FAA Tightens Reins On Plane Inspections

In Wake Of Southwest Safety Failures, FAA To Check All U.S. Airlines' Inspections Paperwork

(AP)  The Federal Aviation Administration, under fire for its handling of missed safety inspections at Southwest Airlines Co., said Tuesday it is ordering a check of maintenance records at all U.S. airlines.

The FAA's action applies to maintenance records on older Boeing 737 jets. FAA inspectors will check to make sure the airlines have complied with orders to perform the type of structural inspections that Southwest missed.

The FAA hit Southwest this month with a $10.2 million civil penalty for missing the inspections and then continuing to fly the planes with passengers on board even after realizing the mistake. Dallas-based Southwest plans to appeal.

Acting FAA Administrator Robert Sturgell said Tuesday the failure of Southwest to check the fuselages of its planes for cracks prompted him to ensure that other carriers were meeting the same requirement.

"While the data tell us flying is safer than ever, prudence dictates we take this additional precaution and conduct a special emphasis review," Sturgell said.

Sturgell said the first check of the airlines' maintenance records will be done by March 28 and a full audit finished by June 30.

The FAA said it would check compliance with at least 10 safety orders, called airworthiness directives, at every airline by March 28. The agency said a full audit covering at least 10 percent of all safety directives will be finished by June 30.

Southwest turned itself in to the FAA last March after discovering it had missed structural safety inspections on some planes. The company is conducting an internal review, and the FAA is also investigating how the lapses occurred.

After a drumbeat of bad publicity lasting more than a week, Southwest confirmed Monday that it was suspending plans to outsource some of its maintenance work to a contractor in El Salvador.

The Business Travel Coalition, a group representing corporate travel customers, said U.S. airlines outsourcing of maintenance costs rose from 26 percent in 1997 to 64 percent in 2006. The group called for more FAA oversight of repair facilities both in the United States and in foreign countries, with the cost of inspections borne by airlines that outsource maintenance work.

[mbburch06]

The bigger question is: why do we trust the FAA to keep us safe? The private sector is very efficient when it comes to protecting property. When is the last time you''ve seen a Brinks truck robbed? It doesn''t happen.

The last thing an airline wants is an accident that costs them a $50 million aircraft, bad PR, and hundreds of wrongful death lawsuits. In contrast, the beaurocrats at the FAA have very little incentive to keep us safe.

Let''s not forget: the FAA was responsible for the pre-9/11 rule that airplanes were not permitted to have armed guards on board. Without government meddling, it''s quite possible that those planed would never have been hijacked.

The more we depend on government for our safety, the less safe we''ll be.

[jjp735i]

What, the FAA is going to do it''s job now? For how long is the bigger question?

[marcpcbs]

Why is it so hard to get the Feds to do their job these days? 12 million illegal aliens, Zero flight safety, Banks breaking every loan law in existence and drugs hurting millions of kids in all of our schools. The INS, the FAA, the FTC, and the DEA must be all hanging out at the same doughnut shop. Can we just stop paying them and put the money we save toward arresting the Feds that refuse to do their job?

[kennergirl]

You would think that the FAA would inspect planes. It seems they leave it up to the individual companies to do the inspections and perhaps turn in the inspection reports (of course they might not even do that). I''m sure some companies do real bang up jobs with their reports too. Southwest''s fine might be a drop in the bucket after the FAA starts inspecting all the airlines.

[timdgrim]

Southwest is a good safe airline and always has been.
According to the article, they turned themselves in on this matter. Now, just imagine how many other airlines would have done that. Zero, None, Nada.
So I give Southwest some credit. Herb Kelleher put a good thing in the air when he formed Southwest. Reliable, cost effective, transportation with no frills. I do miss the hot pants on the flight attendants though!!! I know, I''m old......