FAA wants to fine carriers that fly for United, US Airways $2.5 million for safety violations

FAA proposes fining regional carriers $2.5M

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have proposed fines of nearly $2.5 million for safety violations against two regional air carriers that operate commuter flights for United Airlines and US Airways.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Wednesday that it wants to fine sister carriers Trans States Airlines and GoJet Airlines for violating maintenance procedures and operating nine jets on 320 flights when the planes were not in compliance with safety regulations.

The carriers are owned by Trans States Holdings of Bridgeton, Mo. They fly commuter flights for United Airlines under the name United Express. Trans States also flies for US Airways under the name US Airways Express.

The FAA said Trans States and GoJet violated several maintenance regulations and procedures, including use of outdated manufacturers’ maintenance instructions to perform repairs. In one instance, a wing flap part wasn’t connected, making the flaps inoperable, the agency said. In several cases, workers didn’t document repairs or inspections. There were also improper repairs of an oil leak and of malfunctioning aircraft warning systems.

“Air carriers cannot ignore maintenance requirements or allow employees to take a pass on following regulations,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. “Safety depends not only on maintenance work being done correctly, but also being recorded properly.”

Trans States and GoJet have 30 days to respond to the agency.

The regional carriers said in statements that they were puzzled by FAA’s announcement since the violations occurred in 2008 or earlier. The airlines said they have requested conferences with FAA to dispute the violations, but no conference has yet been held.

“We are confident that when those conferences are finally held that we will be able to show the FAA was incorrect in their allegations,” the statements said.

On June 16, a Trans States jet ran off a runway in Ottawa, Canada. In May, Trans States employees left a woman passenger sleeping on a locked plane for three hours after the flight landed in Philadelphia. Police unlocked the door and demanded identification, she said later, after she had paced the aisle for about 15 minutes.

On the Net:

Federal Aviation Administration www.faa.gov

Trans States www.transstates.net/