BEFOR ETH E FEDERA LAVIATIO NADMINISTRATIO N

OFFIC EO FHEARING S WASHINGTON , D.C . 

## :KE T

I NTH EMATTE RO F CONTINENTA LAIRLINES , INC . FA A Docke t No . CP10SW001 2 FA A Cas e No . 2009SW27020 2 DM S No . FAA-2010-097 9 Judg e Richar dC . Goodwi n

ANSWE RO F CONTINENTA LAIRLINES , INC . I

. X 

### 0 •••"^.._.-- n —^'-'J L 3 3

Pursuan t

t o Rul e 20 9 o f

th e Rule s o f

Practic e i nFA A Civi l Penalt y ActlxJii s C O C.F.R . Par t

13 , Subpar t

G) , Continenta l Airlines , Inc . ("Continental " o r "Respondent") , b y th e undersigned , file s thi s Answe r t o th e Complain t

o f th e Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n("FAA" ) i nth e above-captione dcas e tha t wa s serve db y certifie dmai l o nOctobe r 13 , 2010 , an dstate s a s follows " Admission s an dDenial s 1 . Th e procedura l histor y recite di nComplain t sectio nidentifie da s I i s ADMITTED . 2 . Th e allegation s i nComplain t paragrap hidentifie da s II 1 ar e ADMITTED . 3 . Th e allegation s i nComplain t paragrap hidentifie da s I I 2 ar e ADMITTED . -i n 3 m " o QAnswe r o f Continenta l Airhnes , Inc . Pag e 2 4 . Th e allegation s i nComplain t paragrap hidentifie da s I I 3 constitut e th e FAA' s characterizatio no f Boein g M M 32-45-02 , whic hspeak s fo r itsel f an di s th e bes t evidenc e o f

it s contents . 5 . Continenta l i s withou t sufficien t

knowledg e o r

informatio nt o admi t

o r den y th e allegation s i nComplain t paragrap hidentifie da s I I 4 a t thi s tim e an dintend s t o conduc t

discover y i nthi s matte r i naccordanc e wit hth e Rule s o f Practic e i nFA A Civi l Penalt y Action s an dth e Procedura l Order . 6 . Continenta l i s withou t sufficien t

knowledg e o r

informatio nt o admi t

o r den y th e allegation s i nComplain t paragrap hidentifie da s I I 5 a t thi s tim e an dintend s t o conduc t

discover y i nthi s matte r i naccordanc e wit hth e Rule s o f Practic e i nFA A Civi l Penalt y Action s an dth e Procedura l Order . 7 . Th e allegation s i nComplain t paragrap hidentifie da s I I 6 ar e ADMITTED . 8 . Th e allegation s i nComplain t paragrap hidentifie da s I I 7 constitut e th e FAA' s characterizatio nof th e Boein g maintenanc e manual , whic hspeak s fo r itsel f an d i s th e bes t

evidenc e o f

it s contents . 9 . Continenta l i s withou t sufficien t

knowledg e o r

informatio nt o admi t

o r den y th e allegation s i nComplain t paragrap hidentifie da s I I 8 a t thi s tim e an dintend s t o conduc t

discover y i nthi s matte r i naccordanc e wit hth e Rule s o f Practic e i nFA A Civi l Penalt y Action s an dth e Procedura l Order . 10 . Th e allegation s followin g Complain t paragrap hidentifie da s I I 8 an d designate da s a , b an dc ar e DENIED , pendin g discover y i nthi s matter .Answe r o f Continenta l Airhnes , Inc . Pag e 3 11 . Continenta l ADMIT S tha t th e maximu mpenalt y pe r violatio nunde r

th e regulation(s ) cite di nparagrap hII I 1 of th e Complain t

i s $25,000 , bu t

Continenta l DENIE S tha t

i t violate dth e regulation(s ) cite di nth e Complaint , pendin g discover y i n thi s matter , o r

i s otherwis e subjec t

t o acivi l penalt y i nthi s case . 12 . Continenta l DENIE S an y allegatio ni nth e Complain t no t specificall y addresse di nthi s Answer . Affirmativ e Defense s 1 . Fo r it s first affirmativ e defense , Continenta l assert s tha t th e FA A ha s faile dt o stat e aclai mupo nwhic hrelie f ca nb e based . 2 . Fo r it s secon daffirmativ e defense . Continenta l assert s tha t th e propose d civU penalt y i s excessive , no t appropriat e an dunwarrante dunde r th e circumstance s presented . Relie f Requeste d Continenta l respectfull y request s tha t th e Complain t

b e dismisse dwit h prejudice . Plac e o f Hearin g Continenta l request s tha t th e hearin g i nthi s matte r b e hel di nHouston , Texas , whic hi s th e corporat e headquarter s fo r Responden t

an dth e plac e fro mwhic hmos t Continenta l witnesse s wil l hkel y b e calle dt o testify .Answe r of Continenta l Airhnes , Inc . Pag e 4 Duratio no f Hearin g Continenta l expect s a t

thi s tim e tha t

th e hearin g wil l las t

tw o days , bu t

ma y tak e substantiall y longe r dependin g o nth e witnesse s t o testif y an dth e evidenc e t o b e presented . Respectfull y submitted .

Thoma s Newto nBolhn g Managin g Attorney , Regulator y Affair s Novembe r

16 , 201 0 DGIWDMS : 13751680._ 1Answe r o f Continenta l Airhnes , Inc . Pag e 5 CERTIFICAT EO FSERVIC E I certif y tha t o nthi s IG*:* ! da y o f

Novembe r

2010, 1 cause datru e cop y o f th e foregoin g Answe r

t o b e served : b y U.S . certifie dmai l (origina l an don e copy) , retur nreceip t requested , to : Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio 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 Buildin g - Suit e 2W100 0

an db y U.S . certifie dmai l (on e copy) , retur nreceip t requested , to : Ti mDuff , Complainant' s Counse l Attorney , Offic e o f

Regiona l Counsel , ASW- 7 Southwes t

Regio n Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n 260 1 Meacha mBoulevar d For t Worth , T X 76193-000 7 Th e Honorabl e Richar dC . Goodwin , Administrativ e La w Judg e U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Offic e o f Hearings , M-2 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Eas t Building , Groun dFloor , Roo mE12-32 0 Washington , D C 2059 0

Jud^ hA . Dabne y /