U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Key Congressional Issues Update

KANSAS CITY – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing two civil penalties totaling $633,000 against Trans States Airlines, Inc., of Bridgeton, Mo., for allegedly operating two Embraer 145 regional jets on 3,660 passenger flights while the planes did not comply with Federal Aviation Regulations. In the first case, the FAA alleges Trans States improperly installed replacement radio altimeter antenna cables on two airplanes, which the airline then operated on 268 revenue passenger flights when they were not in compliance. Inspectors found the new cables lying unsecured to the airframe inside each aircraft's large aft wing-to-fuselage fairing. Inspectors found the old, apparently defective cables still mounted to the walls where the new cables should have been secured to prevent them from chafing. The proposed civil penalty is $322,000. The FAA also alleges Trans States improperly installed electrical wiring in the fuel supply system on one of the aircraft, which it then operated on 3,392 passenger flights when it was not in compliance. The FAA alleges the electrical wires were spliced too close to the fuel tank. The proposed civil penalty is $311,000. The FAA discovered the alleged violations during inspections in 2009, after Trans States returned in the leased aircraft to their owner. Trans States has 30 days from receipt of the civil penalty letters to respond to the agency. ###