The Costs of Missed Inspections
An aircraft maintenance program represents a dynamic library of many
discrete maintenance tasks. These tasks may be assigned to specific
scheduled check packages, or they may come due based on parameters
such as landing cycles, pressurization cycles, service hours, calendar
times or various 'first to the post' permutations and combinations. To
further complicate inspection management, the applicability of
discrete inspections are often driven by individual aircraft
configurations that may be serial number or modification status
dependent.
Ensuring that all required maintenance tasks are scheduled and
executed at their appropriate times can be an arduous and
time-consuming task that is often fraught with the significant risk of
human error. When maintenance tasks are overlooked, airworthiness and
safety may be compromised and the approved maintenance program is in a
state of non-compliance: significant and substantial regulatory fines
may be incurred and unwanted public press releases may erode consumer
confidence in the operation. This is not a rare occurrence - revenue
generating aircraft have been grounded, serious flight safety
incidents have occurred and significant fines have been levied against
operators who have missed inspections.
The following articles and press releases have been compiled from the
FAA, NTSB and ATSB websites and various other credible sources.
Specific operator information has been removed to preserve anonymity;
however, information sources are noted should readers wish to gain
greater insight.
Article 1: Australian Transport Safety Bureau Report...
Article 2: Airline Faces FAA Fine For
Safety Violations
Article 3: AIR CARGO OPERATOR Agrees to $1 Million Fine
Article 4: FAA Proposes Maintenance Fines Totaling $988,500...
Article 5: FAA Proposes $195,000 Fine...
Article 6: FAA Proposes to Suspend CARRIER Heavy Maintenance Authority
Article 7: FAA Proposes $93,000 Fine...
Article 8: FAA Proposes $105,000
Fine...
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