AFS

- 13

- 105

- E January 2, 2013

Exemption No. 7504F Regulatory Docket No. FAA

- 2002

- 13930

Mr. David Wilson Director, Flight Operations Pinnacle Airlines, Inc.

40 South Main Street Memphis, TN 38103

Dear Mr. Wilson :

This letter is to inform you that we have g ranted your petition to extend Exemption

No. 7504, as amended . It expl ains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the

conditions and limitations.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated November 26, 2012

, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. ( Pinnacle)

, for an extension of Exemption

No. 7504, as amended . That exemption from § 121.434(c)(1)( ii ) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations allows Pinnacle to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman or aircrew program designee for an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying pilot in command (PIC) who is completing initial or upgrade training specified in § 121.424 during at least on e flight leg that includes a takeoff and a landing.

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 e xemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition

in the Federal Register beca use the requested extension of the exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting on this petitio n would be detr imental to Pinnacle.2

Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 7504 , 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 delegat ed to me, I grant your petition, subject to the conditions and limitations listed

below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. A Pinnacle check airman or aircrew program designee may conduct a PIC obser vation in place of an FAA inspector when

—

a. The Administrator preapproves that substitution for each observation of a qualifying PIC candidate, thus reserving first right of refusal to the FAA in each case. Pinnacle, therefore, must contact an appropriate F AA office, in each instance, before substituting that check airman or aircrew program designee ;

b. The qualifying PIC candidate has completed no le ss than 10 hours of supervised operating e xperience (OE) and accomplished no fewer than two takeoffs and landing s; and

c. The qualifying PIC candidate is performing PIC duties during a complete flight leg, including f l ight deck preparation, before starting engines checklist, taxi, takeoff, all other flight phases, landing, taxi, and securing checklist.

2. Each Pinnacle c heck airman or aircrew program designee conducting a PIC observation in place of an FAA inspector must

—

a. Be approved by the Administrator to conduct the observation ;

b. Have served as a check airman or aircrew program designee for Pinnacle for no

less than 6 m onths ; and

c. Not supervise the OE or conduct the initial line check for the qualifying PIC candidate being observed.

3. Pinnacle must maintain student, check airman, and aircrew program designee records that demonstrate compliance with the conditions and limit ations of this exemption.3

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 7504, as amended, to April 30, 201 5 , unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

Michael J . Zenkovich Acting Director, Flight Standards Service