September 19, 2012

FAA Proposes $400,000 Civil Penalty Against Atlantic Southeast

ATLANTA - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a civil penalty of $400,000 against Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA), of Atlanta, for allegedly operating a Bombardier regional jet when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.

The FAA alleges that ASA maintenance returned the aircraft to service after routine work, but without an authorized signature on the airworthiness release and without an appropriate entry in the aircraft’s flight discrepancy log.

The FAA alleges the aircraft made 49 revenue passenger flights between July 7 and July 15, 2010, when it had not been properly released for service.

In 2010 Atlantic Southeast acquired ExpressJet Holdings, parent company of ExpressJet Airlines. The two airlines merged in 2011and now operate as ExpressJet.

Atlantic Southeast has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.

Ouch. That's an expensive signature.

Especially if other documentation reflects compliance and this was a simple oversight.

So there was really noting wrong or unsafe with the aircraft, just a couple of signatures were missing -- and thats worthy of $400K?

Something I learned a long time ago about the FAA, when I was a mechanic, is that they could care less if the mx was done right just as long as the paperwork was.

You should learn that about LAWYERS too when the lawsuits start flying.

USMCFLYR

It can happen, like the day after contract maintenance becomes company maintenance and should have signed the log after adding oil on a daily check, but didn't because the procedure change with the change follows the operational maintenance control.

While ASA has been less exposed to operational control changes than other carriers, at some places complying with the regulations while playing alter ego musical chairs is a challenge.