LAist: American Airlines: Nothing Special in the Air

Andy Sternberg

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:16:01 -0800

Kind of like the liability that the Army Corps of Engineers "faced" for not maintaining the NOLA levee system to be able to withstand a level 2 or 3 hurricane? The corrupt FAA was NOT doing it's job, which is why this started in the first place. They let Southwest go who-knows-how-long without proper inspections. In March, when someone blew the whistle on the fact that 46 Southwest planes should not have been flying last year, the FAA started covering its ass. Turns out FAA investigator Bobby Boutris received a death threat after airing his concern about the cozy FAA-Southwest relationship. Inspections are expected to go through the end of June but we can only hope that the FAA continues to inspect planes on a regular schedule and not all-at-once.

futureperfect

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:45:54 -0800

if they didn't ground these airplanes and still allowed them to be flown pending inspection, and one of those airplanes happens to crash, can you imagine the liability that both american airlines and the FAA would be subject to? that's why they have to take all the planes out of operation immediately.

Andy Sternberg

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:36:49 -0800

@nicksm: I'm not absolving American from fault here -- it just seems we shouldn't be so incredibly inconvenienced (without warning) in the name of government regulation. The FAA should be working everyday to ensure that planes fly safely. They can inspect a few MD-50s each day as opposed to taking each and every one out of operation immediately. This does nothing but piss off airline passengers -- it almost seems as if it's a kind of revolt by the airlines themselves against the fines suddenly threatened by the FAA. I mean, when the government determines that a certain vehicle must be recalled because of some "bundling of wires in the wheel well," nobody is FORCED to not drive said vehicle. (Not to mention, the automaker isn't required to do anything proactively). And yes, velcro will save the world, not duct tape, contrary to popular belief.

nicksm

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:52:47 -0800

my understanding was that american conducted the original inspections incorrectly and had to reperform all the md80 inspections to the FAA code. i'll bet you don't make those moronic space funding comments when you are strapping on your nifty velcro sneakers - you simply forget the thank goodness for NASA and all their contributions to society.

Johnny

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:25:02 -0800

Pissed off can't describe what I feel. Angry to the point of being dumbfounded with what the federal/local government is doing now a days.