Monthly Archives: August 2008

In the past six months, the FAA seems to be pouring fines on America’s largest carrier, American Airlines. The latest is a $7.1 million dollar fine for safety violations, such as deferring maintenance and violating employee drug-testing rules. In some cases, pilots flew aircraft while being fully aware that vital gauges (altimeters) were not functioning. The carrier has already announced widespread job cuts, affecting hundreds of pilots and mechanics throughout their system. By removing mechanics, do they think that their aircraft will be more safe? Did it really take 1,300 aircraft mechanics to support all of the aircraft that American plans on axing? I don’t think so. 

American, like most carriers, is struggling; perhaps more so then competitors. Why? American is the largest operator of MD-82 series aircraft (242 currently active) and has 58 MD-83s. The MD-8X series of aircraft took off in 1979, selling hundreds of aircraft to customers across the globe. Another notable user in trouble is Alitalia, who has 73 of the series. Delta Air Lines also operates 117 of the series. A similarity between Delta and American is MD-8X, but they both seem to be replacing the series with the 737 series, which is great. 

In April, this blog was not running. Many of you may remember when American had to cancel hundreds of flights, daily for a few days, to inspect the MD-80s (wiring for the wheel wells). The inspections apparently were called for back in 2006, but were mandated by 2008 when the FAA saw that the amendments to the aircraft were never completed correctly. 

Let’s go back to the FAA. American is based in Dallas / Fort Worth. Southwest Airlines is based in Dallas (love airport). There was a case where the FAA offices, in Dallas, were caught ignoring the $10.2 million dollars worth of fines for Southwest Airlines, following the events in April. Are the offices in Dallas that oversee the two separate? Were these rapid safety inspections / fines a result of someone LUVing Southwest too much? (not too hard to do these days). Maybe we need to see the two issues at hand separately. It’s quite possible that one had nothing to do with the other. However there are no answers to support either. 

I can’t say I’m impressed with American. I’ll be flying them soon and I’ll be writing a review of my trip on the airline. However, what’s up with the FAA Dallas offices? Are they still investigating the office? I’m not trying to bash American or anyone else. The 1,300 mechanics getting furloughed seems excessive, but so do gas prices. With the decline of oil, hopefully American will keep more mechanics; that will help ensure safety. There are many unanswered questions, perhaps too many. Unless the full story is out there, I don’t think it’s right to call American an unsafe airline. Yet pilots flying with broken altimeters is nonsense, and the FAA should fine the carrier for silly things,  especially those that a pilot know not to do.

Image: flickr.com