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Author Topic: Southwest Having its troubles now...  (Read 13060 times)

Offline mhawke

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Southwest Having its troubles now...
« on: March 06, 2008, 12:38:33 PM »
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/06/southwest.planes/index.html


Looks like Southwest is generating a bit of attention today from our friends at the FAA



Offline Lezam

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2008, 06:38:15 PM »
Thats not the only low cost company that skimps on maintenance

Offline MathFox

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2008, 10:01:35 AM »
Thats not the only low cost company that skimps on maintenance
I'ld like to hear both sides of the story before jumping to conclusions. There is nothing in SWA's accident record that points to maintenance issues.

Offline ORD Don

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2008, 12:50:48 AM »

  There may, in fact, be more to this story.  But just because there hasn't been a maintenance-related incident doesn't
  mean that they're not rolling the dice with the lives of innocent people. We all get on planes with the assumption that
  the airline is in compliance with federal safety standards and guidelines.

Offline w0x0f

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2008, 09:00:07 PM »

Offline tyketto

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2008, 02:25:00 AM »

  There may, in fact, be more to this story.  But just because there hasn't been a maintenance-related incident doesn't
  mean that they're not rolling the dice with the lives of innocent people. We all get on planes with the assumption that
  the airline is in compliance with federal safety standards and guidelines.

True, but if this were indeed the case, we all would still have an issue with anyone using the B737 in their fleet.

In the late 80s/early 90s, there were 2 incidents with a B737-400 operated by US Air (now US Airways) which both had rudder deflection problems had occurred, in which one resulted in all loss of life. Boeing still has not addressed that problem, which is said to still exist on all B737s up to and including the date of that accident. That would include all that are in use today. So it's not just the airline's issue; but the manufacturer's as well.

BL.

Offline w0x0f

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2008, 01:07:08 PM »
Southwest: Boeing, FAA okayed continued operation of 737 Classics, fine 'unfair'

http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=12006

w0x0f

Offline w0x0f

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2008, 01:33:42 PM »
Southwest Airlines grounds dozens of jets after safety probe

12:30 PM CDT on Wednesday, March 12, 2008
By DAVE MICHAELS / The Dallas Morning News

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/031308dnbussouthwestjets.492e3dea.html

Offline mhawke

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2008, 03:12:21 PM »
I have a couple issues with the articles and people that defend Southwest.

Southwest said the FAA approved the continued operation of 47 of those planes for a few days back in 2007.  Problem is, they were still flying them up until today.  They just announced the grounding of 41 737-300's.

Their CEO also has placed 3 employees on unpaid leave during an on going investigation and said he is dismayed at what has been found so far.


It is still ultimately the air carriers resonsiblity to insure the safety of their planes.

Offline tyketto

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2008, 04:53:39 PM »
I don't think anyone disagrees that it's the airline's responsibility to provide upkeep for their planes. That is something paramount.

What has to be questioned, is that if what SWA says is true and the FAA did indeed approve their continued use, why the FAA would slap a $10.2million fine on SWA for something that it knowingly approved?

It's like asking your mother if you can get a cookie out of the cookie jar, and your mother says yes, but when she sees you with the cookie, she punishes you or yells at you for having a cookie so close to dinner time.

It's definitely a WTF moment, ya know?  :-o  :?

BL.

Offline Jason

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2008, 05:08:42 PM »
I don't think anyone disagrees that it's the airline's responsibility to provide upkeep for their planes. That is something paramount.

What has to be questioned, is that if what SWA says is true and the FAA did indeed approve their continued use, why the FAA would slap a $10.2million fine on SWA for something that it knowingly approved?

It's like asking your mother if you can get a cookie out of the cookie jar, and your mother says yes, but when she sees you with the cookie, she punishes you or yells at you for having a cookie so close to dinner time.

It's definitely a WTF moment, ya know?  :-o  :?

BL.


But the FAA just is one of those mean cookie monster moms. Graghgraghgrah...cooookie?!

« Last Edit: March 12, 2008, 05:12:37 PM by Jason »

Offline w0x0f

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2008, 08:19:15 PM »


But the FAA just is one of those mean cookie monster moms. Graghgraghgrah...cooookie?!



LMAO. So true.  Logic cannot be applied to FAA actions.

w0x0f

Offline avalon

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2008, 08:23:06 PM »
Here's a link to a video on ABC News "Southwest CEO on FAA Fines"

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4442114



Offline driver

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #13 on: March 18, 2008, 06:46:31 AM »
The rudder issue was addressed years ago. If it had not the 737 series would have been discontinued. It was a maintainance issue with lubrication of the rudder jack screw. Southwest has one of the best service programs in the industry. I find it interesting that United was not given such a fine a few years ago when the were caught duct taping loose wing parts and body holes. Some were 3 or more inches in size.

Offline mhawke

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #14 on: March 18, 2008, 08:16:07 AM »
I have no data to tell me how good Southwest's program is compared to anyothers.  But their program is ony as good as the work actually getting done.  Based on the actions of their CEO, I would guess that they have an ethics problem in the company.  Meaning that people may not be properly documenting or doing the work.  That would call their program into question.

Offline mhawke

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Re: Southwest Having its troubles now...
« Reply #15 on: March 18, 2008, 10:31:10 PM »
FAA today announced the are checking the records of all airlines for 10 past air worthiness directives.

Also, on another intersting note, Southwest announced that it will not out source plane maintenance to El Salvador as thet had origanlly planned.