### RGREE N VslTERNATiaiMA L AIRUNES , IN C 385 0 Thre e Mil e Lan e • McMinnville , Orego n 9712 8 • US A Phon e (503 ) 472-001 1 • Fa x (503 ) 472-136 9 • SITA : HDQMCE Z Jun e 11,201 0 Docke t Managemen t

Facilit y U S Departmen t

o f Transportatio n 1200 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S E Wes t Buildin g Groun dFloo r

Roo mW12-14 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 Subject : Evergree n International Airline s (EIA ) Petitio n fo r aTemporar

y Exemptio n fro

mth e Provision s o f

Sectio n 25.1415(b ) a s i

t relate s t o th e scop e definitio n in Technical Standard Order (TSO ) C70 A that

state s Typ e I

I Lif e raft s are fo

r us e i n Non-Transpor

t Categor y Airplanes
. Tabl e 1 - Effectiv e Aircraft : TAI L N O N470E V N471E V N482E V N485E V N486E V N487E V N488E V N489E V N490E V N491E V N747B C N249B A N718B A N780B A VRB L

N O RJ13 3 RJ13 1 RD04 2 RD04 1 RD04 3 RD77 2 RD77 3 RD77 4 RR20 6 RR85 2 RT87 6 RT63 1 RT74 3 RT63 2 LINE N O 23 7 20 9 21 9 21 8 24 0 61 4 61 7 63 3 70 6 1042 904 76 6 93 2 77 8 SERIAL N O 2065 3 2065 1 2071 3 2071 2 2088 8 2328 6 2328 7 2339 3 2413 8 2656 1 2587 9 2430 9 2704 2 2431 0 References : A
. Polic y Lette r

N8900.11 6 B
. A D 92-14-0 2 C
. STCSA2121CE- D D
. Boein g drawin g 65B58005 , -50 9 configuratio n E
. ST C SA2125CE- D F
. Boein g drawin g 016U5920 , - 1 configuratio n G
. STCST00185S E H
. EIA drawin g 25-4-0026-9 2 Re v I lof 5T o WhomIt Ma y Concern : Evergree n International Airline s (EIA ) petition s fo r atemporar

y exemptio n fro

mth e provision s o f Sectio n 25.1415(b ) fo

r th e airplane s liste d i

n Tabl e 1 above
. Sectio n 25.1415(b ) require s that eac h lif e raf t fo r atransport

categor y airplan e b e approved
. EIA request s relie f fro mthes e provision s o f

par t 2 5 a s i t relate s t o th e scop e definitio n in Technical Standard Order (TSO ) C70 A that

state s Typ e II Lif

e raft s are fo r us e i n Non-Transport

Categor y Airplanes
. Sectio n o f

th e FA Raffected : Sectio n 25.1415(b ) require s that eac h lif e raf t fo r atransport

categor y airplan e b e approved
. Supportiv e informatio n i s a s follows : EIA ha s been compelle dt o petitio n fo r a n exemptio n to Sectio n 25.1415(b ) fo r th e EIA B747-200C/F/S F and B747-400LC F a s liste di n Tabl e 1 fo

r abrie f perio d o f approximatel y 10

0 days
. Withi n thi s request , EIA wil l sho w tha t

b y grantin g thi s petition , a

n equivalen t

leve l o f safet y i s maintained
. Failure t o grant th e exemptio n represent s a n economi c hardshi p t o EIA that wa s no t avoidabl e throug h action s o n EIA' s part . Background : Recently , EIA wa s contacte dby it' s CM O an d wa s provide d acop y o f th e Re f A Polic y letter

fo r revie w an daction
. EIA ha s reviewe dth e Re f A Polic y Letter
. EIA understand s th e issu e th e letter i s raising , bu t diffe r i n th e assessmen t

o f th e approval statu s o f

it' s curren t

lif e raft s (Easter

n Aer o Marin e (EAM ) Mode l T9 , P/

N R0103A121) , hereinafter referre d t o a s aT 9 lif

e raft
. EIA agree s that

FAR s 25.141 5 an d121.33 9 are vali d an d require th e us e o f approve d lif

e raft s on it' s 74 7 freighters
. However , EIA' s positio n i s tha t neithe r o f thes e regulation s requir e aspecifi c TS O lif e raft , bu t simply state tha

t th e lif e raft s mus t

b e approved
. There are many example s in th e FAR s where specifi c TSO s are calle dou t fo r variou s item s o f

require d equipment
. Lif

e raft s ar e no t on e o f thes e cases . Lif e raft s use don transport

aircraf t coul d b e covere d b y TS O CI2 , C69 , or C70 , o r by an y other specificatio n approve dby th e FAA
. EI A als o agree s tha

t TS O C70a , Appendi x 1 , Scope , states : "TYP E 1 - Fo r

us e i n any categor

y aircraft
. TYP E II - Fo r us e i n non-transpor

t category / aircraft. " However , EIA' s secondar

y positio n i s that

thi s statement

i n TS O C70 ai s no t

th e only facto r

t o b e considered
. Specifi c intende dus e mus t als o b e considered
. There ar e numerou s case s on a74 7 freighter where special consideratio n i s give n t o th e fac t that onl y crewmember s and "supernumeraries " are carried
. Whil e FARPar

t 2 5 doe s no t

specificall y mentio n "supernumeraries" , ther e i s lon g histor y o f th e FAA considerin g thes e uniqu e personne l durin g rulemakin g an d certificatio n approvals
. Th e histor y o f specifi c FA

A approval o f

th e us e o f

th e T 9 lif e raf t i s evidenc e o f

thi s consideration
.

Pag e 2 of 5EIA ha s use dth e T 9 lif e raf t fo r almos t 2 0 year s wit

h ful l FAA knowledg e an d approval
. In th e Re f B Airworthines s Directive , th e FAA acknowledge d th e commo n usag e o f th e T 9 lif e raft
. Th e FAA di d no t deemth e us e o f

thi s lif e raf t asafet y concern , bu t

simpl y require d alanyard n o different than fo r TS O C70 aTyp e I lif

e rafts
. Thi s A D require dcomplianc e wit h EA M S B T9-25- 1 o n lif e raft s use d o n th e 74 7 upper deck , wit h whic h EIA ha s complied
. Ha d th e us e o f

th e T 9 lif e raf t bee n deeme d asafet

y or complianc e concer

n durin g thi s FAA rulemakin g process , th e A D woul d hav e prohibite d T 9 us e on 74 7 freighters
. Th e Re f C STC wa s use dt o conver t EIA' s retire d transport

categor y aircraf t N477E V an d N478E V fro m passenge r t o freighter

b y Boeing
. Thi s ST

C installe d lif

e raft s pe r th e Re f D drawin g on thes e aircraft
. Pleas e not e that

th e lif e raf t i s liste da s "EAMT9-12r'
. Thi s i s th e mode l number fo r ou r lif e raf t P/ N R0103A121
. Th e "EAM " refer s t o Easter n Aer o Marine ; th e "T9 " i s th e basi c lif e raf t model ; an d th e "121 " identifie s th e FARpar t 12 1 ki t include d i

n th e lif e raft
. Ref

s E an d F are essentiall y th e same , but ar e effectiv e t o aircraf

t N485EV
. I n bot h cases , thes e STC s wer e reviewe dan d approve db y th e FAA fo r us e o f th e T 9 lif e raft s on 74 7 freighters
. Thes e lif

e raft s are include di

n th e certificatio n dat ao f

thes e aircraf

t an d ar e therefore approve da s require dby FAR25.141 5 a s par t o f th e typ e design
. Re f G i s a n EIA STC allowin g th e carriag e o f groom s o n th e mai n dec k o f aproperl y equippe d 74 7 freighter aircraft
. A s par

t o f thi s STC , apalletize d groo mstatio n wa s constructe d an d approve d a s par t o f th e require dequipment
. Thi s palletize d groo mstatio n i s define d b y th e Re f H drawing
. Thi s drawin g call s ou t th e us e o f

lif e raf t P/ N R0103-10 5 o r

R0103A105
. Thes e are th e same a s lif e raf t P/ N R0103A121 , excep t

the y d o no t

hav e lanyard modificatio n describe d i n Re f B
. Thi s i s becaus e thes e lif e raft s are intende dt o b e use dfro mth e mai n dec k

(doo r 5 L o r 5R ) an d therefore th e lanyard lengt h i s no t th e safet y concer n it woul db e if

use don th e upper

deck
. Thi s groo mstatio n STC packag e wa s give n extremel y clos e scrutiny b y th e FAA Seattl e AC O a t th e tim e o f submittal becaus e i t

wa s th e first

74 7 STC t o specificall y allo w th e carriag e o f groom s i n th e mai n dec k carg o compartment . Lif

e raf t informatio n wa s submitte d wit h th e dat apackag e and th e approval wa s granted
. Therefore , a s wa s th e cas e i n th e othe r

STC s discussed , th e T 9 lif e raf t wa s include d i

n th e certificatio n dat ao f

thi s STC
. Thi s meet s th e FAR25.141 5 requiremen t fo r th e lif e raf t t o b e approve d a s par t o f th e typ e design
. Th e abov e discussio n provide s fou r completel y separate occasion s where FAA ACO s hav e specificall y approve dth e us e o f

th e T 9 lif e raft s fo r us e on 74 7 freighters
. Thes e approval s constitut e par t o f th e typ e desig n fo r thes e aircraft
. If

th e FA A deem s th e us e o f

thes e lif e raft s t o b e asafet

y concern , EIA woul d expec t th e FA A t o issu e ne w rulemakin g an d invite publi c comment , a s i s th e long-standin g normal proces s use dby th e FA

A i n safety-relate d matters . Further , th e fou

r case s discusse dabov e clearl y demonstrat e that th e historical , o r

defacto , polic y o f

th e FA A regardin g th e T 9 lif

e raf t i s tha t i t i s approve d fo

r us e on 74 7 freighters
. Thre e separate ST C projects , involvin g tw o ACOs , an da n AD rulemakin g proces s reviewe d an d specificall y approve d th e us e o f T 9 lif e raft s on 74 7 freighters
. Th e Transpor t Directorat e i

n Seattl e define s transpor

t aircraf t certificatio n polic y an dthei r demonstrate d policy , fo

r a t leas t th e las t 2 0 years , ha s bee n t o approv e th e T 9 lif e raf t fo r us e on 74 7 freighters
. Thi s demonstrate d FAA polic y o f approval o f

th e T 9 lif e raf t i s contrar y t o th e ne w suppose dnational polic y describe d i n Re f A , issue d b y th e Flight

Standard s Service
. A revie w o f

th e FA A website fo

r th e Flight

Standard s Servic e show s thei r missio n t o be : Pag e 3 of 5"The Fligh t

Standard s Servic e promote s saf e ai r transportatio n by settin g th e standard s fo r certificatio n an d oversigh t

o f airmen , ai r

operators , ai r

agencies , an d designees
. W e als o promot e safet

y o f flight o f civi l aircraf

t an dai r commerc e by :
* Accomplishin g certification , inspection , surveillance , investigation , an d enforcement * Settin g regulation s an dstandard s * Managin g th e systemfo r registratio n o f

civi l aircraf

t an d al l airme n record s " I n contrast , arevie w o f

th e FAA website fo

r Aircraf t Certificatio n Servic e show s thei r missio n t o be : "Th e Aircraf t Certificatio n Servic e o f

th e FA A i s th e office responsibl e for : * Administerin g safet

y standard s governin g th e design , production , an d airworthines s o f civi l aeronautica l products ; * Overseein g design , production , an dairworthines s certificatio n program s to ensur e complianc e wit h prescribe dsafet

y standards ; * Providin g asafet

y performanc e managemen t systemto ensur e continue d operationa l safet y o f aircraft ; and , * Working wit

h aviatio n authorities , manufacturers , an d othe r stakeholder s t

o hel p the msuccessfully improv e th e safet

y o f th e internationa l ai r

transportatio n system . " Th e Re f A polic y letter

appear s t o skir

t th e normal rulemakin g proces s use d b y th e FAA and doe s no t appea r to b e i n complianc e wit

h th e missio n statemen t

fo r th e Fligh t

Standard s Service
. EIA strongl y object s to bein g compelle dt o remov e th e T 9 lif e raft s fro mour 74 7 freighter

fleet a t th e presen t tim e fo r th e followin g reasons : 1
. There ha s been n o unsaf e conditio n identifie d fo

r T 9 lif e raf t usag e on th e 74 7 freighter ; 2
. There ha s been n o out-of-complianc e conditio n identifie d fo r T 9 lif e raf t usag e o n th e 74 7 freighter ; 3
. There ha s bee n n o certificatio n rulemakin g prohibitin g T 9 lif e raf t usag e on th e 74 7 freighter per Par t 39 ; 4
. There ha s bee n n o opportunit y fo r publi c comment

that th e aforementione d rulemakin g proces s woul dnormall y provide ; 5
. Replacement

o f th e T 9 lif e raft s i n ou r 74 7 freighte

r fleet woul d b e asignificant

economi c burden t o EIA , ye t th e FA A ha s no t performe da

n economi c cost-benefi t

evaluatio n tha

t woul d b e par

t o f th e norma l rulemakin g process ; 6
. Whil e removal an dreplacemen t o f th e T 9 lif e raf t woul d satisf

y th e Re f A letter , i t run s contrar

y t o th e actua l certificatio n polic y issue dby th e Transpor t Directorat e a s evidence d by numerou s previousl y approve dcertificatio n project s tha t containe d installatio n o f

th e T 9 lif e raft
. EI A i s committe dt o aircraf t safety
. EIA ha s successfull y an d safely operate d 74 7 freighter s fo r ove r 2 0 year s usin g th e T 9 lif

e raft
. EIA ha s never

had an y reporte d in-service , or shop , issue s reporte d tha

t woul dsugges t

thi s lif e raf t i s unsaf e o r incapabl e o f

performin g it' s intende d function
. No t withstandin g al l o f

th e abov e discussion , EIA ha s bee n compelle d b y FAA Fligh t Standards , throug h it' s CMO , t o petitio n fo

r exemptio n fro

mSectio n 25.1415(b)
.

Pag e 4 o f 5Safety :

EIA believe s tha

t th e leve l o f

safet y wil l no t b e compromise d if

EIA i s allowe d t o operate thes e 1 4 aircraf t wit h TS O C70 A Typ e I

I lif e raft s i n lieu o f th e Typ e I lif

e raft s fo r th e perio d requested
. EIA believe s that

EA M P/ N R0103A12 1 lif

e rafts , wit

h incorporatio n o f

th e modificatio n describe d in Airworthines s Directiv e 92-14-02 , whe n installe d in 74 7 Freighters , wil l perfor mthei r intende d function
. EIA therefore doe s no t

believ e that

th e installatio n o f

th e EAM P/

N R0103A12 1 lif

e raft s on Mode l 74 7 serie s airplane s operate da s freighters , certificate d in an y categor y constitute s asafet

y issue
. Thi s i s supporte db y th e fac t tha t th e FAA ha s no t

publishe d afinding o f

a n unsaf e conditio n associate d wit h th e us e o f

th e T 9 lif e raft
. Projecte dusag e durin g th e requeste dexemptio n perio d o f 10 0 day s represent s ver

y limite d exposure o n a fleet wit h a n exceptional safet

y record
. Usag e shal l b e limite d t o th e 1 4 aircraf t a s liste d i

n Tabl e 1
. Economi c Hardship : A cessatio n o f

extende doverwate r

operatio n du e to aTyp e I I lif e raf t restrictio n o n thes e 1 4 aircraf t woul dhav e a

n immediate impac t

on bot h EIA an d it' s customers . Flight s ma y hav e t o b e cancelled , re route d(at grea t expens e andinconvenienc e to ou r customers ) or

operate d wit

h more expensiv e equipmen t

(i f available)
. EIA respectfull y request s that a n exemptio n b e grante d unti l October 1 , 201 0 b y whic h tim e th e ne w lif

e raft s wil l b e installed
. EIA furthe r request s that

thi s exemptio n b e approve d on a n expedite dbasi s t o minimiz e impac t on currentl y planne d flights. Publi c Comment : EIA request s tha

t th e FAA no t

pos t it' s Petitio n fo

r Exemptio n on th e Federal Registe r fo r publi c comment i n th e normal fashio n a s th e reques t i s virtuall y identical t o Exemption s 9856 , 9874 , an d 997 6 grante dfo r other airlines ; an ddu e t o th e fact that th e normal comment

perio d woul d hav e advers e effect s on EI A shoul dit

b e force dt o cance l currentl y planne d flights. Us e Outsid e of

th e Unite dStates : EIA request s th e petitio n fo r exemptio n b e approve d fo r us e outsid e o f

th e Unite d State s (US ) a s alarg e portio n o f it' s norma

l flight activit y take s plac e beyon d U S borders
. Regards ,

Davi dR
. Heat

h Directo r o f Engineerin g Evergree n International Airlines , In c 385 0 Thre e Mil e Lan e McMinnville , OR9712 8 david.heath@evergreenaviation.co m 503.472.001 1 x435 3 phon e

Pag e 5 of 5