FAA investigates Northwest Airlines maintenance - report

Airline Industry Information, Sept 6, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

US federal aviation regulators are reportedly investigating Northwest Airlines (NasdaqNM:NWAC) for possible maintenance problems.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that one of its inspectors has complained to the FAA and to the Democratic Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton. Northwest Airlines has not commented on findings from the investigation as they are not available, but said that it is in touch with officials of the FAA.

The senator reportedly sent a letter to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey. The letter allegedly said that about 470 FAA inspector reports on Northwest's maintenance operations for 11 days after the strike began have not been entered into a database and that 58-90% of inspector reports cited defects, which can be compared to a defect rate of 3-5% for the airline before the strike. The letter reportedly also stated that a 9% defect rate would trigger an alert internally at the FAA.

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