The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed civil penalties against American Eagle Airlines and Continental Airlines for being out of compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.
American Eagle, a regional carrier owned by American Airlines and based in Fort Worth, Texas was hit with a proposed $330,000 penalty for continuing to operate two Embraer 135 passenger jets on 12 revenue flights with broken passenger seats and armrests. The violation was discovered during an FAA inspection on December 18, 2008. During the inspection it was also determined that the carrier did not follow the approved maintenance manual instructions. The inspectors discovered seats that would not raise and stow into the upright and locked position required for takeoff and landing. They also found damaged center arm rests that would not stow in the proper upright position. In addition to the broken seats and armrests, the FAA determined that American Eagle flew one of the two aircraft on passenger flights without making the necessary repairs.
Continental Airlines, currently a subsidiary of United Airlines, has also failed an FAA inspection to the tune of a proposed $275,000 civil penalty. The federal agency contends that between November 7 and 19, 2009 the then Houston-based carrier flew a Boeing 737 on 73 revenue flights after they had installed incorrect main landing gear wheel-tire assemblies on two aircraft. Aircraft maintenance manuals for the Boeing 737-900ER, a heavier extended range version of the world’s most popular airliner specifically tell mechanics not to use assemblies designed fro the smaller and/or lighter Boeing 737-700, -800 and -900. Using the wrong assemblies, according to the same manual, could cause damage to the aircraft or injury to people performing maintenance on them.
Both American Eagle and Continental have 30 days from the receipt of the enforcement letter from the FAA to respond to the agency. The Twin Cities is served by both airlines from Terminal1/Lindbergh.
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