Program Calls Carrier's Safety Record Into Question

The CBS television program 60 Minutes carried a segment on Sunday that was harshly critical of the safety record of Allegiant Air, a low-cost carrier based in Las Vegas that flies routes from coast-to-coast.

The program based their report on a seven-month investigation of "service difficulty reports" filed by Allegiant with the FAA, according to the 60 minutes website. They found more than 100 incidents described as "serious" between January 1, 2016 and October 31, 2017 that included in-flight engine failures, rapid descents, aborted takeoffs and smoke and fumes in the passenger cabin.

In a letter sent to the program's producers by FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Ali Bahrami, the agency said that the agency conducted a Certificate Holder Evaluation Process (CHEP) on the airline two years early, and "did not find any systemic safety or regulatory problems, but did identify a number of less serious issues, which Allegiant addressed. It is not uncommon to discover such issues during regular audits and inspections and to require air carriers to address them.

"Since the 2016 CHEP, the FAA has conducted ongoing evaluations of Allegiant's safety compliance, as it does with all carriers, and has not identified any significant or systemic problems with the carrier's current operation. Had we identified such problems, the FAA would have taken immediate action."

For its part, Allegiant responded to the 60 Minutes segment calling the piece "irresponsible" and "grossly misleading", according to Captain Eric Gust, Vice President of Operation, in a statement posted to its website.

"The story is outdated, bears no resemblance to the Allegiant I know, and shows a real and troubling misunderstanding of the FAA’s rigorous oversight of Allegiant and all US airlines, which is truly the worldwide gold standard in transportation safety," Gust wrote in an open letter to the airline's customers. "To you, a member of our Allegiant family of travelers, I want to be very clear: safety is at the core of every aspect of our operation, every day.

"Allegiant complies with all FAA requirements and participates in numerous voluntary safety programs to ensure we operate at the highest possible standard. It has come to our attention that the 60 Minutes story was instigated by a terminated employee currently involved in a lawsuit seeking money damages from the company. Incidents referenced are years old, and took place before our most recent, comprehensive FAA audit.

"The story breaks no news. If 60 Minutes had been interested in current information, they would have reported that today, according to just-released Department of Transportation data, Allegiant is a leader in reliability, with the second-lowest cancellation rate among all US airlines.

"We are continuing to invest in training, technology and infrastructure to make our operation ever stronger, and provide you with safe and affordable access to travel. Please know you are our daily motivation, and we will not let you down. We appreciate your business and can’t thank you enough for your support over the years."

CBS News also reports that, following the airing of the segment Sunday, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) wrote a letter to the Department of Transportation IG Calvin Scovel calling for an investigation of the FAA's enforcement actions and correspondence with Allegiant. "The traveling public deserves to know whether the FAA is conducting thorough safety oversight of Allegiant. Anything less could lead to disastrous consequences," Nelson wrote. "Given the critical implications your findings may have with regard to aviation safety, I urge you to expedite this review. I appreciate your prompt attention to this request."

The FAA provided a statement to CBS in response to Nelson's letter saying that the agency welcomes "any outside review of our safety oversight system, and we welcome the opportunity to present a complete and accurate picture of how that system works."

(Image from file)

FMI: 60 Minutes Segment Transcript, FAA Letter, Allegiant Response, CBS Nelson Report