US sues Southwest Airlines over maintenance issues

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By DAVID KOENIG

DALLAS (AP) — The federal government is suing Southwest Airlines Co. after failing to reach a settlement with the carrier over allegations that repairs to dozens of planes didn't meet safety standards.

The Justice Department sued Southwest on Monday in federal district court in Washington state. The lawsuit seeks to enforce $12 million in civil penalties that the Federal Aviation Administration announced in late July.

The government says that starting in 2006 Southwest hired a contractor to make extensive repairs on 44 planes to prevent the aluminum skin from cracking. The FAA says the contractor, Aviation Technical Services Inc. of Everett, Washington, failed to follow proper procedures.

"We dispute the FAA's allegations and look forward to the opportunity to vigorously defend Southwest's record in a court of law," Southwest spokeswoman Brandy King said Monday night.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141104/us-southwest-airlines-fine-2281ebc74f.html

[Fred Sanders]

1. Southwest also added, "To all customers:While we defend against this government overreach, please

do not touch the plane."

[KeepItReal]

2. Hey Southwest, skip the court sh@t and just make sure planes don't unravel in air.

Metal fatigue is real.

[SoapBox]

5. What you said.

[turbinetree]

3. Third Part Maintenance

Folks its about the bottom line and this is why it is outsourced to a third party.
If it was done in house your plane ticket would be higher.

[SoapBox]

4. I'll pay a few shillings more for my ticket...

to have the work done here in America instead of someplace in Mexico, South America or Singapore.

I'm sick and tired of this bullshit of out-of-country-outsourcing, so that the executives can get a bigger bonus.

In particular, we're talking about a tin can that is 7 miles up in the air, not a crappy canned answer from someone in "tech support" in India.

[cosmicone]

6. Does summary India bashing really really make you feel good? n/t

[Angleae]

8. I wasn't aware Everett, WA was in "Mexico, South America or Singapore"

[Populist_Prole]

11. There's plenty of crummy MRO sweatshops here in the USA too

[Angleae]

12. Some of us work in those "crummy MRO sweatshops".

[The Stranger]

7. Why can't the FAA simply order the planes in violation grounded, effective immediately?

Someone help me out here.

[Angleae]

9. They did. This event happened in 2006.

The legal cases are just now getting on.

[PasadenaTrudy]

10. My favorite airline..

Flying tomorrow to NM...