FedEx Partner Airline Seeks FAA Waiver to Deploy ATR 72s on Caribbean Routes
FDX•FedEx partner airline Mountain Air Cargo is petitioning the FAA for a waiver from Part 121 overwater flight limits so it can replace its 10 ATR 42s with larger ATR 72 freighters on routes to Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. Without relief from ETOPS burdens, Caribbean shuttle service risks interruption.
1. Waiver Request to FAA
Mountain Air Cargo has filed a petition with the Federal Aviation Administration seeking a waiver from Part 121 overwater flight limitations to operate larger ATR 72 freighters under the less stringent Part 135 regime. The airline aims to avoid an expensive ETOPS certification, which is required for scheduled carriers flying beyond 60 minutes from land.
2. Fleet Replacement Plan
The carrier plans to phase out its aging fleet of 10 ATR 42 freighters, each with a 7,500-pound payload limit under Part 135, in favor of 13 ATR 72-200 and 72-600 turboprops supplied by FedEx. The transition to larger aircraft is intended to boost capacity on niche Caribbean routes that are uneconomical for mainline jets.
3. Regulatory Framework Differences
Under Part 121 rules, scheduled operators face a strict 60-minute maximum single-engine flight limit over water without ETOPS approval, whereas Part 135 regulations permit overwater operations up to three hours under alternative safety provisions. Mountain Air contends the incremental distance of less than 20 miles beyond Part 121 limits does not justify the operational and administrative burdens of ETOPS.
4. Impact on Caribbean Service
The waiver is critical for sustaining service to Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire, where regional shuttle demand depends on reliable turboprop connections to larger FedEx hubs. Failure to secure relief could interrupt cargo links for island markets, potentially disrupting the FedEx feeder network and raising logistics costs.
