Southwest Fines Raise Questions of FAA Bumbling
Someone messed up and it's time for answers!
Last week CNN.com reported on an investigation that Southwest allowed "unsafe" planes that were "not air worthy" to continue to operate.
"Documents submitted by FAA inspectors to congressional investigators allege the airline flew at 
Southwest Operating Unsafe Planesleast 117 of its planes in violation of mandatory safety checks... The planes flew for 30 months past government inspection deadlines that should have grounded the planes..."
Now the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) are getting their knuckles rapped by the congressional committee investigating the whole disgusting mess. James Oberstar, committee chairman, says the agency cozied up to the industry, creating an incestual relationship.
"So many FAA inspectors have given up reporting failures by carriers because there is a cozy relationship between the FAA management and airline management. That has to stop," he said.
The FAA slapped Southwest with a $10.2 million fine for operating unsafe planes. "FAA officials overseeing Southwest Airlines ignored safety violations, leaked sensitive data to the carrier and tried to intimidate two inspectors to head off investigations, according to previously undisclosed allegations by the inspectors," says USAToday.com.
When Southwest finally conducted the overdue inspections it found cracked bodies of 6 Boeing 737-300s, with the largest measuring 4". Rather than own up to their "oversights," Southwest prefers to let their track record speak for itself.
"We believe the system we have now is working well, and that's borne out by the extraordinary low accident rate, but as an organization we are always looking for ways that we can do things better," agency spokesman Les Dorr said.
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