therefore,allappropriatestepshavebeentakenbyTSCFtoscreenemployeesbasedontheirprevioustestingrecords.AirMethods,TSCFandtheFAAareinvestingsignificantresourcestoensureaseamlesstransitionduringthecertificateintegrationprocessforthesafetyofpassengers,crews,andthegeneralpublic.AirMethodsandTSCFaresharinginformation,procedures,andprocessesasthetransitionadvancestowardcompleteintegration.Thissafetycollaborationwillpermitcurrentlyseparateprogramadministratorstoexperiencebestpracticesandmakeadjustmentsuponfullintegrationofoperations.Thepublicinterestwillbebestservedtopermitcommonsense,practicalexemptionsfromtheregulations.(e)Thereasonswhygrantingtheexemptionwouldnotadverselyaffectsafety,orhowtheexemptionwouldprovidealevelofsafetyatleastequaltothatprovidedbytherulefromwhichAirMethodsseekstheexemption:Inadditiontothesafetyissuesdiscussedabove,theexemptionwouldprovidealevelofsafetyatleastequaltoorgreaterthanprovidedbytherulebecauseTSCFemployeeswhoperformsafetysensitivefunctionsalreadyhavebeen,andcontinuetobe,screenedforsubstanceusethroughtestingandchecksforprioremployment-relateddrugandalcoholtestingviolations.TSCFcompletedthedrugtestingandrequiredchecksconsistentwithfederalprocedures.(f)AsummarytheFAAcanpublishintheFederalRegister,stating:(1)TherulefromwhichfromwhichAirMethodsseekstheexemption;and(2)AbriefdescriptionofthenatureoftheexemptionAirMethodsseeks:TheFAAhaspreviouslyissuedseveralgrantsofexemptioninthecaseofaircarrieracquisitions/mergersinwhichindividualswerepermittedtomigratefromoneoperatingcertificatetotheotherwithoutperformingpre-employmenttesting.AirMethods'requestsforrelieffrompre-employmenttestingdonotdiffermateriallyfromthosegrants.9

# Further,

grants

of relief

were issued

to Delta Airlines

during

the merger

of Delta

and Northwest Airlines,

as well

as

to Continental

Airlines

during

the merger

of Continental

and United Airlines. Each

of the requests

for relief

in those petitions

is similar

to those presented

here

by Air Methods. 

# In each

of these precedential

exemptions,

the FAA found

that

a grant

of exemption

would

not adversely

impact

safety

and

was

in the public interest.

Air Methods

contends

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 Air Methods

efforts

to smoothly

and efficiently

integrate

the two certificates.

Air Methods

further contends

that good

cause

exists

for waiving

the requirement

for

a 120-day advance

notice

of request

and associated

Federal Register publication,

in accordance

with

14 CFR 

# § 11.87

. 

# Air Methods

also contends

that there would

be

no risk

to safety

and

the public interest would



# be served

by expediting

this request. Air Methods

has filed

in

a timely manner,

as soon

as possible

after completion

of the acquisition ofTSCF.

As

no precedent

would

be

set

by granting

this request

for exemption,

Air Methods specifically

requests

the FAA

to make

a final decision

on this petition

no later

than February 19th, 2016,

so that transition

and integration

may proceed

as smoothly

as possible. 

# (g)

If Air Methods

wants

to exercise

the privileges

of the exemption

outside

the United States,

the reasons

why

we need

to

do

so. Air Methods

is not seeking

to exercise

the privilege

of the exemption

outside

of the United

States. If you require

any further information,

please contact

John

P. Hargleroad

, Anti-Drug

and Alcohol Program

Manager

at john.hargleroad@airmethods

. com

or (303) 264-2907.

Thank

you

in advance

for your positive consideration

of our request. ohn

P. Hargleroad Anti-Drug

and Alcohol

Program

Manager Air Methods Corporation 

# ~!r

**tb** Director

of Operations Air Methods Corporation Cc: Vicky Dunne, Program

Policy Branch Manager,

FAA



# 10