IMPLEMENTATION OF the European Joint Aviation Regulations (JARs) has led to criminal charges being brought against British Midland Airlines by the UK Civil Aviation Authority following a maintenance error in 1995.
JARs make companies, rather than individuals, responsible for errors. The BMA mistake caused the emergency diversion and landing of one of the airline's Boeing 737-400s.
European companies covered by JARs are now more liable to prosecution as a result of the recent implementation of the rules.
The 737-400 took off from East Midlands Airport, UK, on 23 February, 1995, diverted to London Luton Airport with low-oil-quantity/pressure warnings on both engines. An Air Accident Investigation Branch inquiry found that blanking plates had not been replaced after a routine borescope inspection. The airline suspended three maintenance engineers in connection with the incident.
Source: Flight International
