AFS-12-179-E February 27, 2012

Exemption No. 7132F Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2002-11485

Ms. Leslie C. Abbott Senior Attorney Southwest Airlines Company 1901 L Street NW., Suite 640 Washington, D.C. 20036

Dear Ms. Abbott:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 7132, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, lists conditions and limitations, and provides the date of expiration.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated January 13, 2012, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Adm inistration (FAA) on behalf of Southwest Airlines Company (S outhwest) for an extension of Exemption No. 7132, as amended. That exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)(ii) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations allows Southwest to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place of an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying pilot in command (PIC) while that PIC is performing prescribed duties during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and a landing when completing initial or upgrade training as specified in § 121.424.

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 Southwest.2

Our Decision

The FAA has determ ined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 7132, as amended, remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. Therefore, under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the following conditions

and limitations.

Conditions and Limitations

1. Each check airm an performing the duties otherwise appropriate to an FAA inspector, under this exemption, must:

a. Be an employee of Southwest;

b. Be qualified and current in the duties of the PIC in the aircraft being operated;

c. Be approved by the FAA Aircrew Program Manager; and

d. Have been employed by Southwest as a check airman for a minimum of 6 months.

2. Southwest must submit and have approved by its FAA principal operations inspector (POI), in a letter of approval, the name of each check airman to be used under this exemption before this use occurs.

3. Before each observation conducted under this exemption, Southwest must contact its POI or the POI’s designated representative. No observation may be conducted under this exemption unless the FAA determines there is not an FAA inspector available to observe the affected operation and so informs Southwest.

4. The check airman observing the qualifying pilot must be other than the check airman conducting the operating experience flight.

5. The check airman observing the flight may not previously have conducted any operating experience flight during the current, initial, or upgrade training of the qualifying PIC.

6. Each operation conducted under this exemption must be recorded in Southwest's approved training records.

7. No observations may be conducted under this exemption until the qualifying PIC has completed the minimum number of hours specified in Section 121.434(c)(3).

8. Under this exemption, no more than 50 percent of the required operating experience observations may be accomplished by a qualified and authorized check airman rather than an FAA inspector during any 6-month period.

9. Southwest must submit a training schedule in written form to its POI that includes the date(s) of each observation to be conducted under Section 121.434. This training schedule must be submitted at least 20 days before any observation.3

10. Southwest must maintain the records necessary to demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limitations of this exemption.

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the term ination date of Exemption No. 7132, as amended, to February 28, 2014, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John M. Allen Director, Flight Standards Service