Southwest Airlines faces record FAA fine

[JPS]

Kinda old(3/7), but this is the first time Ive heard of it

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...2.1d31ae1.html

The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday it would fine Southwest Airlines Co. $10.2 million for safety violations that included knowingly flying more than three dozen jets without mandatory inspections for structural damage.

When Southwest belatedly conducted the inspections, it found cracks in the bodies of six Boeing 737-300s, with the largest measuring 4 inches.

Nice to see the FAA finally putting harsher punishments on companies for neglect. On another note, I wont be using Southwest if I ever fly.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: Southwest Airlines faces record FAA fine

I used to only ever fly through them because I got discounts from my dad's company. 25% off was a sweet deal. But now Continental (I think) flies direct from Oklahoma City to Cleveland, Ohio, and I'll gladly pay extra for that hassle-free flight. So screw Southwest. And their neglect.

I figured it was going to have to do with TERROROROSISMRISM CHECKS that they were failing to perform. Or something.

[Perversion]

Re: Southwest Airlines faces record FAA fine

I'd like to see how Oceanic Airlines rates with the FAA.

[The Toecutter]

Re: Southwest Airlines faces record FAA fine

It is no surprise that this is occurring. Abuses in this industry are rampant. American airlines are akin to the East-German automobiles of the cold war era.

Without big nanny government to shovel money its way, the major airline companies would have gone under already. While 'terrorism' is the common excuse as to why the airlines aren't getting as many passengers, the real truth is that civil liberties violations, crap service, and overpriced tickets due to high fuel costs are the real reasons Americans aren't flying as much.

We need high speed electric trains, dammit! But the airlines lobby and use their clout to prevent any such proposals from ever becoming reality. Aviation fuel accounts for about 12% of America's oil consumption(EIA), and the bulk of that is consumed in large commercial passenger airplanes.

Come on, let the free market decide! (This statement is said partially in jest, to exemplify that a free market doesn't exist in this country. We have aspects of communism, socialism, and capitalism, all geared towards benefitting entrenched industries, often to the expense of everyone else, and when large companies such as certain airlines take government handouts while screaming 'free market' when it comes to helping competitors gain a foothold, they are hypocrites)

Do yourself a favor and avoid their ****ty services and lack of care for the safety of the passengers if you can help it(Even though statistically, per mile travelled, air travel is safer than driving, that is beside the point).




BTW, you'd be amazed how many drunk pilots there are, yet they're always tested for the ganja.