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Press Release – FAA Proposes Civil Penalty Against American Airlines

For Immediate Release
August 26, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $24.2 million civil penalty against American Airlines Inc. for failing to correctly follow an Airworthiness Directive involving the maintenance of its McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft. This civil penalty is the largest ever proposed by the FAA.

“We put rules and regulations in place to keep the flying public safe,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We expect operators to perform inspections and conduct regular and required maintenance in order to prevent safety issues. There can be no compromises when it comes to safety.”

The FAA alleges American did not follow steps outlined in a 2006 Airworthiness Directive requiring operators to inspect wire bundles located in the wheel wells of MD-80 aircraft. The Airworthiness Directive, AD 2006-15-15, required a one-time general visual inspection by March 5, 2008 for chafing or signs of arcing of the wire bundle for the auxiliary hydraulic pump. It also required operators to perform corrective actions in accordance with the instructions of the applicable manufacturer’s Service Bulletin.

The purpose of the Airworthiness Directive was to prevent the shorting of wires or arcing at the auxiliary hydraulic pump, which could result in loss of auxiliary hydraulic power or a fire in the wheel well of the aircraft. The Airworthiness Directive also sought to reduce the potential of an ignition source adjacent to the fuel tanks, which, in combination with the flammable vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion.

The FAA first detected the violations on March 25, 2008, during an inspection of two aircraft. The FAA informed American’s management that the aircraft did not comply with the AD, prompting a series of re-inspections and additional maintenance work that occurred during the following two weeks. On March 26, after American performed additional maintenance on its MD-80 fleet, the FAA inspected eight aircraft at American’s Tulsa maintenance base and found that seven did not comply with the Airworthiness Directive. On April 7, the FAA inspected another nine MD-80 aircraft at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and found that eight of them still did not comply with the AD. A tenth aircraft inspected by American mechanics also did not comply. On April 8, American began grounding its MD-80 fleet to conduct new inspections and redo work as necessary.

The FAA subsequently determined that 286 of the airline’s MD-80s were operated on a combined 14,278 passenger flights while the aircraft were not in compliance with Federal Regulations. American ultimately completed the work required by the 2006 Airworthiness Directive.

Over the last year and a half, FAA safety officials have reported progress in working with American Airlines to help improve the airline’s maintenance culture. The FAA is committed to continuing that work.

American has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.

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    PR: FAA Proposal of $206,550 Penalty Against Martinaire Aviation

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $206,550 civil penalty against Martinaire Aviation, of Addison, Texas, for violating U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations.

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    The allegations involve 17 shipments of hazardous materials Martinaire accepted for transportation by air on 12 flights between April 1 and June 22, 2011. Martinaire is a scheduled air cargo and cargo charter company. The flights operated between various cities across the country.

    Martinaire has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the Agency.

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    Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Receive Aviation’s Highest Award


    DENVER, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Few aircraft since the Wright Flyer have truly become an “Aircraft of Legend.” Like the DC-3, the technological advancements of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner are expected to profoundly impact commercial aviation. The Living Legends of Aviation have chosen the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to receive the “Aircraft of Legend Award” which will be presented at the 9th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards to be held January 20th at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, Calif. Mr. Scott Fancher, VP and General Manager of the Boeing 787 Program, will be accepting the award on behalf of all who have contributed to the “Boeing Dreamteam.” The
    Living Legends of Aviation Annual Awards is the most important and prestigious recognition event of aviation.

    On December 17, 1903 at 10:31 am with Orville at the controls and Wilbur running along side steading the wing, the world experienced the first controlled powered flight. Exactly 100 years later the Living Legends of Aviation organization was born to celebrate and recognize significant contributions for the second hundred years of aviation.
    The “Living Legends of Aviation” are a group of extraordinary people of accomplishment. They are defined as aviation entrepreneurs, innovators, record breakers, astronauts, industry leaders, pilots who have become celebrities and celebrities who have become pilots.

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    Rita Report: Long Tarmac Delays in September Down From Last Year

    Tuesday, November 9, 2010 – The
    nation’s largest airlines reported four flights in September with tarmac delays
    of more than three hours, down from six flights in September 2009, with only a
    slight increase in the rate of canceled flights, according to the Air Travel
    Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation
    (DOT).

    Data filed with
    the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) showed the only tarmac delays
    longer than three hours reported in September by the 18 airlines that file
    on-time performance data with DOT involved delays caused by weather in New York
    and Philadelphia on Sept. 22. September was the fifth full month of data
    since the new aviation consumer rule went into effect on April 29. There have
    been only 12 total tarmac delays of more than three hours reported from May
    through September this year, compared to 535 during the same five-month period
    of 2009. BTS is a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology
    Administration (RITA).

    The largest
    carriers canceled 0.9 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in September,
    up from the 0.6 percent cancellation rate of September 2009. They posted
    a 1.0 percent cancellation rate in August 2010.

    The new tarmac
    delay rule prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting
    an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours without deplaning
    passengers, with exceptions allowed only for safety or security or if air
    traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal
    would disrupt airport operations. The Department will investigate tarmac
    delays that exceed this limit.

    The monthly
    report also includes data on on-time performance, chronically delayed flights,
    flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department
    by the reporting carriers. In addition, it has information on airline
    bumping, reports of mishandled baggage filed by consumers with the carriers,
    and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by
    DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes
    reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed
    by U.S. carriers.

    On-Time Performance

    The reporting carriers recorded an overall on-time arrival
    rate of 85.1 percent in September, down from the 86.2 percent on-time rate of September
    2009 but up from August 2010’s 81.7 percent.

    Tarmac Delays

    In September, the carriers filing
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    There were four flights with tarmac delays of more than three hours in September.

    Chronically Delayed Flights

    At the end of September, there was only one flight that was
    chronically delayed – more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the
    time – for two consecutive months. There were no chronically delayed
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    chronically delayed for a single month is available from BTS (www.bts.gov).

    Causes of Flight Delays

    In September, the carriers filing
    on-time performance data reported that 4.81 percent of their flights were
    delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 5.07 percent in August; 4.60
    percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 6.42 percent in August, 3.99 percent
    by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared
    to 5.16 percent in August; 0.41 percent by extreme weather, compared to 0.46 percent
    in August; and 0.02 percent for security reasons, compared to 0.04 percent in August. Weather is a factor in both the
    extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays
    due to the re-routing of flights by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration in
    consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft,
    although airlines do not report specific causes in that category.

    Data collected by BTS also show the
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    delays. In September, 34.53 percent of late flights were delayed by weather,
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    Detailed information on flight
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    Mishandled Baggage

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    passengers, down from the rate of 1.26 rate posted during the first nine months
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    Incidents Involving Pets

    In September, carriers reported four incidents
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    Complaints
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    In September, the Department received 755
    complaints about airline service from consumers, up 25.2 percent from the 603
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    Consumers may
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    Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590;
    by voice mail at (202) 366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511; or on the web at http://airconsumer.dot.gov.

    Consumers who
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    The Air Travel
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    Air Travel Consumer Report September 2010
    Key On-Time Performance and Flight Cancellation Statistics

    Based on Data Filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics by the 18 Reporting Carriers

    Overall

    85.1 percent on-time arrivals

    Highest On-Time Arrival Rates

    1. Hawaiian Airlines – 95.8 percent

    2. AirTran Airways – 90.7 percent

    3. Alaska Airlines – 90.5 percent

    Lowest On-Time
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    1. Comair – 78.2 percent

    2. JetBlue
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    3. Delta Air Lines – 81.5 percent

    Flights with Longest Tarmac
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    1. Southwest
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    2. US
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    3. Pinnacle
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    4. Delta
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    tarmac 183 minutes

    (There were only four flights with tarmac delays of more
    than three hours in September)

    Highest Rates of
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    1. Comair – 2.0 percent

    2. Pinnacle Airlines – 2.0 percent

    3. American Eagle Airlines – 1.7 percent

    Lowest Rates of Canceled Flights

    1. Hawaiian Airlines – 0.0 percent*

    2. Frontier Airlines – 0.2 percent

    3. AirTran Airways – 0.2 percent

    *Hawaiian Airlines had two canceled flights in September.

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    FAA Approves Boeing 787 Battery System Design


    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today took the next step in returning the Boeing 787 to flight by approving Boeing’s design for modifications to the 787 battery system. The changes are designed to address risks at the battery cell level, the battery level and the aircraft level.

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    As the certifying authority, the FAA will continue to support other authorities around the world as they finalize their own acceptance procedures.

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    Flyers Rights Joins with Legendary Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader and Aviation Consumer Action Project to Demand ‘Voice’ in On-going Security Debate

    Group also refutes certain “Poll” data as being inaccurate and/or out of date

    NAPA, Calif., Nov. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Flyers Rights (www.flyersrights.org) the largest non-profit Airline passenger rights group in the world, has joined Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader and Paul Hudson from the Aviation Consumer Action Project (ACAP) (acapaviation@yahoo.com) to demand meetings with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood and Administrator John Pistole (TSA) to discuss the continuing issues regarding Whole Body Scanners & “Enhanced” Pat Downs by TSA Personal. That letter is shown here: http://strandedpassengers.blogspot.com/2010/11/letter-to-dhs-secretary.html

    “Airline Passengers have so far been ignored in this process,” said Kate Hanni, Director of Flyers Rights. “Thus far, Secretary Napolitano and Administrator Pistole have taken meetings with Airline Executives, Hotels, Pilots Unions, and Flight Attendant Unions- but Not a Single Meeting with the people who pay the money to Fly. How is that possible or right?”

    “Mr. Nader, Mr. Hudson and Flyers Rights represent the passengers that DHS and TSA claim to be trying to protect. DHS or TSA needs to listen to what those passengers have to say,” continued Hanni.

    The groups also want to ensure that the public understands the illogic of current polls being used to defend these security measures.

    “Some Polling Data that has been reprinted in the media is either out of date, was improperly administered, or has been taken out of context,” said Kate.

    Specifically:

    • A Poll recently published by USA Today was from January 2010 BEFORE any scanners and “Enhanced” Pat Downs were enabled.
    • A Poll by CBS only offered people the choices of Yes/No on Body Scanners, and did not give people another choice except “I don’t understand.”

      More accurate polling can be found if the Right questions are asked:

    • An MSNBC poll asked “Do you support 1) Body Scanners, 2) Pat Downs or 3) “I won’t fly if these measures are in place.” 48% said they would not fly if Body Scanners or Pat Downs were the option – This poll that had 80,000 respondents.
    • A Reuters Poll that had 90,000 respondents indicated that 96% would find Alternative means of transportation or Not Fly if given the choice of Body Scanners or Pat Downs.

    “What is a fact is that the more the public knows about these processes, the more they don’t want them affecting their lives. There comes a time when More Security isn’t Better Security- More Security is Just More,” added Hanni.

    Noted Paul Hudson, long time advocate for stronger aviation security, “We are requesting the use of Full Body Scanners and Enhanced Pat Down Process be reduced or suspended pending a public comment period, public hearings, and a full review by outside experts. TSA needs to answer serious questions of intrusiveness, safety, and effectiveness, before subjecting hundreds of millions of airline passengers to such extreme measures.”

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    FAA: “Line Up and Wait” Training Now Available

    “Line Up and Wait” Training Now Available
    On Sept. 30, 2010, the familiar ATC instruction “taxi in position and hold” will become history. Instead, expect to hear “line up and wait” when ATC issues instruction for a pilot to taxi onto a departure runway and wait for takeoff clearance. Another procedure change that occurred on June 30, 2010, requires ATC to issue an explicit clearance to aircraft crossing any runway (active, inactive, and closed). To help pilots with these important procedure changes, FAA added an online training module to www.FAASafety.gov. The course is titled “Line Up and Wait: Taxi Authorization and Runway Clearance Guidance for Airmen,” and is listed in the Featured Courses portal on the FAASafety.gov home page.

    The course provides a good review of safe taxi operations, ATC procedures and phraseology, and pilot responsibilities. It also reviews best practices for avoiding runway incursions, such as knowing and understanding the meaning of the runway hold markings. Some three-fourths of runway incursions result from a failure to comply with this marking.

    Additional details on both procedure changes are available in the Aeronautical Informational Manual (AIM) and Pilot/Controller Glossary, located under the Air Traffic section of www.faa.gov. You can also reference more specific information on line up and wait with FAA Notice JO 7110.536.

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