§40109. Authority to exempt
(a)
(A) an air carrier not engaged directly in operating aircraft in air transportation; or
(B) a foreign air carrier not engaged directly in operating aircraft in foreign air transportation.
(2) The exemption is effective to the extent and for periods that the Secretary decides are in the public interest.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) because of the limited extent of, or unusual circumstances affecting, the operation of the air carrier, the enforcement of section 42112(b)(1) and (2) of this title is or would be an unreasonable burden on the air carrier that would obstruct its development and prevent it from beginning or continuing operations; and
(2) the exemption would not affect adversely the public interest.
(e)
(f)
(A)(i) provides passenger transportation only with aircraft having a maximum capacity of 55 passengers; or
(ii) provides the transportation of cargo only with aircraft having a maximum payload of less than 18,000 pounds; and
(B) complies with liability insurance requirements and other regulations the Secretary prescribes.
(2) The Secretary may increase the passenger or payload capacities when the public interest requires.
(3)(A) An exemption under this subsection applies to an air carrier providing air transportation between 2 places in Alaska, or between Alaska and Canada, only if the carrier is authorized by Alaska to provide the transportation.
(B) The Secretary may limit the number or location of places that may be served by an air carrier providing transportation only in Alaska under an exemption from section 41101(a)(1) of this title, or the frequency with which the transportation may be provided, only when the Secretary decides that providing the transportation substantially impairs the ability of an air carrier holding a certificate issued by the Secretary to provide its authorized transportation, including the minimum transportation requirement for Alaska specified under section 41732(b)(1)(B) of this title.
(g)
(A) because of an emergency created by unusual circumstances not arising in the normal course of business, air carriers holding certificates under section 41102 of this title cannot accommodate traffic in those markets;
(B) all possible efforts have been made to accommodate the traffic by using the resources of the air carriers, including the use of-
(i) foreign aircraft, or sections of foreign aircraft, under lease or charter to the air carriers; and
(ii) the air carriers' reservations systems to the extent practicable;
(C) the exemption is necessary to avoid unreasonable hardship for the traffic in the markets that cannot be accommodated by the air carriers; and
(D) granting the exemption will not result in an unreasonable advantage to any party in a labor dispute where the inability to accommodate traffic in a market is a result of the dispute.
(2) When the Secretary grants an exemption to a foreign air carrier under this subsection, the Secretary shall-
(A) ensure that air transportation that the foreign air carrier provides under the exemption is made available on reasonable terms;
(B) monitor continuously the passenger load factor of air carriers in the market that hold certificates under section 41102 of this title; and
(C) review the exemption at least every 30 days (or, in the case of an exemption that is necessary to provide and sustain air transportation in American Samoa between the islands of Tutuila and Manu'a, at least every 180 days) to ensure that the unusual circumstances that established the need for the exemption still exist.
(3)
(A)
(B)
(4)
(h)
(
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 40109(a) | 49 App.:1301(3) (proviso). | Aug. 23, 1958,
|
| 49 App.:1386(b)(3). | Aug. 23, 1958,
|
|
| 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). | Aug. 23, 1958,
|
|
| 40109(b) | 49 App.:1348(e). | |
| 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). | ||
| 49 App.:1655(c)(1). | Oct. 15, 1966,
|
|
| 40109(c) | 49 App.:1386(b)(1). | Aug. 23, 1958,
|
| 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). | ||
| 40109(d) | 49 App.:1386(b)(2) (less words between 6th and 7th commas, proviso). | |
| 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). | ||
| 40109(e) | 49 App.:1386(b)(2) (proviso). | |
| 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). | ||
| 40109(f) | 49 App.:1386(b)(4), (5), (6) (less words between 5th and 6th commas). | |
| 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). | ||
| 40109(g) | 49 App.:1386(b)(7). | Aug. 23, 1958,
|
| 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). | ||
| 40109(h) | 49 App.:1386(b)(2) (words between 6th and 7th commas), (6) (words between 5th and 6th commas). | |
| 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). |
In this section, the words "requirements of", "term", and "or limitation" are omitted as surplus. The word "rule" is omitted as being synonymous with "regulation". The word "unreasonable" is substituted for "undue" for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.
In subsection (a)(1), before clause (A), the words "by order" are omitted as unnecessary because of 5:ch. 5, subch. II. The word "exempt" is substituted for "relieve" for consistency in this section.
In subsection (a)(2), the words "that the Secretary decides" are added for clarity.
In subsections (b), (c), and (f)(1)(B), the words "from time to time" are omitted as unnecessary.
In subsection (b), the word "Administrator" in section 307(e) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (
In subsection (d), before clause (1), the words "to the extent" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (f)(1), before clause (A), the words "Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection" and "in air transportation" are omitted as surplus. The words "the Secretary may exempt" are substituted for "as may be prescribed in regulations promulgated by the Board" for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (A)(ii), the word "capacity" is omitted as surplus. In clause (B), the word "reasonable" is omitted as surplus. The word "prescribes" is substituted for "adopt" for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code. The words "in the public interest" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (f)(2), the words "by regulation" are omitted as surplus. The word "payload" is substituted for "property" for consistency in this subsection. The words "specified in this paragraph" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (f)(3), the words "the State of" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (f)(3)(A), the words "under this subsection" are substituted for "from section 1371 of this title or any other requirement of this chapter", the words "2 places" are substituted for "points both of which are", and the word "between" is substituted for "one of which is in . . . and the other in", to eliminate unnecessary words.
In subsection (f)(3)(B), the word "only" is added for clarity. The words "promulgated by the Board", "by such air carrier to points within such State", and "but not limited to" are omitted as surplus. The word "Alaska" is substituted for "such State" for clarity. The cross-reference is to section 41732(b)(1)(B) to correct an error in the source provisions. The cross-reference in 49 App.:1386(b)(6) to 49 App.:1389(c)(2) should have been to 49 App.:1389(f)(2). This error was not corrected when 49 App.:1389 was restated by section 202(b) of the Airport and Airway Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1987 (
In subsection (g), the word "exemption" is substituted for "authorization" and "authority" for clarity and consistency.
In subsection (g)(1), before clause (A), the words "required", "a period", and "to the extent necessary" are omitted as surplus. The word "mail" is omitted as being included in "cargo". In clause (B), before subclause (i), the words "for example" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (g)(3), the words "a period" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (h), the words "The Secretary may act under subsections (d) and (f)(3)(B) of this section" are added because of the restatement. The word "notice" does not appear in 49 App.:1386(b)(6) (words between 5th and 6th commas) but is made applicable to both of the restated source provisions for consistency with subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code. The words "opportunity for a" are added for consistency in the revised title.
Pub. L. 104–287
This amends 49:40109(c) to correct an error in the codification enacted by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2024-Subsec. (b).
2018-Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (g)(2)(C).
Subsec. (g)(3), (4).
1996-Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by
Authority To Grant Exemptions to Government Aircraft
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) the Administrator finds that granting the exemption is necessary to prevent an undue economic burden on the unit of government; and
"(B) the Administrator certifies that the aviation safety program of the unit of government is effective and appropriate to ensure safe operations of the type of aircraft operated by the unit of government."