Sun, May 31, 2009
Management Disputes the Allegation
Employees ranging from current and former pilots to
administrative personnel allege that Gulfstream changed
computerized time records, allowing pilots to exceed federal safety
rules for flying time.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Gulfstream is the
focus of a broader look at the commuter airline industry following
the crash of Continental Connection flight 3407, even though that
particular route was flown by a different carrier. The captain of
flight 3407 had been trained by, and previous flown for Gulfstream.
The NTSB says pilots involved in two other recent U.S. regional
airline fatal crashes also had ties to Gulfstream.
The dispute revolves around whether the carrier changed
computerized flight records without consulting the affected pilots
or schedulers. Former Gulfstream Scheduling Supervisor Mary Hebig
alleged some crews "had a rebirth; they were now legal to fly"
after computerized records showed they were out of flying time.
David Hackett, chief executive of Gulfstream International Group
Inc., the airline's parent, said in an interview Thursday the
nine-month FAA investigation found 18 instances of suspect
schedules, but the company believes in only one of those did pilots
fly longer than allowed. He said the carrier never changed flight
times with the intent of skirting the rules.
The FAA last week recommended a $1.3 million penalty against
Gulfstream, based in Fort Lauderdale. The agency cited, among other
things, "scheduling crew members in excess of daily and weekly
flight-time limitations." However, an FAA spokeswoman said at the
time that the agency's investigation determined the discrepancies
in Gulfstream flight records stemmed from clerical -- not
intentional -- errors. "We didn't find any evidence of deliberate
action" to falsify records, spokeswoman Laura Brown said. This
week, she said the FAA doesn't "have any evidence" indicating the
"discrepancies were deliberate."
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