02/25/201 1 15:3 G FAX 202493514 2 FA A* DM S @|001/00 8 ( \ 

# DECEIVE D U.S . DEPARTMEN TO F TRANSPORTATIO N ^^ ^ H ^ ' 

### FEDERA L AVIATIO N ADMINISTRATIO N \ \ [RARIN G DOCKE T WASHINGTON , D.C . I N TH E MATTE R O F GOJE TAIRLINES , LL C (V D GEA R PINS ) FAADocke t No . CP10CE000 3 DM S No . FAA-2010-002 5 : ; Judge ; AL J Richar d C . Goddwi n Jlc o -:.r i I / o 3 RESPONDEN TGOJE TAIRLINE S LLC' S ^ 0 ^g ^ POS THEARIN G BRIEF . CLOSIN G ARGUMENT . ' ^ §2^" ^ AN D RENEWE D MOTIO N FO R DECISIO N g ' ' COME S NOWResponden t GoJe t Airline s LLC . b yan d throug h it s counse l o f record , i n accordanc e wit h th e La wJudge' s Pos t Hearin g Orde rdate d Augus t 25 , 201 0 a s amende d b yOrde rdate d Februar y4 , 201 1 an d pursuan t t o th e Rule s o fPractic e i n FA ACivi l Penalt yAction s (1 4 C.F.R . § 12.230(c) ) an d hereb ysubmit s thi s Pos t Hearin g Brief , Closin g Argumen t an d Renewe d Motio n fo rDecision . I . STATEMEN TO F TH E CAS E Th e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (hereafte rth e "FAA" ) initiate d thi s actio n agains t GoJe t Airline s LL C (hereafte r"GoJet " o r"Respondent" ) o n o rabou t Februar y 16 , 2010 . Th e FA

Aallege s tha t GoJe t violate d Sectio n 43.13(a ) b yvirtu e o f 43.13(c) , 91.13(a) , an d 121.153(a)(2 ) o fth e Federa l Ai rRegulation s ("FARs" ) base d upo n th e fac t tha t GoJet' s contracte d maintenanc e personne l installe d lockpin s i n N151GJ' s mai n landin g gea rwhil e replacin g th e aircraft' s numbe rtw o brak e assembl ybu t the n faile d t o remov e th e gea rpin s an d faile d t o mak e th e require d logboo k entrystatin g "landin g gea rpi n installed , remov e befor e flight". Th e FA Ai s requestin g tha t thi s Court ente ra n_02^;25^^201 1 15_:3 ^ FA X 202493514 2 FA A.QM S ^002/00 8

orde rassessin g Responden t a civi l penaltyi n th e amoun t o f$33,00 0 fo rsai d violations . GoJe t file d it s Answe rdenyin g th e allegation s o n o rabou t Marc h 12 , 2010 . (Docke t I d FAA-2010-0025-005 ) I n addition , o n o rabou t Augus t 11 , 2010 , GoJe t file d it s Motio n fo r Decisio n an d Memorandu m i n Support o n th e basi s tha t FAAi s use d evidenc e obtaine d vi a a voluntar

ydisclosur e file d b yGoJe t i n accordanc e wit h th e FAA' s Voluntary Disclosur e Progra m ("VDRP") . (Docke t I d FAA-2010-0025-0010 ) Th e Agencyfiled it s Oppositio n t o sai d Motio n o n Augus t 31 , 2010 . (Docke t I d FAA-2010-0025-0011 ) A hearin g wa s hel d o n thi s matte ro n Augus t 25 , 2010 . O n Novembe r18 , 2010 . th e Agencyfile d it s Pos t Hearin g Brie fan d Closin g Arguments. ^ II . STATEMEN TO F UNCONTROVERTE D FACT S GoJe t i s th e holde ro fPar t 12 1 Ai rCarrie rCertificat e Numbe rN6WA249L . (Se e Complain t nil.1 ) A t al l relevan t times , GoJetwa s th e operato ro faircraf t N151 G J , a Canadai rCRJ-70 0 Regiona l Jet , Mode l CL-600-2C10 , registere d a s a n aircraft availabl e fo rus e i n Part 12 1 revenu e operations . (Se e Complain t ^11.2) O n o rabou t Novembe r26,2007 , GoJet' s contracte d maintenanc e personne l remove d an d replace d N151GJ' s numbe rtw o brak e assembl yi n accordanc e wit h th e CRJ-70 0 Aircraf t Maintenanc e Manua l ("AMM" ) whic h require s tha t maintenanc e personne l lift th e mai n landin g gea r("MLG" ) wit h a jac k an d ensur e th e locks pin s ar e installe d i n th e nos e landin g gea ran d mai n landin g gear . (T R 28 : 10-20 ; Se e A - 2 & A 3 ) I n addition . GoJet' s Genera l Maintenanc e Manua l ("GMM" ) require s tha t a mechani c afte rinstallatio n o fth e gea rpins , mak e a n entr yi n th e aircraft maintenanc e Fligh t

' O n a procedura l note , Responden t woul d lik e t o poin t ou t tha t tha t Agency' s brie f fall s t o compl ywit h § 13.231(c ) o fth e investigativ e an d Enforcemen t Procedure s i n tha t i t fail s t o includ e propose d finding s o f fac t an d conclusion s o flaw .02/25/201 1 15:3 G FA X 202493514 2 FA A

Th e FAA' s publishe d an d publicl yavailabl e guidanc e documen t contain s a disput e resolutio n policy . (Se e A-10) . Unde rth e disput e resolutio n policy , "whe n dispute s occu rregardin g th e acceptanc e o fa propose d comprehensiv e fix , o ra modificatio n theret o befor e th e fi xi s considere d satisfactory , th e P I an d th e pertinen t regulate d entit yma yreques t tha t th e issu e b e resolve d a t th e nex t leve l o fmanagemen t withi n th e FAA. " Th e guidanc e documen t specificall ystate s tha t "thi s procedur e wil l provid e fo ra n independen t assessmen t o fth e area s i n disagreement. " (|d ) O n Januar

y25 , 2008 , Coope rsen t a lette rt o GoJet' s Chie f Operatin g Office ri n regard s t o thi s an d on e othe rincident . (Se e A-6 ; Se e als o TR 55:5-8 ) I n hi s letter . Coope rinstitute d a February8 , 200 8 deadlin e fo rGoJe t t o implemen t hi s propose d comprehensiv e fix . (Se e A-6 ; Se e als o T R 86.8-13 ) A t n o tim e di d Coope rindicat e th e opportunit yfo rGoJe t t o reques t revie wo fth e fact s an d circumstance s o fth e cas e t o th e next leve l o fmanagemen t withi n th e FA Ai n accordanc e wrt h th e FAA' s publishe d an d publicl yavailabl e disput e resolutio n policy . (Se e T R 121:4-8 ) Coope rinstigate d n o action s agains t th e mechani cwh o allegedl ylef t th e gea rpi n i n othe rtha n t o issu e a warnin g notice . (T R 66 : 8-22 ; 67 : 3-10 ; 68 : 17-18 ) II L ARGUMEN T Base d upo n th e evidenc e an d testimon ypresente d a t th e hearing , th e FA Aha s no t establishe d a violatio n o fth e Federa l Aviatio n Regulation s ("FARs") . However , eve n i fthi s Court believe s tha t th e FA Aha s provide d sufficien t evidenc e t o establis h a violatio n o fth e FARs , th e evidenc e whic h i s bein g use d t o support sai d violation(s ) wa s gathere d b yimprope rmean s an d admittin g sai d evidenc e i s agains t th e FAA' s ow n publishe d an d publicall yavailabl e guidance . Additionally , ther e shoul d b e n o findin g o f02/25/201 1 15:3 7 FA X 202493514 2 FA A^ nu o

—• • - '^'^' ^ ^ DM S 0 004/00 8

a violatio n i n thi s cas e becaus e th e FAA' s bringin g o fthi s enforcemen t actio n i s i n direc t conflic t wit h th e FAA' s publishe d guidanc e document s an d i s o n it s fac e arbitrar yan d capricious , an d a n outrageou s abus e o fdiscretion . A . TH E EVIDENC E PRESENTE D B YTH E FA AFAIL S T O ESTABLIS H . , VIOLATION S O F TH E REGULATION S CITE D I N TH E FAA' S COMPLAINT . Excep t i n th e cas e o fa n affirmativ e defense , th e Agenc ycarrie s th e burde n o f proo ft o prov e th e agency' s cas e b ya preponderanc e o freliable , probative , an d substantia l evidence . Responden t whol e heartedl ydisagree s wit h th e Agency' s positio n tha t th e undispute d testimon yestablishe s tha t GoJet' s maintenanc e contro l improperl y deferre d th e left sid e windo wan d therefor e th e allege d violation s o fth e FAR s hav e bee n established . 1 . 43.13(a ) (b yvirtu e o f43.13(c} ) - Performanc e Rule s fo rMaintenance , Preventativ e Maintenance , Rebuildin g an d Alternatio n Unde rSectio n 43.13(a) , eac h perso n performin g maintenance , alteration , o r preventativ e maintenanc e o n a n aircraft. , .shal l us e methods , techniques , an d practice s prescribe d i n th e curren t manufacturer' s maintenanc e manua l o rInstruction s fo rContinue d Ainvortbines s prepare byit s manufacturer , o rothe rmethods , techniques , an d practice s acceptabl e t o th e Administrator , excep t a s note d i n 43.16 . H e shal l us e th e tools , equipment , an d tes t apparatu s necessar yt o assure completio n o f th e wor k i n accordanc e wit h accepte d industr

ypractices... . Sectio n 43.13(c ) contain s specia l provision s fo rholders o fai rcarrie rcertificate s an d operatin g certificate s issue d unde rth e provision s o fPar t 121.. . Unles s otherwis e notifie d b yth e administrator , th e methods , techniques , an d practice s containe d i n th e maintenanc e manua l o rth e maintenanc e par t ofth e manua l o fth e holde rof a n ai rcarrie roperatin g certificat e o ra n operatin g certificat e unde rPar t 121. . .constitut e acceptabl e mean s o fcomplianc e wit h thi s section . 7_^25/20 n 15:3 7 FA X 202493514 2 FA A. OM S @005/00 8

I n it s brief , th e Agenc

ycontend s that i s Manufacturer s Maintenanc e Manua l require s th e Responden t t o instal l a gea rpi n whe n jackin g u p th e aircraf t fo rmaintenance . Th e Agenc yfurthe rcontend s tha t "i t i s axiomatic , an d th e accepte d industr ypractice , tha t th e gea rpi n b e remove d onc e th e maintenanc e i s complete " an d therefore becaus e Respondent' s mechani cadmittedl yforgo t t o remove a gea rpi n afte rcompletin g maintenance , th e Responden t faile d t o assure th e completio n ofth e wor k i n accordanc e wit h accepte d industr

ypractice s a s require d bySectio n 43.13(a) . Thi s assessmen t i s contrar yt o th e testimon ya t th e hearing . Bot h th e Agency' s witness , Gar yCooper , an d Respondent' s witness , JeffCraig , (bot h person s wit h extensiv e aircraf t maintenanc e experience ) testifie d tha t th e aircraf t i n questio n coul d b e flown wit h th e gea rpi n i n place . (T R 29:16-21,120:12-21 ) I n fact , GoJe t has don e s o i n th e past . (TR : 120:12-21 ) Absen t additiona l evidence , th e fac t that th e gea rpi n wa s lef

t i n alone , doe s no t establis h bya preponderance o freliable , probative , an d substantia l evidenc e that Responden t violate d Sectio n 43,13(a ) o fth e Federa l Ai r Regulations . 2 . 121.153(a)(2) , o fth e Federa l Aviatio n Regulation s Base d o n It s Operatio n o f N151G J Whil e I n A n Unain/vorth yCondition . Sectio n 121.153(a ) provide s i n relevan t par t tha t n o certificat e holde rmay operat e a n aircraf t unles s tha t aircraft.. . (2 ) i s i n ainworth yconditio n an d meet s th e applicabl e airworthines s requirement s o fthi s chapter , includin g thos e relatin g t o Identificatio n an d equipment . Th e Agencyargue s i n it s brie ftha t i t i s unconteste d tha t Responden t operate d N151G J o n a passenge rcarryin g operatio n wit h a gea rpi n erroneousl yleft i n th e_^25/201 1 15.3 7 FA_)^202493^514 2 FA A. DM S @00G/00 8

evidenc e fail s t o establis h b ya preponderanc e o freliable , probative , an d substantia l evidenc e that Responden t violate d Sectio n 91.13(a ) ofth e Federa l Ai rRegulations , 

### B . TH E FA

ACANNO T US E DAT

AOBTAINE D FRO M AVALI D VOLUNTAR Y DISCLOSURE T O BRIN

G ANENFORCEMEN T ACTIO NAN D DOIN

G S O CONSTITUE S A

NARBITRAR

Y AN D CAPRICOU S ACTIO NB Y TH E AGENCY . , . A s par t ofth e VDRP , th e FA

Aha s agree d t o issu e a lette rof correctio n i n lie u of a civi l penalt

yactio n fo rcovere d instance s ofnoncomplianc e that ar e voluntaril ydisclose d t o th e FA Ai n accordanc e wit h A C 00-58A^ . (Se e A-11 ) A C 00-58 Aspecificall ystate s that th e FA Aordinaril ywil l not forg o lega l enforcemen t actio n i fth e certificat e holde rinform s th e FA A ofth e apparen t violatio n during , o ri n anticipatio n of , a n FA Ainvestigation/inspectio n o rI n associatio n wit h a n acciden t o rincident" . There ar e onl ytw o exception s specificall ynote d i n th e publishe d guidance . First , i fth e FA Alearne d o fth e violation s vi a a n ASA P repor t a s describe d i n th e curren t editio n ofA C 120-66 . (kL ) Second , i fviolatio n wa s discovere d eithe rb yth e compan yo ra membe ro f th e FA Adurin g a voluntaril yjoin t audit . Neithe rof whic h appl yt o th e fact s i n thi s case . (!dL ) I n orde rt o avai l Itsel fofth e immunit yprovide d i n A C 00-58 8 th e carrie rmust demonstrat e that i t complie d wit h th e term s o fth e program . That mean s th e earne rmust demonstrat e that : (1 ) th e certificat e holde rimmediatel ynotifie d th e FA Ao fth e violatio n afte rth e violatio n wa s detecte d an d before th e FA Aha d learne d o fth e apparen t violatio n throug h anothe rmeans ; (2 ) th e violatio n wa s inadvertent ; (3 ) th e apparen t violatio n doe s not indicat e a lac k o fqualification , o ra reasonabl e questio n ofth e qualification , o fth e certificat e holder , (4 ) upo n discover yo fth e violation , immediat e actio n wa s take n t o correc t o rterminat e th e conduc t that cause d th e apparen t violation ; an d (5 ) th e certificat e holde rha s develope d o r i s developin g a comprehensive fixan d schedul e o fimplementatio n satisfactor

yt o th e FAA . 2 A C 00-58 Awa s th e Advisor yCircula ri n existenc e a t th e tim e o f thi s incident . A C 00-58 B i s th e curren t form . 1 002/25/201 1 15:3 7 FAX 202493514 2 FA A * QMS @1007/OO E

encourag e th e self-disclosure o fviolation s o fth e Federa l Aviatio n Regulation s i n orde rt o promot e bette rcomplianc e wit h FA Aregulations , foste rsafety , an d bette rdevelo p lEPs . Whe n th e carrie ro remploye e ha s fijilycomplie d witi i th e progra m ye t th e FA Ause s th e infomnatio n t o instigat e a civi l penalt yaction , th e FA

Aarbitrar yan d capriciou s manne ran d an ysuc h enforcemenr

t actio n must b e dismissed .

Dated ; Februar

yi ^ .201 1 Davi d J.A . Hayes , II I Es c Vic e Presiden t & Genera l Counse l Tran s State s Holdings , Inc . 1149 5 Navai d Rd. , Ste . 34 0 Bridgeton , M O 6304 4 Phone : 314-222^31 6 Fax : 314-222-431 1 dhayes@transstates.ne t Attorne yfo rResponden t GoJe t Airiines , LL C

1 402/25/201 1 15:3 7 FAX 202493514 2 FA A. nM< : r^.. n " ^ DM S @1008/00 8

I hereb ycertifytha t a cop yo fth e foregoin g Post-Hearin g Brief , Closin g Argumen t an d Renewe d Motio n fo rJudgmen t wa s sen t thi s jM " da yo f l-d-Wtin^ l 2011 . vi a a s indicate d below , t o th e following : Origina l & On e Copy ; vi a U.S . Mail , al l postage.pre-paid . Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Washington , D C 2059 1 Attention : Hearin g Docke t Clerk , AGC^3 0

Wilbu rWrigh t Buildin g - Suit e 2W100 0 

### On e Copy : Vi a Emai l an d US . Mail , al l postag e pre-paid . Davi d B . Kessle r Offic e o fRegiona l Counse l Centra l Region , ACE- 7 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 90 1 Locust , Roo m 50 6 Kansa s City . M O 64106-264 1 Vi a FedEx . Th e Honorabl e Richar d C . Goodwin , AL J Offic e o fHearings , M-2 0 U.S . Departmen t o fTransportatio n 120 0 Ne wJerse yAve. , S.E . Eas t Buildin g Groun d Floor , Roo m E12-32 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 

# "(fygAiU t ULUtiUi U

1 5