Faa Decides To Let Alaska Keep Flying Agency Accepts Plan To Improve Safety, Maintenance

Executives at Alaska Airlines, relieved that federal regulators did not shut down the company’s aircraft maintenance operations, said they are committed to becoming “number one” in safety and compliance with federal regulations.

The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday approved Alaska’s plan to improve its maintenance, oversight and safety procedures.

Alaska’s plan called for the hiring of 170 new employees, most of them in engineering and maintenance.

“We’re very pleased that the FAA has accepted our plan … we really tried to go above and beyond what they asked for,” Alaska Airlines Chairman John Kelly said at a briefing at the airline’s suburban Seattle headquarters.

Alaska was the target of a “white glove” inspection by the FAA, prompted by the crash of Alaska Flight 261 off the California coast in January that killed all 88 people aboard. The April audit found more than 150 cases of improperly documented maintenance, though the work was found to have been completed.

“There’s no question that we have had problems,” said Alaska President Bill Ayer, who said he was surprised at what the FAA found. “There’s also no question that we have the basis, in this plan, for making this airline an industry leader, number one in safety and compliance.”

Ayer said the company already addressed FAA concerns expressed during the audit in April, and have another 25 improvements to make over the course of the next 12 months. Ayer would not put a price tag on the changes, but said they would eventually save the company money.

No fines have been levied against the company, though they are expected. Ayer said Alaska would accept and pay any fines necessary.

The FAA will still keep close tabs on the airline, issuing another report on Alaska’s maintenance in 90 days, and a third six months after that. Then, if all goes well, the FAA may give the airline a clean bill of health.

The agency will also increase its permanent staff of inspectors at Alaska facilities from 12 to 18.

Also Thursday, Federal inspectors said they will launch special maintenance audits of the nation’s largest airlines over the next four months.

He said three teams of a half-dozen safety inspectors each will fan out starting July 17 to look at the maintenance programs of the nation’s nine other major carriers.

The hope, Lacey said, is to identify successful programs and safety practices so airlines can share them with one another. If problems are found, however, he said, the FAA will not hesitate to act.

The nine major carriers are American Airlines, America West, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, TWA, US Airways and United.

After those audits are done, he added, inspectors will turn their attention to the larger regional airlines and cargo carriers.