AJ
March 13th 08, 02:38 PM
Southwest Grounds 43 737s Over Inspection Concerns
Carrier Suspends Three Employees After Firm Reviews Maintenance
Practices
ANN REALTIME UPDATE 03.12.08 1530 EDT: The fallout continues to mount
from the reported failure on the part of Southwest Airlines to inspect
some of its oldest 737s for structural fatigue issues. On Wednesday,
the Dallas-based low cost carrier grounded as many as 43 of its
aircraft, due to concerns about such problems.
The affected aircraft are located at Southwest's home airport, Dallas
Love Field (DAL) and its maintenance operation at Chicago's Midway
Airport (MDW) according to news reports. About four percent of
Southwest's schedule Wednesday has been cancelled, according to the
airline, though some of those cancellations were due to weather
issues.
Southwest spokeswoman Linda Rutherford told the Dallas Morning News
the carrier identified 44 737 Classic models requiring inspections of
the fuselage skin above and below the cabin windows. Of those
aircraft, 38 were taken out of service for the inspections; one had
already been retired, and five were already undergoing maintenance
work.
The aircraft will be returned to service after the inspections are
performed, Rutherford said. The checks take about 90 minutes per
aircraft.
The move comes less than one day after CEO Gary Kelly disclosed he
asked an independent firm last month to review Southwest's maintenance
practices, stemming from last week's proposed $10.2 million fine
against the airline for failing to adhere to mandated inspection
intervals, and continuing to fly 46 older 737-300s and -500s in March
2007 without performing the necessary checks. The airline later found
evidence of cracks on six of those aircraft.
Prior to now, Southwest's official stance has been those problems had
been rectified... but Wednesday's groundings appear to indicate that's
not entirely the case.
"Again, we are mindful that during Southwest's 37-year proud history,
we have safely transported the population of the United States --
every man, woman, and child -- four and a half times over," Kelly said
Wednesday. "This is a fact. We have been a safe company. I believe we
are a safe company. I am committed to making sure we become safer
still."
The fallout has begun following last week's revelations about suspect
maintenance procedures - and FAA oversight -- at Southwest Airlines.
On Tuesday, the Dallas-based low-cost carrier said it placed three
employees on paid leave, pending the results of internal and federal
reviews.
As ANN reported, last week the FAA proposed a record $10.2 million
civil fine against Southwest, for the carrier's failure to conduct
mandatory fuselage fatigue and rudder inspections on 46 of its older
737-300 models.
Two former FAA inspectors came forward, stating agency supervisors
allowed Southwest to continue flying those aircraft; investigators
later determined six of those 737s had evidence of fatigue cracking.
Southwest immediately took steps to downplay those accusations,
stating the airline had uncovered the oversight last year, and alerted
the FAA of its own accord. The airline thought the matter was closed,
Southwest CEO Gary Kelly and other airline officials said at the time.
But on Tuesday, Kelly stepped back from those assertions somewhat. In
comments reported by The Associated Press, Kelly said he learned of an
FAA investigation into the matter last month, and ordered outside
experts to look into the carrier's maintenance practices.
Southwest quietly hired Washington-based JDA Aviation Technology
Solutions to conduct the review... but ramped up those efforts
following the notice of the proposed penalty.
"I am concerned with some of our findings as to our regulatory
compliance processes," Kelly said, insisting the carrier has the
proper organizational structure "to ensure that the right decisions
are being made."
Southwest declined to name the three employees placed on paid leave,
or say what positions they held.
In related news, documents filed by whistleblowers Charalambe Boutris
and Douglas E. Peters with the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee were released to congressional investigators this week...
and imply an overly-cozy relationship between FAA inspectors, and the
airlines they're tasked to oversee.
According to those documents, Boutris and Peters allege Douglas T.
Gawadzinski, the agency's chief maintenance inspector at Southwest,
gave permission for Southwest to keep planes flying "in an unsafe or
unairworthy condition," and that another inspector knew of the problem
but didn't do anything about it.
The documents also state Gawadzinski tried to remove Boutris from the
inspectors ranks at Southwest, at the urging of the airline. The
supervisor declined, but ordered Boutris' upcoming review be postponed
"until he gave the green light," according to a report filed by
special counsel. Gawadzinski and another FAA manager, Mike Mills, were
temporarily reassigned in May 2007.
The question of "who knew what, and when?" also reaches to DOT
Secretary Mary Peters... who was told in December about the whistle-
blower allegations, according to the documents.
Southwest counters it received permission -- from not only FAA
personnel, but also from Boeing, manufacturer of the 737 -- to keep
flying the aircraft after the missed inspections were discovered in
March 2007, as long as the aircraft were re-examined within 10 days.
FMI: www.faa.gov, www.southwest.com
Carrier Suspends Three Employees After Firm Reviews Maintenance
Practices
ANN REALTIME UPDATE 03.12.08 1530 EDT: The fallout continues to mount
from the reported failure on the part of Southwest Airlines to inspect
some of its oldest 737s for structural fatigue issues. On Wednesday,
the Dallas-based low cost carrier grounded as many as 43 of its
aircraft, due to concerns about such problems.
The affected aircraft are located at Southwest's home airport, Dallas
Love Field (DAL) and its maintenance operation at Chicago's Midway
Airport (MDW) according to news reports. About four percent of
Southwest's schedule Wednesday has been cancelled, according to the
airline, though some of those cancellations were due to weather
issues.
Southwest spokeswoman Linda Rutherford told the Dallas Morning News
the carrier identified 44 737 Classic models requiring inspections of
the fuselage skin above and below the cabin windows. Of those
aircraft, 38 were taken out of service for the inspections; one had
already been retired, and five were already undergoing maintenance
work.
The aircraft will be returned to service after the inspections are
performed, Rutherford said. The checks take about 90 minutes per
aircraft.
The move comes less than one day after CEO Gary Kelly disclosed he
asked an independent firm last month to review Southwest's maintenance
practices, stemming from last week's proposed $10.2 million fine
against the airline for failing to adhere to mandated inspection
intervals, and continuing to fly 46 older 737-300s and -500s in March
2007 without performing the necessary checks. The airline later found
evidence of cracks on six of those aircraft.
Prior to now, Southwest's official stance has been those problems had
been rectified... but Wednesday's groundings appear to indicate that's
not entirely the case.
"Again, we are mindful that during Southwest's 37-year proud history,
we have safely transported the population of the United States --
every man, woman, and child -- four and a half times over," Kelly said
Wednesday. "This is a fact. We have been a safe company. I believe we
are a safe company. I am committed to making sure we become safer
still."
The fallout has begun following last week's revelations about suspect
maintenance procedures - and FAA oversight -- at Southwest Airlines.
On Tuesday, the Dallas-based low-cost carrier said it placed three
employees on paid leave, pending the results of internal and federal
reviews.
As ANN reported, last week the FAA proposed a record $10.2 million
civil fine against Southwest, for the carrier's failure to conduct
mandatory fuselage fatigue and rudder inspections on 46 of its older
737-300 models.
Two former FAA inspectors came forward, stating agency supervisors
allowed Southwest to continue flying those aircraft; investigators
later determined six of those 737s had evidence of fatigue cracking.
Southwest immediately took steps to downplay those accusations,
stating the airline had uncovered the oversight last year, and alerted
the FAA of its own accord. The airline thought the matter was closed,
Southwest CEO Gary Kelly and other airline officials said at the time.
But on Tuesday, Kelly stepped back from those assertions somewhat. In
comments reported by The Associated Press, Kelly said he learned of an
FAA investigation into the matter last month, and ordered outside
experts to look into the carrier's maintenance practices.
Southwest quietly hired Washington-based JDA Aviation Technology
Solutions to conduct the review... but ramped up those efforts
following the notice of the proposed penalty.
"I am concerned with some of our findings as to our regulatory
compliance processes," Kelly said, insisting the carrier has the
proper organizational structure "to ensure that the right decisions
are being made."
Southwest declined to name the three employees placed on paid leave,
or say what positions they held.
In related news, documents filed by whistleblowers Charalambe Boutris
and Douglas E. Peters with the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee were released to congressional investigators this week...
and imply an overly-cozy relationship between FAA inspectors, and the
airlines they're tasked to oversee.
According to those documents, Boutris and Peters allege Douglas T.
Gawadzinski, the agency's chief maintenance inspector at Southwest,
gave permission for Southwest to keep planes flying "in an unsafe or
unairworthy condition," and that another inspector knew of the problem
but didn't do anything about it.
The documents also state Gawadzinski tried to remove Boutris from the
inspectors ranks at Southwest, at the urging of the airline. The
supervisor declined, but ordered Boutris' upcoming review be postponed
"until he gave the green light," according to a report filed by
special counsel. Gawadzinski and another FAA manager, Mike Mills, were
temporarily reassigned in May 2007.
The question of "who knew what, and when?" also reaches to DOT
Secretary Mary Peters... who was told in December about the whistle-
blower allegations, according to the documents.
Southwest counters it received permission -- from not only FAA
personnel, but also from Boeing, manufacturer of the 737 -- to keep
flying the aircraft after the missed inspections were discovered in
March 2007, as long as the aircraft were re-examined within 10 days.
FMI: www.faa.gov, www.southwest.com