The story keeps getting better. Supposedly all the 500's and some older 300's.


www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/industries/airlines/stories/031308dnbussouthwestjets.492e3dea.html

Southwest Airlines grounds dozens of jets after safety probe



11:29 AM CDT on Wednesday, March 12, 2008



By DAVE MICHAELS / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]



Southwest Airlines has grounded as many as 42 of its Boeing jets for possible structural damage, the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday. The airline’s decision comes as it faces regulatory and congressional investigations into its decision last year to keep flying 46 jets that required safety inspections for fuselage damage. Southwest informed the FAA about the decision to ground the jets earlier Wednesday morning, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said. Shortly before 11 a.m., a Southwest Airlines spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny the FAA report. As of Dec. 31, 2007, Southwest flew 520 Boeing 737 jets, including 194 of the older Boeing 737-300 that have been the target of the stepped-up fuselage inspections. Southwest said Tuesday that it had placed three employees on leave in connection with an internal investigation into the safety lapses.

 

If this case does not make you want to have a diversified fleet, I don't know what would! Maybe the MD-80 stab issue? I dunno....

 

Ain't flyin if it ain't Boeing... Really ?

 

I am typing this in bc the forum won't just let me say "LOL"

 

The timing could be worse, the NY Governer is geting most of the attention these days!

 

Because Mx and inspections become infinitely easier the more different types of airplanes you have....

<sarcasm off>

These inspections only apply to the 500's and some 300's. None of the 700's are affected. So in a sense, SWA's fleet IS diversified.

 

You beat me to it. Because of that and the election I haven't heard much about it.

 

Remember the old commercial with the mechanic: "You can pay me now, or pay me later." Why do these guys seem to think it's cheaper to skimp and cut corners and risk the damage to the brand rather than just pay to get the work done. I thought Southwest was different.

 

Didn't you know? "Airport management, the FAA, the airlines, they're all cheats and liars"

 

Hey Wiz, you are apparently the first one to complete a thorough investigation and I highly recommend that you forward your findings to the FAA. They may however want to know who 'these guys' are and how you determined that they intentionally 'skimp and cut corners'. In fact, you are so brilliant, perhaps you should also forward a copy of your investigation to Herb so he can fire Gary and replace him with you.