FAA hits American Airlines with biggest fine ever

[Ky.BrownBourbn]

FAA hits American Airlines with biggest fine ever

By Aaron Smith, CNNMoney.com staff writerAugust 26, 2010: 3:22 PM ET


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Federal aviation regulators slapped American Airlines on Thursday with the largest fine in history, charging that the carrier made thousands of unsafe flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it has "proposed" a $24.2 million civil penalty for American Airlines' failure to properly inspect wire bundles in the wheel wells of its MD-80 aircraft. The incident snarled thousands of flights in 2008.


The airline, owned by AMR Corp., (AMR, Fortune 500) did not follow the guidelines in the so-called 2006 Airworthiness Directive, which was intended to prevent wires from shorting, which could cause a loss of power and possibly a fire,the FAA said.
The airline's stock price is down 1.7%.
The FAA inspections resulted in the grounding of about 1,000 American Airlines flights in early April, 2008, after the FAA found that the airline did not properly inspect two of its airplanes.
As part of that inspection, the FAA determined that the airline operated 286 of its MD-80s on a total of 14,278 flights "while the aircraft were not in compliance with federal regulations."
FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said the fine is considered a proposal as a legal formality, because the airline has 30 days to respond and has the option of negotiating a smaller fine.
"There was never a flight safety issue," American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith told CNNMoney.com in an email.
"These events happened more than two years ago and we believe this action is unwarranted," he said. "We will challenge any proposed civil penalty. We are confident we have a strong case and the facts will bear this out."

Southwest CEO still cautious
Lunsford said that Southwest Airlines (LUV, Fortune 500) had previously been the recipient of the biggest FAA fine -- of $10.2 million -- which it was able to negotiate down to $7.5 million.

 

[Kharma Police]

So, if Southwest was able to knock off around 25% from the fine, then AMR should expect to pay around 18 mill? That's not so bad.............

 

[luckytohaveajob]

$1 of fine should roll heads in management as it does on the line. Cost like these display total and complete apathy towards safety waiting for crashes until fixes occur.

The AMR spokesman says it was two years ago and should not matter. How much management bonuses have been paid during the last two years?

Heads should roll at AMR and SWA or any other carrier caught abusing the public trust.

 

[N1atEcon]

The government is trying to get some cash stockpiled for Obamacare.

 

[GuppyWN]

At least the author didn't miss his shot at Southwest.

Gup

 

[Blueridgeflyer]

The government is trying to get some cash stockpiled for Obamacare.

This sounds like FAA entrepreneurism. Follow the money. Afterall we in the private sector apparently exist to fund the public sector. Nice job managing America's decline.

 

[Max Powers]

This sounds like FAA entrepreneurism. Follow the money. Afterall we in the private sector apparently exist to fund the public sector. Nice job managing America's decline.

What would you have them do??? Let them off scott free because the are an almighty Corporation.....Please!

As far as Obamacare, it will do more good then bad to this country. Any skilled and learned Medical/CPA knows Doctors like to - "taxi slow". In other words they over prescribe test etc. this makes us all fell good with the added attention and we also think wow what great medical care. The only problem is that much of it is a waste, just so they can bring in additional income. My 93 year old grandma had a Pap smear performed unbeknown to the family. Not necessary. When we try to put a stop to this; the right wing crazys say we are trying to ration health care.

And let us not forget their claim on "Death panels". Over 40 percent of all Medicare money is spent in the last 30 days of someones life. This prolongs their suffering and makes dying that much harder. They should be educated on their choices if their health goes south. Its called a living will and has been around for over a century.

Like it or not Obama is a straight shooter and is trying to fix some very complex problems that will take years to fix. The sarah palins of the world know how to tell you what you want to hear and use fear to get you to vote for them. Don't fall for their trap.

 

[AceOnTheRiver]

What would you have them do??? Let them off scott free because the are an almighty Corporation.....Please!

As far as Obamacare, it will do more good then bad to this country. Any skilled and learned Medical/CPA knows Doctors like to - "taxi slow". In other words they over prescribe test etc. this makes us all fell good with the added attention and we also think wow what great medical care. The only problem is that much of it is a waste, just so they can bring in additional income. My 93 year old grandma had a Pap smear performed unbeknown to the family. Not necessary. When we try to put a stop to this; the right wing crazys say we are trying to ration health care.

And let us not forget their claim on "Death panels". Over 40 percent of all Medicare money is spent in the last 30 days of someones life. This prolongs their suffering and makes dying that much harder. They should be educated on their choices if their health goes south. Its called a living will and has been around for over a century.

Like it or not Obama is a straight shooter and is trying to fix some very complex problems that will take years to fix. The sarah palins of the world know how to tell you what you want to hear and use fear to get you to vote for them. Don't fall for their trap.

OMG, I never laughed so much. You are very clever to post something so hilariously written

 

[IAHERJ]

What would you have them do??? Let them off scott free because the are an almighty Corporation.....Please!

As far as Obamacare, it will do more good then bad to this country. Any skilled and learned Medical/CPA knows Doctors like to - "taxi slow". In other words they over prescribe test etc. this makes us all fell good with the added attention and we also think wow what great medical care. The only problem is that much of it is a waste, just so they can bring in additional income. My 93 year old grandma had a Pap smear performed unbeknown to the family. Not necessary. When we try to put a stop to this; the right wing crazys say we are trying to ration health care.

And let us not forget their claim on "Death panels". Over 40 percent of all Medicare money is spent in the last 30 days of someones life. This prolongs their suffering and makes dying that much harder. They should be educated on their choices if their health goes south. Its called a living will and has been around for over a century.

Like it or not Obama is a straight shooter and is trying to fix some very complex problems that will take years to fix. The sarah palins of the world know how to tell you what you want to hear and use fear to get you to vote for them. Don't fall for their trap.

Good post. I agree completely

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

The government is trying to get some cash stockpiled for Obamacare.

They'd better keep stockpiling. That's not even going to cover your therapy.

 

[Dan Roman]

What would you have them do??? Let them off scott free because the are an almighty Corporation.....Please!

As far as Obamacare, it will do more good then bad to this country. Any skilled and learned Medical/CPA knows Doctors like to - "taxi slow". In other words they over prescribe test etc. this makes us all fell good with the added attention and we also think wow what great medical care. The only problem is that much of it is a waste, just so they can bring in additional income. My 93 year old grandma had a Pap smear performed unbeknown to the family. Not necessary. When we try to put a stop to this; the right wing crazys say we are trying to ration health care.

And let us not forget their claim on "Death panels". Over 40 percent of all Medicare money is spent in the last 30 days of someones life. This prolongs their suffering and makes dying that much harder. They should be educated on their choices if their health goes south. Its called a living will and has been around for over a century.

Like it or not Obama is a straight shooter and is trying to fix some very complex problems that will take years to fix. The sarah palins of the world know how to tell you what you want to hear and use fear to get you to vote for them. Don't fall for their trap.

Very well said. Very true about Palin. I agree with some from the right and left, neither side has a monopoly on what's best for the country, but it used to be both sides could come up with compromises that served our country well, now it's who can do the most harm to the opposing party, no matter how much it hurts us, especially from the far right fearmongers.

 

[N1atEcon]

What would you have them do??? Let them off scott free because the are an almighty Corporation.....Please!

I would! I would say "you need to fix those bundles. Ground the planes, fix them and get them in the air. What can we do to help you." Fines don't do squat.

 

[Jetjockey]

The sky is falling the sky falling. Back to fox news.

 

[Ad Lib]

Someone speak up if I'm mistaken, but wasn't this issue the wrap around the wire bundles had slipped and someone at the regulatory agency discovered they were easy to check on the MD jets by sticking a ruler on the bundle out on the wing?

If I remember correctly, the wraps is supposed to be every inch and had slipped a 1/4 of an inch in some areas.

Do not have a dog in this fight, but it appears LaHood's war on forms of transportation other than trains continues ... .

 

[N1atEcon]

It was B.S. just like the SWA lap joint fines. The Area that was missed was about a foot long. It was being inspected but I think this area wasn't getting the proper NDT inspection. So SWA calls the Feds and Boeing and self discloses. Boeing says it is fine, the feds say, ohh ok then, what he said. Then the sht hits the fan. The Feds blow it up that SWA is scamming ect. and drags them through the mud and makes their bumbling agency look like a bunch of dogooders. Just like AMR! They blow it up like the flying public is near death every time they board a MD-80. But the FAA steps in and saves everyone from the greedy corporations.

 

[scoreboardII]

Over 40 percent of all Medicare money is spent in the last 30 days of someones life.

This is the dumbest-ass thing I have ever read.

Think about it, thats akin to saying "most auto insurance claims are a result of accidents".

 

[DC8Driver]

What would you have them do??? Let them off scott free because the are an almighty Corporation.....Please!

As far as Obamacare, it will do more good then bad to this country. Any skilled and learned Medical/CPA knows Doctors like to - "taxi slow". In other words they over prescribe test etc. this makes us all fell good with the added attention and we also think wow what great medical care. The only problem is that much of it is a waste, just so they can bring in additional income. My 93 year old grandma had a Pap smear performed unbeknown to the family. Not necessary. When we try to put a stop to this; the right wing crazys say we are trying to ration health care.

And let us not forget their claim on "Death panels". Over 40 percent of all Medicare money is spent in the last 30 days of someones life. This prolongs their suffering and makes dying that much harder. They should be educated on their choices if their health goes south. Its called a living will and has been around for over a century.

Like it or not Obama is a straight shooter and is trying to fix some very complex problems that will take years to fix. The sarah palins of the world know how to tell you what you want to hear and use fear to get you to vote for them. Don't fall for their trap.

The Doctors over prescribe and do medically and statistically unwarranted tests because of lawsuits. Tort reform is what we needed not forced healthcare.

Obama is a straight shooter? Your kidding right? He can't tell the truth about anything. New jobs are not being created here because businesses are afraid of new healthcare costs and new taxes. Pull your head out of your ass and talk to any business owner instead of drinking union coolaide.

Every new job the stimulus created costs the taxpayers $191,000.00. Do some research. Read, educate youself instead of blindly believing in "Change you can believe in". Most now don't believe in it..............

 

[DC8Driver]

Very well said. Very true about Palin. I agree with some from the right and left, neither side has a monopoly on what's best for the country, but it used to be both sides could come up with compromises that served our country well, now it's who can do the most harm to the opposing party, no matter how much it hurts us, especially from the far right fearmongers.

"Far right fearmongers"...That's funny. The Dem's in every election will pull the race card to put fear in minorities..........

Both right and left polititions are bad for this country. All I want them to do is stop spending my money.

 

[BeachBummer]

I'm confused, wasn't this a thread on AA getting fined for safety violations?

ah, never mind

OBAMA SUCKS! streight shooter, is he throwing a boomerang?

 

[BEXFlyer]

Like it or not Obama is a straight shooter and is trying to fix some very complex problems that will take years to fix. The sarah palins of the world know how to tell you what you want to hear and use fear to get you to vote for them. Don't fall for their trap.

Oh yes, he is a straight shooter.....He shoots from NYC, Austin, Martha's Vineyard, Hawaii, Chicago....and every other vacation spot in this nation. He flies overseas to try to bring the Olympics to Chicago???? He plays golf EVERY Sunday. He hosts tea partys EVERY Tuesday night at the White House. Oh he is a straight shooter....Except his game plan is to use the Presidency as his 4-year vacation home.

All the while, I keep bringing our wounded troops, who only have 1 or 2 working limbs, into DCA on their way to Walter Reed.

I'm sure the troops appreciate the fact that he is having a good time, though.

We have change alright...He is the worst President we have ever had in this country!