From a story in Aviation Week:
New Part 21 regulations that will take effect in about six weeks on April 16 mean the companies that produce aerospace parts must submit quality manuals for FAA approval.
The Aviation Suppliers Association points out a looming bottleneck for the agency and potential problem for others in the industry — according to FAA, nearly 47% of the manufacturers affected by the regulation haven’t submitted a quality manual for approval.
The way things sit now, nearly half of these parts makers would be considered non-compliant after April 16. The impact on the supply chain could be truly disruptive for distributors, ASA notes in its March 2011 Update Report.
“Given the volume of manuals that still need to be approved, it is important for manufacturers to get their manuals into their local FAA offices NOW if they have not already submitted them,” writes ASA.
Furthermore, ASA spoke with FAA Director for Aircraft Certification Dorenda Baker, who believes that the lag in submitting manuals indicates that many suppliers’ quality systems no longer comply with FAA requirements.
“This could be used as a criterion for targeting enforcement resources,” ASA writes. “And this could open the doors to allegations that distributors handling those parts dealt in unapproved parts.”
From a SpeedNews Story:
Renton WA – BOEING has US Navy contract to begin low-rate initial production (LRIP) of six P-8As (737s); The plans to purchase 117 total. See picture of the P-8A below:
US Airways
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $5.4 million civil penalty against US Airways, Inc. for allegedly operating eight aircraft on a total of 1,647 flights from October 2008 to January 2009 while not in compliance with certain Airworthiness Directives (ADs) or the airline’s maintenance program. ADs are rules issued by the FAA when an unsafe condition exists on a type of aircraft, and additional maintenance is required to remedy the problem.
Each year the FAA issues about 250 ADs requiring air carriers to correct potentially unsafe conditions. Compliance deadlines range from immediate action before further flight, to days, months, or years depending on the severity and complexity of the safety issue. Air carriers must fully comply with all of these legally enforceable directives.
The FAA found the following AD non-compliance issues:
US Airways, Inc. operated one Embraer 190 aircraft on 19 flights from October 22, 2008 to October 26, 2008 while the aircraft was not in compliance with an AD that required inspections to prevent a cargo door from opening during flight.
The airline failed to perform inspections required by an AD for cracking of a landing gear part on one Airbus A320. The airline operated the aircraft on 26 flights from November 2, 2008 to January 20, 2009 while not in compliance with the AD. The airline also operated another A320 for 17 flights from December 3, 2008 to January 21, 2009 while not in compliance with the same AD.
The FAA found the following problems with maintenance practices:
US Airways, Inc. failed to meet the requirements of its Maintenance Policies and Procedures Manual, which required inspections related to engine work on a Boeing 757 aircraft. The airplane was flown on 505 flights from May 2, 2008 to December 3, 2008.
From October 20, 2008 to November 14, 2008, US Airways, Inc. operated one Boeing 767 aircraft on 51 flights after failing to perform the inspections, tests, and samplings required by its maintenance program on that aircraft.
From October 1, 2008 to November 24, 2008, US Airways, Inc. operated one Boeing 757 aircraft on 121 flights without proper maintenance.
The airline failed to follow its maintenance program and perform a weekly maintenance check for one Boeing 767 aircraft, which was then operated from November 2, 2008 to November 6, 2008 on 53 flights.
From May 22, 2008 to January 13, 2009, US Airways, Inc. operated one Airbus A320 aircraft on 855 flights while the aircraft did not meet the airline’s maintenance program requirements for an engine repair. US Airways, Inc. could have deferred maintenance of this item for ten days under its maintenance program but failed to do so. Fifty-one of the flights occurred after the FAA, on December 31, 2008, brought the problem to the airline’s attention.
US Airways, Inc. has 30 days from the receipt of the civil penalty letter to respond to the FAA.
United Airlines
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $3.8 million civil penalty against United Airlines for allegedly operating one of its Boeing 737 aircraft on more than 200 flights after the carrier had violated its own maintenance procedures on one of the plane’s engines.
On April 28, 2008, a United 737 returned to Denver after shutting down an engine due to low oil pressure indications. During teardown of the engine a week later, United mechanics found that two shop towels, instead of required protective caps, had been used to cover openings in the oil sump area when maintenance was done in December 2007. As a result of United’s failure to follow its maintenance procedures, between February 10 and April 28, 2008 it flew the aircraft on more than 200 revenue flights when it was not in an airworthy condition.
United’s maintenance procedures specifically require use of protective caps or covers on all components that could be adversely affected by entry of foreign materials.
United has 30 days from the receipt of the civil penalty letter to respond to the FAA.
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