Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

FAA seeks to fine ATS $1 million for lapsed Southwest inspections

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web

Dornier 335

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 3, 2005
Posts
1,089
source

FAA seeks to fine ATS $1 million for lapsed Southwest inspections


By Lori Ranson


The US Federal Aviation Administration proposes to fine Everett, Washington-based Aviation Technical Services (ATS) $1.1 million for making improper repairs on 44 Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300s.
ATS allegedly failed to accomplish work required under an airworthiness directive that mandated five repetitive inspections and a one-time inspection to find and repair fatigue cracks in the fuselage skin of the aircraft, said FAA. Those inspections were also required under the Southwest continuous airworthiness maintenance programme.
FAA also stated after the inspections ATS failed to install fasteners in all the rivet holes within the time specified for the task. The aircraft involved returned to service between 1 December 2006 and 18 September 2009.
The agency emphasised the Southwest 737-300 that suffered a fuselage crown failure in April of this year was not one of the 44 aircraft subject to the civil penalty.
FAA's latest proposed fine against ATS follows a previous penalty levied against the maintenance services provider in November 2010. At that time the agency fined ATS $530,250 after it determined ATS deviated from required procedures on fuselage skin crack inspections on 14 737s operated by Southwest.
 
And now the General will pipe in about how if the SWA pilots were real pilots they would have caught that on a LBB overnight.
 
Seems there was some punk mouthing off that this had been SW's fault back when it happened citing substandard safety/maintenance. Anybody remember who that was?
 
Look, stuff happens. Its just a good thing the SWA pilots know what to do when the skin of the airplane opens up.
 
Seems there was some punk mouthing off that this had been SW's fault back when it happened citing substandard safety/maintenance. Anybody remember who that was?

It IS THEIR FAULT. When you choose to OUTSOURCE you assume the responsibility for negligence and quality control. Old saying never loses merit: Want something done right, do it YOURSELF.
 
It IS THEIR FAULT. When you choose to OUTSOURCE you assume the responsibility for negligence and quality control. Old saying never loses merit: Want something done right, do it YOURSELF.

Where does Lufthansa do Heavy Maintenance?

El Salvador.

Where does Japan Airlines do Heavy Maintenance?

El Salvador.

Where does Delta do Heavy Maintenance?

China.

Where does United do Heavy Maintenance?

China.

Where does Continental do Heavy Maintenance?

China.


Where does Southwest do Heavy Maintenance?

95% done in house. As of January 2010, out of about 550 aircraft, we sent a whopping 5 aircraft to El Salvador.

Also as of Jan 2010, about 70% of major airline maintenance was outsourced, much of it overseas. It has probably increased since then.

Sorry to spoil your SWA bashing potential.

Now do you want me to start listing airline maintenance fines over the last 20 years broken down by airline? That's really an eye opener. I know. SWA mechanics must be having pizza parties for the FAA maintenance inspectors....

I agree with your avatar. Educate yourself. Next time though, don't do it in the Public School System.....you will end up dumb as a Brick....


China.
 
Last edited:
It IS THEIR FAULT. When you choose to OUTSOURCE you assume the responsibility for negligence and quality control. Old saying never loses merit: Want something done right, do it YOURSELF.

We'll give you a pass because it appears you're new. Why don't you start by telling us where you work, and then we'll figure out who does YOUR maintenance.
 
It IS THEIR FAULT. When you choose to OUTSOURCE you assume the responsibility for negligence and quality control. Old saying never loses merit: Want something done right, do it YOURSELF.
This is faulty on so many levels.

So, if you want it done right, we are supposed to design and build our own jet becasue we shouldn't trust the folks who do that (Boeing, the guys who built the pop tops)?

We should go drill pump and refine our own Jet A, because we shouldn't trust Swissport?

Obviously, you never ran a business nor wrote a contract nor know the law.
 

Latest resources

Back
Top