HowardBorden
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- Jan 13, 2013
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Southwest Airlines confirmed Tuesday evening that it grounded 128 of its Boeing 737-700 aircraft that day after it discovered that the airplanes had not received required inspections.
Southwest spokeswoman Brandy King said the carrier has canceled about 90 flights as a result.
Here's her complete statement:
Earlier today, we discovered an overdue maintenance check required to be performed on the standby hydraulic system, which serves as a back-up to the primary hydraulic systems.
Southwest inadvertently omitted the lowest of three intervals for the maintenance check, it was a conservative interval that was established within Southwest's FAA-approved maintenance program. As a result of this discovery, 128 -700 aircraft were identified as having overflown the required check.
Once identified, we immediately grounded the affected aircraft, initiated maintenance checks, disclosed the matter to the FAA, and developed an action plan to complete all overdue checks. Approximately 90 cancellations have occurred.
This was not an Airworthiness Directive. Of course, the Safety of our Employees and Customers remains our highest priority and we are working to resolve this matter swiftly.
Southwest Airlines has clashed several times with the FAA over maintenance issues. Last July, the agency proposed a $12 million fine over three separate issues. Southwest has challenged the fine in federal court.
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/...s-forced-to-ground-a-bunch-of-airplanes.html/
Southwest spokeswoman Brandy King said the carrier has canceled about 90 flights as a result.
Here's her complete statement:
Earlier today, we discovered an overdue maintenance check required to be performed on the standby hydraulic system, which serves as a back-up to the primary hydraulic systems.
Southwest inadvertently omitted the lowest of three intervals for the maintenance check, it was a conservative interval that was established within Southwest's FAA-approved maintenance program. As a result of this discovery, 128 -700 aircraft were identified as having overflown the required check.
Once identified, we immediately grounded the affected aircraft, initiated maintenance checks, disclosed the matter to the FAA, and developed an action plan to complete all overdue checks. Approximately 90 cancellations have occurred.
This was not an Airworthiness Directive. Of course, the Safety of our Employees and Customers remains our highest priority and we are working to resolve this matter swiftly.
Southwest Airlines has clashed several times with the FAA over maintenance issues. Last July, the agency proposed a $12 million fine over three separate issues. Southwest has challenged the fine in federal court.
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/...s-forced-to-ground-a-bunch-of-airplanes.html/