June 23, 2014

Federal Aviation Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation,

Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor,

Room W12–140,

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,

Washington, DC 20590

Re: Exemption No. 5487, FAA Docket No. FAA-2002-12455 

Ladies/Gentlemen: 

In accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14CFR) § 11.61, the Air 

Transport Association, Inc. (dba Airlines for America), on behalf of its member airlines1

1

and other similarly situated Part 121 certificate holders, petitions the Administrator for an 

extension of Exemption No. 5487J. This exemption is scheduled to expire on July 31, 

2014. 

14 CFR § 61.3(a) provides, in pertinent part, that no person may, within the United 

States, act as pilot in command or in any other capacity as a required flight crewmember 

of a U.S. civil aircraft unless he has in his personal possession a current pilot certificate 

issued under Part 61. Sections 61.3(c) and 121.383(a)(2) state that no person may act as 

pilot in command or in any other capacity as a required flight crewmember unless he has 

in his personal possession an appropriate current medical certificate issued under Part 67. 

Section 63.3(a) sets forth similar requirements for flight engineers. Section 121.383(a)(2) 

establishes similar requirements for airmen. 

Exemption No. 5487J provides relief from 14 CFR §§ 61.3(a) and (c), 63.3(a), and 

121.383(a)(2). It permits the establishment of special procedures that enable an operator 

to issue to its flight crewmembers, on a temporary basis, confirmation of any required 

crewmember certificates based upon information contained in the operator's approved 

record system subject to certain conditions and limitations. Exemption No. 5487J has 

proved to be a useful device that benefits the commercial aviation industry and the flying 

public. For this reason, it should be extended. 

 

1 Members: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, Federal Express, Hawaiian 

Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Unite Parcel Service Co., US Airways. 

Associate Member: Air Canada
Good cause exists to complete action on this petition by July 31, 2014. (14 CFR § 

11.81). With regard to public interest and equivalent levels of safety, the conditions and 

circumstances, which warranted the grant of exemption originally, continue to exist. 

Over ten years of operational experience under this exemption demonstrates that granting 

a renewal of Exemption 5487J would not adversely affect safety and would be in the 

public interest. 

Furthermore, the renewal of this exemption is not a controversial issue. This petition 

does not seek to establish a precedent, but merely would continue an accepted and 

established practice. Accordingly, ATA requests that publication in the Federal Register

be waived as unnecessary (14 CFR §11.87). 

A summary of this petition is attached as required by 14 CFR §11.81. If you have any 

questions or need additional information, please call me at (202) 626-4240. 

 Very truly yours,

 

AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION 

OF AMERICA (Airlines for 

America)

Donald R. Dillman

Managing Director Flight Operations

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 

Suite 1100

Washington, D.C. 20004-1707 

(202) 626-4285

ddillman@airlines.org 

Attachment 
SUMMARY OF PETITION

Airlines for America (A4A) 

Regulations affected

14 CFR § 61.3(a) and (c)

14 CFR § 63.3(a) 

14 CFR § 121.383(a)(2) 

Description of Relief Sought: 

The Airlines for America (A4A) petitions on behalf of its member airlines and other 

similarly situated Part 121 operators for an extension of Exemption No. 5487J. The 

exemption permits establishment of special procedures that enable an operator to 

issue to its flight crewmembers, on a temporary basis, confirmation of any required 

crewmember certificates based upon information contained in the operator's 

approved record system subject to certain conditions and limitations.