Continental Airlines Overlooks Maintenance Problems, Fined By FAA

May 14th, 2010 - 6:16 pm ICT by GD  

By Gina Gomez
Continental Airlines PlaneMay 14, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The US Federal Aviation Administration has slapped a fine of $325,000 on the Continental Airlines after it was alleged that the airlines had operated a 737 on a minimum of twelve commercial flights even after knowing that the flights were suffering from an abnormal gear problem. The 737 which was on its way from Houston to Los Angeles in the month of December back in the year 2008 had reportedly shown a flash of light on the right side of the main landing gear indicator, the light which usually indicates that a gear has retracted. However nobody in the flight took any special notice of the indication.

The aircraft diverted its track to Phoenix only when it became apparent that it was consuming excess fuel during flight. It has now come to light that the mechanics department had detected the fault in the aircraft, but because there was no written complaint recorded by the mechanics, the airlines continued to function using the same faulty equipments for a long time after that. This has amounted to the wrath of the FAA and the civil penalty which the Continental Airlines will now have to pay.

According to the policies of the FAA, an airlines cannot allow its flights which are detected with even a minor fault to operate in the skies and neither can they operate if the faults are not corrected. The Continental Airlines had operated close to 12 flights after the maintenance issues came up. The fine of $325,000 was announced by the department of Transportation in the US this week. The Continental Airlines has a period of 30 days to decide on their course of action after the surface of the allegation.

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