FAA Found Problems During A Routine Inspection

The FAA has cited O'Hare International Airport for a list of safety violations it says jeopardizes safety at the airport.

In a "Letter of Correction", the FAA told airport officials that the airport is out of compliance with federal aviation safety laws. The Chicago Tribune reports that the letter outlines violations ranging from debris on the runway to unkept grass and weeds, which attract birds and other wildlife.

FAA inspectors reportedly found rocks, trash and wood survey stakes used during recent runway and taxiway construction at the airport.  They also identified "potentially hazardous ruts, humps (and) depressions" on the surface if the airport's newest runway, which opened last year.

The paper goes on to report that the FAA accuses O'Hare authorities of submitting false statements in its self-inspection program. "The daily self-inspection records do not reflect actual conditions in the field, violations have not been noted on the self-inspection records that are evident in the field," the letter stated.

Karen Pride, spokeswoman for the Aviation Department, told the Tribune that most of the violations have already been corrected. Others, including correctly filing reports and training for those driving ground vehicles on the airport grounds will be addressed by November.

FMI: www.faa.gov