AFS-14-492-E

October 20, 2014

 Exemption No. 10196B

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2010-1165

Mr. James M. White

Director of Operations

Compass Airlines, LLC

7500 Airline Drive, Suite 130

Minneapolis, MN 55450

Dear Mr. White:

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

No. 10196, as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists 

the conditions and limitations.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated September 9, 2014, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Compass Airlines, LLC (Compass) for an extension of Exemption No. 10196, as 

amended. That exemption from § 121.652(a) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 

CFR) allows Compass to substitute crosswind component and braking action restriction, along 

with a requirement to utilize automatic landing and approach coupler (ALAC) equipment, at 

the destination and alternate airports in place of the existing restrictions to decision height 

(DH) and visibility minimums of Category I precision approaches for pilots in command 

(PIC) who have not yet accumulated 100 hours (50, if reducible) in their current aircraft type.

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 the requested extension of the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Compass.
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Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 10196

remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. Therefore, under the 

authority provided by 49 U.S.C. §§ 106(f), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator 

has delegated to me, Compass Airlines, LLC is granted an extension to Exemption No. 10196 

for § 121.652(a), to the extent it allows Compass to substitute crosswind component and 

braking action restriction, along with a requirement to utilize automatic landing and approach 

coupler (ALAC) equipment, at the destination and alternate airports in place of the existing 

restrictions to decision height (DH) and visibility minimums of Category I precision 

approaches for pilots in command (PIC) who have not yet accumulated 100 hours (50, if 

reducible) in their current aircraft type, subject to the following conditions and limitations.

Conditions and Limitations 

1. General. To use Category I instrument approach procedure weather minimums 

under any provisions of this exemption, a certificate holder must ensure that its 

flightcrew training and qualification program meets the following general 

requirements:

a. Suitable low visibility instrument approach, landing, and missed approach 

scenarios are included in flight training using the applicable airborne system 

and appropriate training devices or simulators for those scenarios; and

b. Specific approval by the certificate holder’s principal operations inspector to 

use this exemption is obtained for each aircraft type.

2. Category I, specific. A PIC with fewer than 100 hours as PIC in the airplane being 

operated may be authorized to use the lowest applicable Category I instrument 

approach minimums for a particular runway and instrument approach procedure if 

each of the following conditions is met:

a. The PIC and other required flight crewmembers are trained and qualified for 

Category II or are trained to an equivalent level with respect to the airborne 

system use, ground facility use, associated procedures, and any other relevant 

topics;

b. The aircraft and associated airborne systems are eligible for Category I or II for 

that operator when the certificate holder’s approved training program 

incorporates the use of an approach coupler or a heads-up display (HUD)

system that provides flight guidance information to DH;

c. The approach coupler or HUD system is used for the approach to DH or until 

initiation of a missed approach;
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d. The flightcrew must use appropriate instrument approach procedures for 

Category II or equivalent instrument approach procedures acceptable to the 

Administrator; and

e. Category I instrument approach procedures or landings will not be initiated 

when the weather conditions are below 4,000 runway vision range (3/4 mile 

visibility) and the crosswind component exceeds 15 knots combined with a 

braking action report of less than “good.”

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 10196 to January 31, 2017, 

unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely,

/s/

Michael J. Zenkovich

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service