Carrier Suspends Three Employees After Firm Reviews Maintenance Practices

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 03.12.08 1530 EDT: The fallout continues to mount from the reported failure on the part of Southwest Airlines to inspect some of its oldest 737s for structural fatigue issues. On Wednesday, the Dallas-based low cost carrier grounded as many as 43 of its aircraft, due to concerns about such problems.

The affected aircraft are located at Southwest's home airport, Dallas Love Field (DAL) and its maintenance operation at Chicago's Midway Airport (MDW) according to news reports. About four percent of Southwest's schedule Wednesday has been cancelled, according to the airline, though some of those cancellations were due to weather issues.

Southwest spokeswoman Linda Rutherford told the Dallas Morning News the carrier identified 44 737 Classic models requiring inspections of the fuselage skin above and below the cabin windows. Of those aircraft, 38 were taken out of service for the inspections; one had already been retired, and five were already undergoing maintenance work.

The aircraft will be returned to service after the inspections are performed, Rutherford. The checks take about 90 minutes per aircraft.

The move comes less than one day after CEO Gary Kelly disclosed he asked an independent firm last month to review Southwest's maintenance practices, stemming from last week's proposed $10.2 million fine against the airline for failing to adhere to mandated inspection intervals, and continuing to fly 46 older 737-300s and -500s in March 2007 without performing the necessary checks. The airline later found evidence of cracks on six of those aircraft.

Prior to now, Southwest's official stance has been those problems had been rectified... but Wednesday's groundings appear to indicate that's not entirely the case.

"Again, we are mindful that during Southwest’s 37-year proud history, we have safely transported the population of the United States -- every man, woman, and child -- four and a half times over," Kelly said Wednesday. "This is a fact. We have been a safe company. I believe we are a safe company. I am committed to making sure we become safer still."

Stay tuned.

Original Report

1200 EDT: The fallout has begun following last week's revelations about suspect maintenance procedures -- and FAA oversight -- at Southwest Airlines. On Tuesday, the Dallas-based low-cost carrier said it placed three employees on paid leave, pending the results of internal and federal reviews.

As ANN reported, last week the FAA proposed a record $10.2 million civil fine against Southwest, for the carrier's failure to conduct mandatory fuselage fatigue and rudder inspections on 46 of its older 737-300 models. Two former FAA inspectors came forward, stating agency supervisors allowed Southwest to continue flying those aircraft; investigators later determined six of those 737s had evidence of fatigue cracking.

Southwest immediately took steps to downplay those accusations, stating the airline had uncovered the oversight last year, and alerted the FAA of its own accord. The airline thought the matter was closed, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly and other airline officials said at the time.

But on Tuesday, Kelly stepped back from those assertions somewhat. In comments reported by The Associated Press, Kelly said he learned of an FAA investigation into the matter last month, and ordered outside experts to look into the carrier's maintenance practices.

Southwest quietly hired Washington-based JDA Aviation Technology Solutions to conduct the review... but ramped up those efforts following the notice of the proposed penalty.

"I am concerned with some of our findings as to our regulatory compliance processes," Kelly said, insisting the carrier has the proper organizational structure "to ensure that the right decisions are being made."

Southwest declined to name the three employees placed on paid leave, or say what positions they held.

In related news, documents filed by whistleblowers Charalambe Boutris and Douglas E. Peters with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee were released to congressional investigators this week... and imply an overly-cozy relationship between FAA inspectors, and the airlines they're tasked to oversee.

According to those documents, Boutris and Peters allege Douglas T. Gawadzinski, the agency's chief maintenance inspector at Southwest, gave permission for Southwest to keep planes flying "in an unsafe or unairworthy condition," and that another inspector knew of the problem but didn't do anything about it.

The documents also state Gawadzinski tried to remove Boutris from the inspectors ranks at Southwest, at the urging of the airline. The supervisor declined, but ordered Boutris' upcoming review be postponed "until he gave the green light," according to a report filed by special counsel. Gawadzinski and another FAA manager, Mike Mills, were temporarily reassigned in May 2007.

The question of "who knew what, and when?" also reaches to DOT Secretary Mary Peters... who was told in December about the whistle-blower allegations, according to the documents.

Southwest counters it received permission -- from not only FAA personnel, but also from Boeing, manufacturer of the 737 -- to keep flying the aircraft after the missed inspections were discovered in March 2007, as long as the aircraft were re-examined within 10 days.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.southwest.com