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- V t J IS . DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTIO N OFFIC EO FHEARING S WASHINGTON , D.C . INTH EMATTERO F RECURREN T TRAININ GCENTER , INC . FA A DOCKE T NO . CP009GL000 8 (Civi l Penalt y Action ) DM S No . FAA-2009-097 1 

# -"'=^ 3 DOCKE T

Complainant' s Respons e t o Respondent' s Repl y Brie f Th e Complainant , th e FEDERA LAVIATIO NADMINISTRATIO N("FAA " o r "Agency") , hereb y file s it s Respons e t o Respondent' s Repl y Brie f serve dMay 21 , 2010 , a s require db y Judg e Goodwin' s Orde r o nMotions . I nadditio nt o it s Openin g Brie f file d May 5 , 2010 , th e Complainan t state s a s follows : I . REPL Y ARGUMEN T A s argue di n th e Complainant' s Openin g Brie f an dCros s Summary Judgmen t Motion , th e clear , unambiguou s languag e o f §61.57(d ) specificall y refer s t o "task s require db y th e instrumen t ratin g practica l test. " Therefore , th e "instrumen t ratin g practica l test " become s apart o f th e instrumen t

proficien t

chec k (IPC ) regulatio nan dth e requirement s o f

th e instrumen t

ratin g practica l tes t

mus t b e concurrentl y considere dt o properl y interpret

§61.57(d) . Th e Instrumen t Ratin g Practica l Tes t

Standard s ("PTS") , FAA-S-8081-4D , provid e that an "applican t

mus t demonstrat e th e ability t o performth e task s a s liste din " th e PT S chart whic hinclud e TASK s tha t ar e no t possibl e i nth e FTD suse db y Respondent. ' Therefore , Responden t violate dth e Federa l Aviatio nRegulation s whe n i t certifie dtha t

tw o airma n successfull y complete dIPC s usin g it s FTDs . A . Respondent' s Referenc e t o FA A Orde r 8900. 1 Responden t

attempt s t o us e th e Fligh t Standard s Informatio nManagemen t Syste m (FSIMS ) handbook , FA A Orde r 8900.1 , t o support

it s argumen t

tha t an IP C nee dno t

tes t al l o f th e TASK s liste di n th e Instrumen t Ratin g Practica l Tes t

Standard. ^ However , th e FSIM S i s guidance , whic hi s subordinat e t o th e regulations . A s discusse di n th e Administrator' s Openin g Brief , th e regulation s (whic hincorporat e th e PTS ) indicat e tha t th e maneuver s liste di n th e instrumen t ratin g practica l tes t

standard s ar e required . Thes e regulation s tak e precedenc e ove r th e FSIM S handbook . I n fact , a s Responden t note di n a footnote , i n Chapte r

1-3 o f th e FSIMS , Sectio nC discusse s th e protoco l whe naconflic t arise s betwee n th e FSIM S an dth e Cod e o f Federa l Regulations . I t

reads : "Th e guidanc e i n thi s orde r may b e foun dt o b e i n conflic t withtha t i n othe r FA A order s an ddirectives . Thi s situatio nma y aris e inadvertentl y o r becaus e i t

i s impractica l t o revis e al l order s simultaneously . I n suc hacase , th e orde r withth e mos t recen t dat e shoul dnormall y b e used . Shoul dth e guidanc e i n thi s orde r conflic t with1 4 CFR , 1 4 CFRtakes precedence. . .' ^ (Exhibi t

A-1 , attached , emphasi s added ) Clearly , th e FSIM S wa s no t intende dt o conflic t

withth e Cod e o f

Federa l Regulation s an dth e author s intende dth e Cod e o f Federa l Regulation s t o tak e precedenc e ove r an y conflict s betwee n i t

an dth e FSIMS . Th e Cod e o f

Federa l Regulation s require s w e loo k t o "th e instrumen t

ratin g practica l test. " Althoug hResponden t refer s t o th e Instrument

Ratin g Practica l Tes t Standard s a s i f

i t wer e an unimportan t

"booklet " withlittl e authority , th e PT S i s incorporate db y referenc e i n § 61.57(d ) an dmus t b e adhere dto . Th e firs t

pag e o f th e

' Se e Complainant' s Opening Brief , Exhibi t A-2 . ^ Se e Respondent' s Repl

y Brief a t pag e 4 .PT S clearl y explain s tha t "Applicant s for

aninstrumen t

proficienc y chec k

require db y 1 4 CF Rsectio n 61.5 7 mus t

performt o th e standard s o f th e TASK s liste di nth e guidanc e provide do n pag e 16. '

B . Recen t

Chang e t o 1 4 CF R§ 61.57(d ) T o support

it s argumen t

tha t th e recen t

chang e t o § 61.57(d ) someho w give s meanin g t o th e prio r

versio n o f

th e regulation . Responden t cite s aportio no f

th e Federa l Registe r tha t state s "Th e proficienc y chec k woul dconsis t

o f th e task s liste di nth e practica l tes t

standard s fo r

th e instrumen t

ratin g appropriat e t o th e aircraf t category."" * (emphasi s adde db y Respondent) . I nth e sentenc e prior , tha t volum e o f

th e Federa l Registe r als o state s tha t

"Th e proficienc y chec k

woul dhav e t o b e performe di nth e sam e aircraf t category tha t

i s appropriat e t o th e instrumen t privilege s desired." ^ (emphasi s added) . Yet , th e prio r

versio n o f

1 4 CFR§ 61.57(d)(l)(i) , clearl y require dtha t "Th e instrumen t

proficienc y chec k

mus t b e i nanaircraf

t tha t i s appropriat e t o th e aircraf t category. " Th e Federa l Registe r us e o f th e wor d"would " doe s not indicat e anythin g ne w o r differen t fro mwha t

wa s previousl y require db y §61.57(d)(l)(i) . Similarly , th e us e o f th e ter m"woul dconsis t

o f doe s no t contemplat e ane w requiremen t for a nIP C a s Responden t

assume s i t

must . Bothth e prio r

an dcurren t

version s o f

1 4 C.F.R . § 61.57(d ) requir e complianc e withth e instrumen t

ratin g practica l tes t

standards . Th e rewordin g o f § 61.57(d ) di dno t ad dthi s ne w requirement ; i t simpl y clarified , a s admitte db y Responden t i nit s Repl y Brie f at pag e 6 . Th e fac t

tha t th e regulatio nwas reworde dha s n o effec t o nth e requiremen t

t o adher e t o th e PT S an ddoe s not support Respondent' s argument .

^ Se e Complainant' s Opening Brief , Exhibi t A-2 . " * Se e Respondent' s Repl

y Brief a t pag e 7 . ' Se e Respondent' s Repl

y Brief , Exhibit R-2 .C . Respons e t o Exhibi t R- 1 presente di nRespondent' s Repl y Brief ^ Eve n assumin g in arguend o tha t anothe r operato r incorrectl y certifie danIP C usin g anFT D tha t

coul dno t

performth e requisit e TASKs , tha t doe s not negat e Respondent' s violatio n o f th e regulations . D . Propose dSanctio ni s appropriat e Eve n considerin g th e complian t attitud e cite db y Responden t i nit s Repl y Brie f

at pag e 7 , th e propose dcivi l penalt y o f $3,85 0 i s wel l withi nth e rang e provide di nFA A Orde r 2150.3B , Appendi x B , Sanctio nGuidanc e Tabl e a s discusse di nComplainant' s Openin g Brie f II . CONCLUSIO N Th e Responden t

certifie dIPC s usin g it s Fligh t Trainin g Devices ; however , Respondent' s FTD s d o no t performcertai nmaneuver s whic har e require dunde r §61.57(d ) an dth e incorporate dinstrumen t ratin g practica l tes t

standards . T o compl y with th e requirement s o f

1 4 C.F.R . § 61.57(d ) an dcomplet e anIPC , al l o f th e TASK s require d b y th e Instrumen t

Ratin g Practica l Tes t

Standard s ("PTS") , numbe r FAA-S-8081-4 D mus t b e completed . RTC' s FT D canno t performal l o f

th e require dTASKs . Therefore , Responden t

ha s violate d1 4 C.F.R . 61.57(d) , 1 4 C.F.R . 141.83(a)(1) , an d1 4 C.F.R . 141.41(b)(3) . WHEREFORE , Complainan t respectfull y request s asummary decisio no nth e recor db e entere dsustainin g th e Agency' s issuanc e o f aCivi l Penalty i nth e amoun t o f $3,85 0 agains t

Respondent . Pursuan t

t o th e sam e argument s above , th e Complainan t further respectfull y request s tha t Respondent' s Motio nfor Decisio nb e denied . * Se e Respondent' s Repl

y Brief a t pag e 3 an dExhibit R-1 .Lis t o f Attache dExhibit s Exhibi t Numbe r A- 1 Documen t

Orde r 8900.1 , Volum e 1 Genera l Instructo r Guidanc e an d Information . Chapte r

1 Handboo k

Organization , Us e an d Revisio n Numbe r o f Page s 2

Dated : Ma y 28,201 0 Respectfull y submitted .

BriaH' aMartin o Attorney , AGL-7 M Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n Offic e o f Regiona l Counse l 230 0 E . Devo nAvenu e De s Plaines , I L6001 8 Phone:847-294-731 3 FAX : 847-294-749 8 briana.martino@faa . go vCERTIFICAT EO FSERVIC E

I hereb y certif

y that I have , thi s date , serve dth e foregoin g Complainant' s Respons e t o Respondent' s Repl y Brie f b y mailin g copies thereof , vi aRegular

Mail , a s follows : Origina l an dOn e Cop y 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-43 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Building , Suit e 2W100 0

On e Cop y Charle s R . Barnett , H I Respondent' s Counse l 166 4 Moorlan dLan e Crysta l Lake , I L60014-298 5 Th e Honorabl e Richar dC . Goodwi n(Regular Mai l & Facsimile ) Administrativ e La w Judg e Offic e o f Hearings , M-2 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Eas t Buildin g Groun dFloo r Roo mEl2-32 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 Facsimile : 202-366-753 6

Date dthi s 28 * day o f

May , 201 0

Tamm y Gardne r Lega l Technicia n9/13/0 7 8900. 1 CHG O

VOLUM E1 GENERA LINSPECTO RGUIDANC EAN D INFORMATIO N CHAPTE R1 HANDBOO K ORGANIZATION , USE , AN D REVISIO N Sectio n 1 Genera l Handboo k Informatio n 1-1 . PURPOSE . Thi s orde r direct s th e activitie s o f

Aviatio nSafet

y Inspector s (ASI ) wh o ar e responsibl e for

th e certification , technica l administration , an dsurveillanc e o f ai r carriers , certai n othe r ai r operator s wh o conduc t

thei r operation s i naccordanc e withth e appropriat e par t o f Title 1 4 o f th e Cod e o f

Federa l Regulation s (1 4 CFR) , certificate dairme nan dothe r aviatio nactivities . Thi s orde r

als o provide s directio n fo r task s relate dt o aircraf

t accident s an dincidents , investigation s an dcompliance , th e aviatio nsafet y program , administrativ e areas , an d miscellaneou s task s no t

relate dt o aspecifi c regulation . I naddition , i t contain s regiona l an d distric t offic e requirement s for

th e support

o f ASI s responsibl e fo r

thos e activities . 1-2 . CANCELLATION . Thi s handboo k cancel s th e Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n(FAA ) order s 8300.10 , 8400.10 , an d8700.1 . 1-3 . STANDARDIZATIO N AN D COORDINATION . A majo r objectiv e o f

Fligh t Standard s Servic e (AFS ) i s t o standardiz e th e function s o f th e AS I position . Fo r

thi s reason , any chang e t o thi s orde r

mus t b e i n accordanc e withth e approve dAviatio nSafet y (AVS ) Internationa l Organizatio n for Standardizatio n(ISO ) process . A . Directio n an dGuidance . Shoul dinspectors , supervisors , an dmanager s findth e directio n an dguidanc e o f thi s orde r

to o restrictiv e o r

inappropriat e for

aspecifi c case , areques t shoul db e mad e fo r

permissio n t o deviat e fi'omth e guidance . Suc hrequest s shoul db e forwarde d throug hth e applicabl e Fligh t Standard s regiona l divisio nt o th e appropriat e Fligh t Standard s Servic e (AFS ) headquarter s division . B . Authorit y t o Chang e Thi s Document . Th e Directo r o f Fligh t Standard s Service , AFS-1 , mus t

approv e al l change s t o thi s order . C . Conflict s Wit hOthe r Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n(FAA ) Orders . Th e guidanc e i nthi s orde r

may b e foun dt o b e i nconflic t withtha t i nother FA A order s an d directives . Thi s situatio n ma y aris e inadvertentl y o r becaus e i t

i s impractica l t o revis e al l order s simultaneously . I n suc hacase , th e orde r withth e mos t

recen t dat e shoul dnormall y b e used . Shoul dth e guidanc e i n thi s orde r conflic t with1 4 CFR , 1 4 CF Rtake s precedence . Inspector s shoul drefe r

question s abou t

suc hconflict s t o thei r

immediat e supervisors . Supervisor s an d manager s may contac t

th e respectiv e AF S Divisio nthroug hth e regiona l offic e t o resolv e suc h questions . D . Availabilit y o f

thi s Order . Thi s orde r

i s availabl e t o bothFA A personne l an dt o individual s outsid e th e FAA . Fligh t Standard s inspector s shoul dadvis e operator s o f th e availabilit y o f

thi s order . 

### 1 UNCONTROLLE D COP Y WHE NDOWNLOADE D Chec k wit hFSIM S t o verif

y curren t versio nbefore usin g 19/13/0 7 8900. 1 CHG O

1-4 . HANDBOO K

REVISIONS . Individual s at al l level s o f

th e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (FAA ) an dindividual s i nth e aviatio nindustry ar e encourage dt o mak e suggestion s for

revision s t o th e order . A . Handboo k

Revisio n Process . IS O proces s AFS-100-00 1 i s th e procedur e fo r revisin g thi s order . Th e nee dfor arevisio nmay becom e eviden t whe nachang e occur s i nth e aviatio nindustry , nationa l an dinternationa l regulatory bodies , i n1 4 CFR, o r FA A policies . B . Polic y Question s o r

Concerns . An y question s o r concer nregardin g polic y mus t b e coordinate dwithfieldoffic e management . I f th e issu e canno t

b e resolve dat

th e fieldoffic e level , th e offic e managemen t may emai l th e FSIM S Libraria nwit hacop y t o th e fieldoffice' s region . C . Revie w an dNotification . Al l questions , concerns , o r suggestion s submitte dwil l b e reviewe dan dconsidere db y th e appropriat e polic y division . Th e FSIM S Libraria nwil l acknowledg e receip t

o f eac hsuggestion . 1-5 . DIRECTIV EAN D GUIDANC EINFORMATION . A . Directiv e Information . Directiv e informatio ni s informatio ntha t i s considere d directiv e i nnatur e an dwil l contai n term s suc ha s "shall, " o r "must, " an dmean s th e action s ar e mandatory . "Shal l not " mean s th e actio ni s prohibited . Th e us e o f thes e term s wil l leav e n o flexibility, an dthei r

directio n shal l b e followe dunles s otherwis e authorize db y Headquarters . B . Guidanc e Information . Guidanc e informatio ni s informatio nconsidere dguidin g i n natur e an dwil l contai n term s suc ha s "will, " "should, " o r "may. " Thes e term s indicat e action s tha t ar e desirable , permissive , o r no t mandatory , an dallo w flexibility. RESERVED . Paragraph s 1-6 . throug h1-25 .

2

UNCONTROLLE D COP Y WHE N DOWNLOADE D Chec k withFSIM S t o verif

y curren t versio nbefor e usin g