# 8/GHORN A/RWAYS,NC.

P.O. BOX 4037 • 912 W. BRUNDAGE LANE • SHERIDAN, WYOMING 82801 • PHONE 307.672.3421 • FAX 307.672.8580 • WWW.BIGHORNAIRWAYS.COM

U.S. Department ofTransportation Docket Management System 400 7'h St. SW Room PL 401 Washington, D.C. 20591-001 April 7, 2015 Bighorn Airways PO Box 4037 Sheridan, WY 82801 (307)672-3421 Attn: Chris Eisele c.eisele@bighornairways.com

Petition for Request of Regulatory Exemption; Bighorn Airways Air Carrier Certificate BIGA467C Summary ofrequest; 14CFR 43.3(g), contains provisions for pilots ofany aircraft operated under Part 91, to perform preventative maintenance , as defined by 14 CFR 43 Appendix A(c). 43.3(g) also prohibits pilots ofaircraftoperated under 14 CFR 135, from performing these same preventative maintenancetasks. Bighorn Airways (BHA), requests relief from this regulation, specifically to allow pilots operating under Part 135 ondemand, in support ofUS government contracts, in areas where maintenance is not available, to perform routine aircrafttire pressure checks and servicing. This request applies to all BHA Dornier 228-202 and CASA 212-200 aircraft. Description ofOperations; Bighorn Airways operates aircraft under Part 135on OAS/USFS/BLM contracts, principally forsmokejumperand para-cargo deployment, in support ofwildfire suppression. Aircraft are frequently redirected during the fire season to remote bases where maintenance facilities orsupportis unavailable

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**~,** Justification for reliefand substantiation ofequivalent level ofsafety;



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**-~·.** Bighorn Airways aircraftsupport operations on the aforementioned, and similar, US Government contracts that are critical tothe public interest. Due tothe rugged terrain and limited access where wildfire frequently occurs on public lands, BHA provides the means to initially deploy and re-supply firefighting personnel and equipment, to supportthe firefighting efforts and maintain personnel safety. 1. Pilots authorized to perform aircrafttire servicing will be trained on servicing procedures and precautions, including hands-on training with a certified A&P mechanic. Thistraining record will be retained inthe pilot's trainingfile and will have an annual recurrent requirement. 1. Calibrated tire pressure gauges will be assigned to each aircraft and kept on board for performing these checks. 2. Pilot procedures forchecking and servicing tires will be used when maintenance is unavailable. 3. Tires on the aircraftfor which Bighorn Airways seeks relieffrom CFR 43.3(g), are not high pressure tires, having a maximum inflation pressure of80psi or less. 4. Allowing pilots to verify propertire pressures when a visual indication of possible under-inflation exists (such as due to uneven surface or aircraft loading), maintains the standards ofoperational safety while avoiding delay to missions critical to public safety or interests. s. In accordance with Bighorn Airways General Operations Manual, Chapter 7 (Maintenance Policies and Procedures), any further discrepancies 

### will be reported to Bighorn Airways maintenance for corrective action, as per current procedures.
The undersigned applicant accepts responsibility forthe strict observance ofthe terms ofan exemption issued as a result ofthis petition and understands it is applicable only ifthe conditions listed are met and forthe operations described. I CERTIFY the foregoing statements are true.
Signature Chris Eisele Vice President/DirectorofOperations Bighorn Airways