Management Disputes the Allegation

Employees ranging from current and former pilots to administrative personnel allege that Gulfstream changed computerized time records, allowing pilots to exceed federal safety rules for flying time.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Gulfstream is the focus of a broader look at the commuter airline industry following the crash of Continental Connection flight 3407, even though that particular route was flown by a different carrier. The captain of flight 3407 had been trained by, and previous flown for Gulfstream. The NTSB says pilots involved in two other recent U.S. regional airline fatal crashes also had ties to Gulfstream.

The dispute revolves around whether the carrier changed computerized flight records without consulting the affected pilots or schedulers. Former Gulfstream Scheduling Supervisor Mary Hebig alleged some crews "had a rebirth; they were now legal to fly" after computerized records showed they were out of flying time.

David Hackett, chief executive of Gulfstream International Group Inc., the airline's parent, said in an interview Thursday the nine-month FAA investigation found 18 instances of suspect schedules, but the company believes in only one of those did pilots fly longer than allowed. He said the carrier never changed flight times with the intent of skirting the rules.

The FAA last week recommended a $1.3 million penalty against Gulfstream, based in Fort Lauderdale. The agency cited, among other things, "scheduling crew members in excess of daily and weekly flight-time limitations." However, an FAA spokeswoman said at the time that the agency's investigation determined the discrepancies in Gulfstream flight records stemmed from clerical -- not intentional -- errors. "We didn't find any evidence of deliberate action" to falsify records, spokeswoman Laura Brown said. This week, she said the FAA doesn't "have any evidence" indicating the "discrepancies were deliberate."

FMI: www.faa.gov