AFS-14-162-E

April 30, 2014

 Exemption No. 10520A

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2012-0378

Mr. Joseph R. Batten

Director of Operations

National Airlines

5955 T. G. Lee Boulevard, Suite 550

Orlando, FL 32822

Dear Mr. Batten:

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

No. 10520. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the conditions 

and limitations.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated February 3, 2014, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of National Airlines for an extension of Exemption No. 10520. That exemption

from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows National 

Airlines 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 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 

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 National Airlines.
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Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 10520

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, National Airlines is granted an extension per its petition to be exempted 

from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) that allows 

National Airlines 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 landing, subject to the following conditions and limitations.

Conditions and Limitations 

1. A National Airlines 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. National Airlines, 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 National Airlines check airman and 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 National 

Airlines 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. National Airlines must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew program designee 

records that demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this 

exemption.

This exemption terminates on April 30, 2017, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service