FAA to fine two airlines $9.2 million
ATLANTA - The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed civil penalties of $5.4 million against US Airways Group Inc. and $3.8 million for United Airlines for flying out-of-compliance jets.
The FAA proposes a handful of penalties in any year, and those announced yesterday are “on the high side,’’ said Alison Duquette, a spokeswoman.
US Airways used eight planes for 1,647 flights from October 2008 through January while falling short of its own rules or FAA orders. UAL Corp.’s United flew a Boeing 737 on more than 200 flights after violating its own procedures by using towels in place of approved caps during maintenance on an engine.
In April 2008, a United 737 returned to Denver after pilots shut down an engine because of low oil-pressure readings, the FAA said. Mechanics later found that during earlier maintenance, towels had been used instead of caps to cover openings in the oil sump area.
The FAA found issues on US Airways jets including failures to perform inspections for cracking of a landing-gear part on Airbus 320s, and to inspect engine work on a Boeing 757.
