Southwest reviewing maintenance procedures

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co., which is accused of operating planes that had missed key safety inspections, said Tuesday it has placed three employees on leave and hired an outside expert to review its maintenance procedures.

The airline also said it has promised federal regulators that it will fix any shortcomings in its system of tracking maintenance work.

Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed a $10.2 million civil penalty – the largest ever against an airline – after finding that Southwest had missed safety inspections for dozens of planes, then kept flying some of them before they could be examined.

At first, Southwest said it thought the FAA had closed the matter last year – noting that the company had reported the missed inspections itself.

But on Tuesday, chief executive Gary Kelly said that upon learning of the investigation last month, he ordered outside lawyers to look into Southwest’s handling of the situation.

“The chief executive at Lowe’s Cos. said Tuesday he remains optimistic that conditions will improve despite a weak housing market and tight credit standards that have created a tough sales environment.

Lowe’s President Larry Stone told analysts the economic downturn is affecting the entire housing sector. But Stone said the company can’t wait for the “housing gods to help us,” so steps are being taken to improve profit.

Company officials plan to delay the opening of about 20 new stores this year in several hard-hit markets, including California and Florida. Lowe’s, which saw its fourth-quarter profit drop 33 percent, also will take a more conservative staffing approach as it hires seasonal workers to prepare for the busy spring season.

“The conservative American Family Association said Tuesday it’s ending a two-year boycott of Ford Motor Co., saying the company has met most of its demands, which included ending donations to groups that support same-sex marriage.

Ford said in a statement that its principles haven’t changed, but that it has reduced overall advertising and charitable spending in recent years because of losses in North America.

This year Ford received its highest rating for gay-friendly policies from the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization, based on its anti-discrimination policies and health benefits for domestic partners.

Volvo, whose car division is owned by Ford, also is a sponsor of the HRC, according to the organization’s Web site.