American Airlines expects to cancel more flights: To comply with federal rules about wiring

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN/AP

DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- American Airlines expected to cancel more flights Wednesday -- and perhaps beyond -- as it tried for a second time to comply with federal rules about wiring on about 300 of its planes.

Airline officials said they canceled about 500 flights Tuesday but didn't know how many would be scrubbed Wednesday. It depended on how quickly the airline could inspect and, if necessary, rework the wiring in its MD-80 aircraft.

American operates about 2,300 daily flights, and more than one-third use MD-80s, most commonly on midrange flights from hub airports in Dallas and Chicago.

It was American's second bout with mass cancellations in less than two weeks for failing to meet the same wiring rules set by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is cracking down on airlines after admitting its inspectors were too lax last year with Southwest Airlines Co.

Since the FAA began looking more closely at airlines' compliance with safety directives, there have been cancellations at Southwest, Delta Air Lines Inc. and UAL Corp.'s United Airlines. The agency levied a $10.2 million civil penalty against Southwest for using planes that had missed inspections for cracks in the fuselage....

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/04/09/american.airlines.ap/index.html

[poppysgal]

1. Safety has to be a priority

I know canceled flights are a pain and poor customer service and delays are a constant reality today but cracks in the fuselage is serious and life threatening. I just have one question, how long were those birds flying before this was discovered?:think:

[BlueCollar]

2. This is redundant

The initial inspection was completed two weeks ago. Now, over semantics, the FAA is going over it all again.

These birds are being reinspected now over a MD-80 wiring bundle-wrap-and-retain process. The crack issue was tied to Southwest 737s.

This is really getting out of hand.

edit to clarify

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Hey, BlueCollar -- thanks for your post! nt

[BlueCollar]

4. Hey you...

you're welcome. :-)

check out the AA threads on this subject at www.usaviation.com

edit to add link



http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?s=b9a10593bed41cca2b985f77f7471954&showforum=30

[Festivito]

5. Keeps people from talking about airlines going under. /nt

[BlueCollar]

6. Full press release from AA

Read paragraph 6 for a complete understanding folks. Now we're at a point that can be compared to going 26 MPH in a 25 zone.

No wonder the airlines are in trouble.


Corporate Press Release



American Airlines Cancels Flights To Inspect MD-80 Fleet Again To Ensure Technical Compliance With FAA Directive


FORT WORTH , Texas – American Airlines is canceling several hundred flights today to conduct additional inspections of its MD-80 fleet to ensure precise and complete compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration’s airworthiness directive related to the bundling of wires in the aircraft’s wheel wells. These inspections – based on FAA audits – are related to detailed, technical compliance issues and not safety-of-flight issues.

“We’ve been working in good faith to ensure that we are in complete compliance with this airworthiness directive,” said Gerard Arpey, Chairman and CEO of American Airlines. “We regret and apologize that we are once again causing inconvenience to our customers, but we will continue to work in good faith until we satisfy all of the technical issues related to this airworthiness directive.”

It is not known at this time how many cancellations will result, but it could be as many as 500 today. Additional cancellations are likely tomorrow.

American will re-accommodate customers on other American flights or on flights operated by airlines in the same market. Customers may be automatically notified of flight changes; they should also check AA.com or with their travel agents for flight status.

The FAA raised additional concerns regarding the recent inspection of American’s aircraft and the manner in which American followed the engineering change order (ECO) that had been written for the airworthiness directive related to the wiring in the MD-80s wheel wells. Specifically, some areas of concern included the spacing of the ties on the wiring bundle and the direction in which the retention clips and lacing cords were facing.

American has assigned teams of employees that include aviation maintenance technicians, quality assurance inspectors, and engineers to inspect the aircraft and ensure full compliance, as well as to make the necessary adjustments.

Any aircraft that does not completely comply with the detailed technical specifications of installation will be removed from service until all specifications have been met. Aircraft will return to service as they have been inspected and all necessary work completed.

Additionally, American has applied for and received FAA approvals of an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) for this airworthiness directive that has already been applied to the MD-80 fleet of other carriers.

[El Supremo]

7. American to cancel 1,000 more flights

Source: msnbc/AP

DALLAS - American Airlines planned to cancel 1,000 flights Wednesday — nearly half of its schedule — as it spent a second straight day inspecting the wiring on some of its jets, the same issue that caused the nation’s biggest airline to scrub hundreds of flights two weeks ago.

American canceled nearly 500 flights on Tuesday, stranding hundreds of passengers. Federal inspectors found problems with wiring work done two weeks ago, although the airline says safety was never jeopardized.

Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American, said cancellations could continue beyond Wednesday as the airline works on its MD-80 jets.

American uses the MD-80s mostly on mid-range flights, particularly from hub airports in Dallas and Chicago. Wagner said 208 of Wednesday’s cancellations would occur at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and 138 at Chicago O’Hare....


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24029455

---

These planes are too old! A safe and working airline system is a national security issue. Our infrastructure is falling apart. Petroleum prices are killing the airlines.

[Robbien]

8. Airlines are waiting for a Federal bailout to buy new equipment

Airline profits all go to shareholders, none for new equipment. Now that there are news stories about problems with the planes, you can bet the next thing that happens is that airlines will be begging to go on the public dole to replace the old planes.

[Purveyor]

9. With all these recent 'cancellations', is it just me or does something not smell right with this.

What better way to increase profits than to cut flights and force all your planes to fly at full capacity for the next week...

I'm sure glad I'm no longer flying every week as I did many years ago.

[w8liftinglady]

20. I was thinking the same thing...are they flying half-empty jets?

[BlueCollar]

24. 85-90% full..n/t

[BlueCollar]

23. Flawed theory

1) The seats for next week are already sold.

2) The seat revenue for these flights has been lost through hotel vouchers atc.


You may want to learn a little about the business before you make blanket statements...

[endarkenment]

10. Something is up. (And obviously it isn't airplanes.)

5 bankruptcies and several major airlines grounding parts of their fleet. Offhand I'd say the airline industry has collapsed again and nobody knows exactly what to do about it.

[DemoTex]

11. The MD-80 series has a lot of service life remaining ... BUT!

The FAA and the airlines must be forced to address basic safety-of-flight issues. FAA ASI (Air Safety Inspector) whistle-blowers brought the problem of severe manpower shortages in the FAA inspector ranks to the Congress a couple of years ago. Dr. DemoTex (my wife) was subsequently on a National Academy of Sciences panel that addressed the problem and made recommendations. The Bu$h administration ignored the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences.

The chickens are coming home to roost, and it ain't pretty. Bridges, roads, cities, airliners, and god-only-knows what else, are crumbling as Emperor Bu$h bets the US Treasury on his wars-without-end in the Mid East.

[El Supremo]

14. According to Wiki, AA's MD-82s and 3s are to be retired next year.

All 336 of them.

They had a few 717s (newer version of the MDs) but retired them. They want to go with 737-800s.

[DemoTex]

16. Actually, that was supposed to have happened a couple of years ago.

Next year, huh? Well, maybe. $112/bbl oil might change that. But, the aircraft still have a lot of life left in them. Whether or not anyone buys the MD-80s from AA remains to be seen. AA's MD-80s (82/83/88) are among the best flying with a very high degree of fleet standardization. They would make a good buy for a start-up airline.

[KamaAina]

19. A start-up airline?

Like those two guys in the Guinness commercial would say, "Brilliant!" -- with a high degree of :sarcasm: !

[Parche]

18. FAA

Along with the FAA computers that are antique, something has to give, and it will soon
if someone doesnt do anything about it.....

AA has ordered alot of 737-800 aircraft that are slowly replacing the MD-80/88

:hi:

[jaysunb]

12. My poor wife is now stuck in Dallas

guess I'll have to tell my girlfriend she can come back over for awhile. :rofl:

[DemoTex]

13. Be careful. American might operate an "extra section" using a B-777.

Then it would be like Gomer said: "Su-prise! Su-prise! Su-prise!

[jaysunb]

22. Heh Heh...

that would be " just my luck."

Fortunately ( for me ) she was able to get a flight home on United. Guess I'll have skip the imaginary girlfriend and clean up this house before the old lady gets here. :evilgrin:

[Sequoia]

15. And when the little wife comes home you can sing this to your girlfriend:

Looks like it's over, you knew I couldn't stay
She's comin' home today
We had a good thing, I'll miss your sweet love
Why must you look at me that way?
It's over...

CHORUS:
Sad eyes, turn the other way
I don't wanna see you cry
Sad eyes, you knew there'd come a day
When we would have to say goodbye

Try to remember the magic that we shared
In time your broken heart will mend
I never used you, you knew I really cared
I hate to see it have to end
But it's over...

CHORUS

CHORUS

Sad eyes, turn the other way
(Turn the other way)
I don't wanna see you cry
(Cry, cry cry)
Sad eyes, you knew there'd come a day
(Hey, hey)
When we would have to say goodbye...
(Ahhhh)

Sad Eyes: Robert John

I must say I've always hated this song.

[goforit]

17. Is this gonna be another mihop in the making folks?

[SpiralHawk]

21. More results from republicon homelander "regulation"

Thanks a pantload, republicons. This is another fine mess you have made.