Claris Law Legal Blogging Community

Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Category: Aviation News

Although the names of specific carriers were not given, Federal aviation officials have stated they are investigating 11 air carriers for violation of safety directives. This is a result of the FAA's major effort to confirm whether carriers were following the agency's safety orders - obviously some are not. Earlier in the spring, seven instances involving four carriers were found and because the FAA has not released the names of the carriers, it is uncertain if the new cases involve the carriers already under investigation or different carriers.

FAA administrator, Robert Sturgall, reported 98% of the 5,600 safety directives audited had been followed by the carriers and goes on to point out this indicates the high level of safety in the U.S. traffic system since we haven't had a major accident in over two years.

"These kinds of numbers are not an accident, it's not a miracle, it's not luck," Sturgell said. "It's the result of an entire team effort -- the government, the industry, Congress, everybody involved in the aviation system -- producing the safety net we have today."

A spokesman for the Air Transport Association, which represents the airline industry, said the association is pleased with findings of the audit. Most of the discrepancies uncovered "were generally technical and did not impact safety", but they "serve as a useful reminder that we can always do better," he said.

Whoa! Hold on! Is it true the audit inquiries covered only 10% of the FAA's safety directives? That leaves 90% of the directives not covered - not checked for violations! In this light, 98 percentage success doesn't necessarily tell the story when it refers to only one tenth of the whole. Gabriel Bruno who left the FAA in 2006 is not so sure the audits were carried out in way that would have uncovered serious problems, stating, "They filled out their own report card and gave themselves all A's."

The FAA saga continues - now the investigators are being investigated. The Transportation Department's inspector general has been asked to review how the FAA conducted the audits. Also in review is how the FAA reviews flight risk, carrier compliance measures, and its oversight of maintenance practices. Congress has accused the FAA of fostering a cozy relationship with the airlines instead of being a vigilant safety enforcement agency with them, while FAA inspectors told a congressional hearing in April their jobs were threatened when they reported maintenance and inspection problems with some airlines. What a mess! Who ultimately pays the price for such nonsense? The customers of this industry - we the people!

In a rare move, the FAA did order the audit of maintenance records of all domestic airlines following reports Southwest Airlines had missed safety inspections - resulting in a $10.2 million fine. American Airlines has bee hit with a $7.1 million for flying after safety problems were reported and for drug testing violations.

What is so terribly wrong that an agency entrusted with our safety is no longer trustworthy? Our tax dollars pay the agents of the FAA to do the right thing, and then more of our tax dollars have to be spent to have that agency investigated? Frieda wonders what would happen if all agencies of the Federal government performed the tasks given them to the best of their ability - and honestly - just how much of our tax dollars would then be available to fund other programs. Frieda also wonders why the names of the air carriers were not released - don't we have the right to know which airlines are not complying with 10% of the FAA directives and therefore chose the carriers we want to use? Frieda questions why only 10% of the directives were audited.

My friends, nothing is ever going to change and improve unless "we the people" leave our apathetic comfort zone and demand the agencies which work for us, are being paid by us, and are accountable to us do just that - work for us and be accountable to us. It's time for our voices to be heard.