AFS-13-269-E 

March 21, 2013 

 Exemption No. 10690B 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2013-0034 

Stacey Bechdolt, Esq. 

Director, Safety & Technical Affairs 

Regional Airline Association 

2025 M Street, NW., Suite 800 

Washington, DC 20036 

Mr. Douglas Mullen 

Assistant General Counsel 

Airlines for America 

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1100 

Washington, DC 20004 

Mr. George Paul 

Director of Technical Services 

National Air Carrier Association 

1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1700 

Arlington, VA 22209 

Dear Ms. Bechdolt: 

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

No. 10690, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists 

the revised conditions and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated March 4, 2013, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of Regional Airline Association (RAA) for an amendment to Exemption No. 10690, as 

amended. That exemption from § 121.803(c)(3) and Appendix A of part 121 of Title 14, 

Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) provides relief from the requirement to include 
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Atropine in an Emergency Medical Kit (EMK). The amendment you request would add 

Empire Airlines to the list of part 119 certificate holders authorized under this exemption. 

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 delaying action would adversely affect the air carriers due to 

the imminent effect on operations that would be caused by the Atropine shortage. 

In considering this amendment the FAA recognizes that air carriers are coping with a 

nationwide manufacturing shortage that leaves affected certificate holders without an 

alternate means to comply. Further, the nationwide shortage is affecting not only EMK 

suppliers, but also ground-based medical service providers. Therefore, the FAA finds that it 

is in the public interest to extend this grant of exemption to all part 119 certificate holders 

authorized to conduct part 121 passenger carrying operations. 

Our Decision 

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. §§ 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant passenger member airlines of Regional 

Airline Association, Airlines for America, and National Air Carrier Association, and all 

similarly situated air carriers, an exemption from 14 CFR § 121.803(c)(3) and Appendix A of 

part 121, to the extent necessary to relieve them from the requirement to carry two single dose 

ampules of Atropine 5cc injectable, in required on-board EMKs when, due to the nationwide 

shortage discussed herein, they are unable to procure these items for the kits. This exemption 

is subject to the following conditions and limitations. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. This exemption applies to the part 119 certificate holders authorized to conduct 

part 121 passenger carrying operations. 

 

2. A copy of this exemption must be carried on board each aircraft operating with 

emergency medical kits that do not include Atropine as required by Appendix A of 

part 121. 
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3. As part of the requirement under §119.43(c) to keep each of its employees and other 

persons used in its operation informed of the provisions of their operations 

specifications that apply to that employee’s or person’s duties and responsibilities, the 

certificate holders must inform crewmembers that any emergency medical kits on 

board the aircraft may not contain Atropine. 

4. This exemption may be used for flights conducted outside of the United States. 

The Effect of Our Decision 

The termination date of Exemption No. 10690, as amended, remains January 31, 2014, unless 

sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John S. Duncan 

Deputy Director, Flight Standards 

 Service