SWA grounding 41 aircraft

[puddlejumper101]

oversight, my butt. it was a calculated risk undertaken to save a few bucks. great corporate "culture" over there.

Did you guys save $10,200,001? If not, guess it didn't quite pan out.

yeah I am sure SWA is the only airline that does this. Your beloved DAL is probably scheduling inspections as we speak saying, crap....the Feds are out for blood. I still can't get over the jealousy over SWA and that desire to see them fail. Good to see you "turned us down" like you said you did...whew...dodged a bullet there.

 

[puddlejumper101]

SWA went as far as the system let them...name a company or organization that does not do this...especially when it involves the paper trail. In this panic society that is not always a good idea and someone goofed up...but SWA went as far as they could just like all others do. SWA is anal retentive with their maintenance and if it was in their culture to "cut" corners then they would have cut our benefits ten years ago. The FAA is the corrupted govt agency that doesn't know it's left foot from right foot...SWA was just going as far as the Feds would let them...every company does it. Remember Nike and it's sweat shops? CAL's call center in India? AA hiring flight attendants in South America under different work rules? DAL outsourcing it's flying to RJs? Cruise Ships registered abroad under different maritime law? Illegal immigrants picking up our produce in farms? Don't hate the player, hate the game. This country is being overrun by corrupt attorneys and corporations cutting all corners with no one to stop them.

 

[MINIME]

While this may or may not be an oversight on LUV's part, I can't help but to notice all the usual attacks on them. I guess some people just love to see someone at the top in percieved trouble. The question that boggles my mind is "why?" This group is actually holding the bar. Some would say argueably high enough for their equipment.

I'm not trying to defend their alleged actions with ADs. If they knowingly screwed up, I'm sure due action will be headed their way, and rightfully so. Overall, they are still a great airline with great employees and great management. Not many airlines can say that in today's age. Atleast not the management side.

If there was some backroom dealing, I owe Us, and wink winks going on, common sense should tell us that SWA may not be an isolated case. Regardless, even if they had performed the inspections at an earlier time, there's little doubt in my mind that they wouldn't be as profitable as they are today.

 

[KigAir]

[JOKE] Wouldn't the FAA accept Boeing's letter stating the planes were safe to fly in lieu of the inspections?
[/JOKE]

 

[THEPRFCT10]

SWA went as far as the system let them...name a company or organization that does not do this...especially when it involves the paper trail. In this panic society that is not always a good idea and someone goofed up...but SWA went as far as they could just like all others do. SWA is anal retentive with their maintenance and if it was in their culture to "cut" corners then they would have cut our benefits ten years ago. The FAA is the corrupted govt agency that doesn't know it's left foot from right foot...SWA was just going as far as the Feds would let them...every company does it. Remember Nike and it's sweat shops? CAL's call center in India? AA hiring flight attendants in South America under different work rules? DAL outsourcing it's flying to RJs? Cruise Ships registered abroad under different maritime law? Illegal immigrants picking up our produce in farms? Don't hate the player, hate the game. This country is being overrun by corrupt attorneys and corporations cutting all corners with no one to stop them.

Well said!

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Hey Tejas, what happened to all of this just disappearing "over the weekend?"

I never said "which" weekend....

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Finally, SWA has to abide by the same rules as the rest of us. Its sad that SWA allegedly "paid off" federal inspectors to try and get the upper hand

SWA has been playing by the same rules...they are a Part 121 carrier.

And-d-d-d...if there was someone "paid off"...then how much was it...and to whom?

"Paid off" is a bit of a stretch....

 

[Tejas-Jet]

SWA has NOT always operated under FAR 121. More importantly, SWA never operated under "regulation" where regulatory discipline was of paramount importance. (In fact, being unburdened with very expensive regualtory discipline is what the "SWA spirit" crap is all about IMHO)--->SWA has been a part 121 carrier form the begining. What they were not was regulated by the CAB...i.e., they didn't have some career office guy set their fares...or tell them where they could fly. Remember SWA started in 1971...and were regulated by the Texas Aeronautics Board, not the CAB. When the sun set on the CAB in 1978...SWA suddenly found that they could do with fares and schedules, all over the country, what they had been doing in Texas.

That is also what gave birth to the now defunct WRight ( Wrong ) Amendment.

SWA will pay the fine and quietly appeal.--->You've got it backwards....SWA will appeal first..and will not pay 10.2 mil.

 

[atafan]

Southwest is an airline just like every other airline, people make mistakes, big deal.

Nothing to see here.

 

[Lollypop]

Well said!

With all due respect, I don't see these DAL India res, AA foreign Nationals have to do with ignoring directives. This kinda of irrisponsable practice is just how I lost my brother along with other people...there are rules for a reason. This is outrages and should carry a hefty fine. When there are procedures and rules in place they are to be followed. For those not familar with AA South American flight attendants who were formaly Braniff and then Eastern. They came with the deal..you want to land here then hire my daughter. AA APFA fa's voted to limit them to one port, and that is Miami. They can't fly to anywhere else in the US and when AA furloghed fa's a % of the foreign nationals were fulughed . They wanted to join AA APFA but there countires wouldn't allow that.

Fly safe

 

[Maynard]

What Oberstar doesn't understand is that now the FAA is under heat, when they are done with swa, the wrath will hit his ALPA carriers (he IS on their payroll) and he will lose all that lobby cash. I hope this doesn't happen, but all politicians can be purchased.

 

[Charlie Brown]

If that's true than why is SWA being charged with the largest FAA fine ever. Also, why did one of the inspectors overseeing SWA "look the other way." Its obvious that the "superior management" was in collusion with this guy to keep the fed off their backs while they intentionally violated 121 regulations. Wake up dude.

I am impressed you know so much about the way our company is run. I think you need to take your own advice.

 

[Charlie Brown]

SWA has NOT always operated under FAR 121. More importantly, SWA never operated under "regulation" where regulatory discipline was of paramount importance. (In fact, being unburdened with very expensive regualtory discipline is what the "SWA spirit" crap is all about IMHO)

I guess you are going to educate me about my company? Why speak of things you know nothing about, it only serves to make you look bad.

 

[Flopgut]

I guess you are going to educate me about my company? Why speak of things you know nothing about, it only serves to make you look bad.

Yeah. It's not too fun for me, really. I much prefer the days when SWA was an a-hole free airline.

 

[ableone]

Level playing field?

Pilot walk arounds, between every leg, are a requirment at every U.S. Air carrier except LUV.

Somehow the CMU that monitors LUV thinks they are special.