Air Transport

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has placed three employees on administrative leave as part of its own internal investigation stemming from a fine the FAA imposed on the carrier last week.

The $10.2 million fine resulted from Southwest flying 46 aircraft 59,791 flights without conducting mandatory fuselage inspections.

Southwest says it alerted FAA once it discovered the lapse in inspections and “promptly reinspected all potentially affected aircraft in March 2007”, the carrier says. “The FAA approved our actions and considered the matter closed as of April 2007.”

The lapse in inspections reemerged last month after US Representative James Oberstar ordered DOT’s Inspector General to determine whether FAA properly handled the inspection gap after whistleblowers came forward claiming the fuselages were not properly checked for cracks.

Southwest says it accelerated its own investigation last week after receiving details of FAA’s letter of civil penalty.

"I am concerned with some of our findings as to our controls over procedures within our maintenance airworthiness directive and regulatory compliance processes," says CEO Gary Kelly.

"I have insisted that we have the appropriate maintenance organizational and governance structure in place to ensure that the right decisions are being made."

In addition to placing the three employees on leave, Southwest has hired an outside consultant to assist the carrier with its review of maintenance program controls and regulatory compliance.

Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news

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