Questions Records On Aircraft That Were Purchased From Foreign Carriers

The FAA has sent a letter to Southwest Airlines threatening to ground 49 aircraft purchased from foreign carriers due to incomplete or inadequate maintenance and safety records.

The Dallas Morning News reports that in the letter dated October 29, the agency said it was concerned about the slow pace of evaluation of the planes. The FAA has requested information about 88 aircraft purchased from foreign carriers detailing incidents of hard landings, bird strikes, aircraft damage and uncontained engine failures.

In the letter, John Posey, manager of the FAA’s office near Southwest Airlines headquarters said that if the agency's concerns are not adequately addressed, "the FAA may exercise remedies up to and including grounding the aircraft."

Southwest has purchased 88 aircraft from foreign carriers beginning in 2013, according to the carrier. Safety and maintenance checks on the aircraft were performed hen they were acquired.

But Southwest spokesman Brandy King said in a statement the FAA and Southwest discovered in 2018  that a few repairs on the airplanes "had been performed but not properly classified."

Southwest has until July 1, 2020 to provide the documentation required by the FAA.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report