American Airlines facing $300000 FAA fine

The Federal Aviation Industry (FAA) has announced that for the second time in under a week it will be handing down a fine to American Airlines over violations of aircraft maintenance.

The $300,000 proposed civil penalty was due to lapses in aircraft maintenance that may have endangered passengers, crew and the aircraft. The FAA said that it had written to American Airlines late last week to advise them of the infringement notice. According to the FAA, American Airlines maintenance workers did not properly disclose or document a speed indicator during a check in February of a MD-82 jet.

The airline continued to fly with the defective indicator, with crew members unaware of the potentially tragic fault, including rough winter weather and night flights among the five additional journeys flown. Flying with the malfunctioning indicator in anything less than clear daytime weather is in breach of FAA procedures approved by the airline.

Earlier this month, on the 12th of March, the FAA had suggested that American Airlines could be facing fines of up to $787,500. On both occasions the carrier has said that it will be reviewing its operating procedures before meeting with the industry regulator. American Airlines is the sole US-based airline that conducts its own in-house heavy maintenance program in conjunction with the FAA.

In addition to faulty indicators, American Airlines is also facing disciplinary action over malfunctioning pilot tubes or external speed sensors.