Actually, they are already leveling a fine (unjustly) against
Southwest. From today's WSJ:

The Federal Aviation Administration, imposing the largest financial
punishment against an airline in about two decades, proposed a $10.2
million civil penalty against Southwest Airlines Co. for flying
passengers in 46 of its planes without complying with mandatory
inspections to check for possible structural cracks.

"The FAA is taking action against Southwest Airlines for a failing to
follow rules that are designed to protect passengers and crew," said
FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Nicholas A. Sabatini.
"We expect the airline industry to fully comply with all FAA
directives and take corrective action."

According to the agency, the airline flew hundreds of thousands of
passengers in the planes from June 2006 to March 2007 without
complying with a September 2004 safety directive to inspect for
fuselage cracks. After advising the FAA of its mistake, the airline
received verbal approval from the local FAA Dallas office to keep
operating the aircraft, and the FAA said in a press release that the
carrier flew an additional 1,451 flights before completing the
inspections.

The FAA said the size of the penalty "reflects the serious nature of
those deliberate violations." Southwest has 30 days to appeal.

So, Southwest realized it was in error and had not properly inspected
for ADs. It informs the FAA who say go ahead and keep flying, so
Southwest follows the verbal directions of the FAA. Then the FAA
comes back and slaps them with a $10MM fine. Honestly, thats
rediculous. They are getting fined for doing what the FAA told them
to do. How would you like it if you were told to go ahead and keep
flying your glider while waiting to be able to perform an AD, and then
later, after performing the AD, get slapped with a fine? The villian
here is bureaucratic double-talk. Wouldn't be at all suprised if
Southwest wins this one in the courts.


On Mar 6, 3:40*pm, "noel.wade" wrote:
Don't know if you all have seen this article yet:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/06/sou...nes/index.html

There's more to this article than just panicking the public here in
the USA (and possibly elsewhere)...

To me, its quite possibly the most blatant evidence ever, showing the
undue influence that the airlines have on the FAA.

Could you imagine the immediate legal action and penalties that would
be imposed on a soaring operation or a private owner, if it was
discovered that they took paying passengers up in aircraft that were
in violation of ADs?

*sigh* *I seriously hope the oversight committees take a long hard
look at this...

--Noel