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Southwest has no plans to meet FAA fine deadline

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PreContact

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Posts
317
I thought they were friends?

http://www.flightglobal.com/article...t-has-no-plans-to-meet-faa-fine-deadline.html

Southwest has no plans to meet FAA fine deadline
By Lori Ranson


Dallas-based low cost carrier Southwest Airlines has informed the US FAA it does not intend to pay a $10.2 million fine--due by 29 August--levied by the agency against the carrier in March after the airline failed to complete mandatory inspections of 46 aircraft.
FAA claims Southwest flew the planes without adhering to a September 2004 airworthiness directive requiring inspections of the aircraft fuselages for cracks.
Southwest has been in consultations with the agency, a carrier spokeswoman says, and "hopes to resolve the matter amicably with FAA".
However, she specifically states the carrier will not pay the fine by the stated deadline.
The Southwest fine triggered massive attention on oversight of carriers by FAA after issues emerged that suggested too close of a relationship between the two parties.
Shortly after the fine was issued, US Representative James Oberstar released a statement explaining the manager of regulatory compliance for Southwest at the time was a former FAA safety inspector in the US Southwest regional office until his resignation in 2006 to assume the role at Southwest.
American Airlines in the aftermath of the Southwest inspection lapse was forced to ground the majority of its MD-80 fleet and cancel more than 3,000 flights to comply with FAA regulations.
 
Wow! WN is starting to act like a legacy, don't pay bills cut a few flights, what next no peanuts. If they start to paint the planes get scared. (sarcasm for those of you with out a sense of humor)
 
Don't pay ontime and I imagine there will be penalties and interest added. If the FAA is not going to budge what will be the result? You can't just say 'I won't pay!' Could the FAA threaten to suspend their certificate over this?
 
Don't pay ontime and I imagine there will be penalties and interest added. If the FAA is not going to budge what will be the result? You can't just say 'I won't pay!' Could the FAA threaten to suspend their certificate over this?

Could end up in the courts and I don't think SWA or the FAA want that? Would probably be some bad press for both; justified or unjustified, perception overrides reality when it hits the media.
 
Let's add this up:

FAA hits SWA with a $10 million fine for operating aircraft that boeing says were safe.

FAA hits AA with $7.1 million fine for improperly deferred maintenance items. Further, the FAA forces AA to ground a bunch of safe airplanes for 'improperly' secured wire bundles & costs AA millions of dollars.

FAA hits Alaska with a $500,000 fine for improper escape lighting in 1 airplane.

FAA hits UAL with $18,000 fine for a maintenace problem that directly led to an accident. The problem was then found on one third of UAL's A320s.

Meanwhile, NWA has great maintenance. They are maintaing the oldest fleet in the business with a bunch of replacement mechanics. I'm sure everything there is strictly in compliance.


The only explanation I have is that Senator Ober-goober is from Minnesotta, and the head of the FAA is a former UAL pilot. Politics sucks.
 
It will end up in court. I'm a little surprised you guys don't support SWA and AA in this. The FAA is out of control. You all fly in the "airspace" everyday. It hasn't changed substantially since the late 1950s. The FAA needs to get off it A$$ and redesign airspace for more efficient use rather than acting like jack-booted thugs and attempting to run airlines out of business when they are most vulnerable. You've got TSA guys out there using pitot tubes as ladders! These guys are out of control, you all know it, you live it everyday.

rant off
 
It will end up in court. I'm a little surprised you guys don't support SWA and AA in this. The FAA is out of control. You all fly in the "airspace" everyday. It hasn't changed substantially since the late 1950s. The FAA needs to get off it A$$ and redesign airspace for more efficient use rather than acting like jack-booted thugs and attempting to run airlines out of business when they are most vulnerable. You've got TSA guys out there using pitot tubes as ladders! These guys are out of control, you all know it, you live it everyday.

rant off
What does poor MX have to do with terrible airspace? I do agree though FAA=A$$
 

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