Airline Has Been Cited In Eight Previous Cases

The FAA is proposing a civil penalty of $160,000 against SkyWest Airlines of St. George, Utah, for allegedly operating four regional jet aircraft on four revenue passenger flights when they were not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.

The FAA alleges SkyWest failed to follow its procedures for documenting cargo and baggage, and as a result operated those flights with incorrect weight, balance, cargo and baggage load data.

The four flights operated Mar. 3, 2011, from San Diego; Phoenix; Omaha; and Missoula, Mont., to Salt Lake City.  The FAA alleges the airline operated the flights without a load manifest that accurately reflected the weight of the cargo and baggage, when the total weight of the aircraft was not computed under approved procedures, and when the aircraft were not loaded according to an approved load schedule.

SkyWest has paid civil penalties in eight previous cases involving improper weight, balance and loading calculations and documentation. The carrier has 30 days from receipt of the civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.

FMI: www.faa.gov