09 April 2008

US aviation authorities blasted for airline safety oversight

The USÃ¢â¬â¢s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking increased flak for its oversight of airlines, according to various sources.

Both Dept. of Transportation Inspector General Calvin Scovel and a House of Representatives committee detailed "cosy" relationships between inspectors and airlines.

The two sources also cited pervasive "disfunction" and "regulatory abuse" at a regional office and "a disconnect" between its Washington headquarters and day-to-day field operations.

Associate administrator-aviation safety Nicholas Sabatini conceded at a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing that the agency's "customer service initiative" and "voluntary disclosure" programme were interpreted in an "unacceptable" way at its Dallas office.

Inspectors were accused of Ã¢â¬Åâœlax oversightÃ¢â¬~ of Southwest Airlines.

"The events at Southwest Airlines and the actions of inspectors represent a serious breakdown," Scovel said.

"I'm here to report that more than one FAA inspector looked the other way for years,Ã¢â¬~ Bobby Boutris, an inspector, told the House panel.

Meanwhile, the Business Travel Coalition (BTC) published survey results regarding aircraft maintenance, outsourcing and FAA oversight that show a deepening concern over the safety of US airlines.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœAgainst recent FAA and airline industry safety revelations, passengers are less willing to fly, have skipped recent flights and plan to avoid air travel in the future,Ã¢â¬~ said BTC.

Ã¢â¬~Concern regarding passenger safety and homeland security is driving a strong desire for additional maintenance-related consumer information to assist passengers in choosing an airline on which to travel,Ã¢â¬~ the agency added.

By : David Wilkening