Shame on American Airlines

re: Shame on American Airlines

CAD — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:25:50 GMT

Oh my lord!!! That is frightening! Someone needs to take him out back and spank him! Of course that would NEVER happen to him! And I don't think he understands the full scope of this! When you make reservations, that means your life is happening in the moment; children with you, family waiting on the other end, babies being born, people dying, weddings happening, houses selling, businesses being started...I mean c'mon? Are they superhumans who are above this stuff? Oh I know! They have their own private jet service, right? What drug was he on when he made that decision...or for that matter any of them in the past...and you make your employees who work hard for you come an do your dirty work by saying "I'm sorry! This flight has been cancelled?" Please!

re: Shame on American Airlines

sprintrunner — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:29:10 GMT

The wiring bundle problem started at Delta Airlines along time ago. The FAA came to American Airlines to have their engineers try to fix the problem. AMR maintenance actually had the FAA sign off on the fix and off the FAA went, making the fix an AD or (Airworthiness Directive) for the entire country. That being said AMR engineers make the fix and added their own safety precautions in affect making the problem that much safer. After the problem the FAA was having with SWA they came looking at everyone with a fine tooth comb. Guess what! American wasn't following the AD to the letter that was set out long ago. The FAA just turned their heads at the fact that the fix was safer then what was required it just wasn't to the letter. Another government agency more worried about paper work then the actual problem. The FAA is a *** government agency like all the rest, no accountability. I'm tired of people watching CNN and coming up with their own conclusions! Do your homework

re: Shame on American Airlines

sabuta jombuni — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:01:03 GMT

17797 E Prenceton pl Aurora Co 80013 sabana@q.com clean air planes

re: Shame on American Airlines

TSGT. Michael Carreca — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:46:36 GMT

i have a suggestion perhaps a Military or former UPS CEO could offer some suggestions ..Their planes do not catch fire or fall down or go unmaintained ..Thats a class act. They fly constantly ..must be some reason for it ..good maintenance comes to mind. Strict rules are followed.

re: Shame on American Airlines

bob — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:14:52 GMT

Does anyone think Third World Airlines will start flying here...I love that Airline!!

I will fly them over any Well Maintained US carrier....They don't have inspections that ground their aircraft...they just fly and fly...and are always so pleasent...They just keep the planes info booklet in the glove compartment until they need it ...unless a dashboard light goes on or something....then they get it out for sure......gotta go...I hear alot of Babies crying

re: Shame on American Airlines

RG — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:40:09 GMT

80s showed slight wear. Boeing and American Airlines inspected the problem and their engineers proposed a solution, FAA agreed and decided to create an AD (Airworthiness Directive).

The FAA decided to wait until September of 2006 to issues the relevant directive and gave airlines 18months to comply. In the directive the FAA’s proposed solution is to implement a listed Boeing Service bulletin. American airlines performed the inspections and implemented their fix by November of the same year.

I suspect but do not know that AA and perhaps Boeing engineers approved the proposed change. The FAA directive gives an FAA regional manager the authority to “approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD” and requires airlines to “notify the appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding District Office”.

In March of this year AA and FA inspectors identified a discrepancy in how the original fix was performed. In this instance several hundred flights were canceled and it appears AA inspecting the original fix.

This April, the FAA was in congressional hearings after a serious maintenance problem with SWA. Much has been written about this and I don’t need to repeat it hear.

Later in April the FAA notifies AA that their installed fix is unacceptable and needs to be replaced. AA offers make the changes to match the old documentation over the space of ~1 to 1 ½ weeks avoiding passenger delays. FAA says no and grounds the planes.

If this is a safety related issue that should lead to a grounded fleet we should answer some questions.

1.) why did the FAA take ~18months to issue the AD after the problem surfaced

2.) why did the FAA allow 18 months to comply with the original AD

3.) why didn’t the FAA ground the MD-80s when the new fix was identified

We may be able to track the progress of the original “alternative method of compliance” discussion between the AA engineers and the FAA staff.

re: Shame on American Airlines

rajNdfw — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:49:10 GMT

Stay the course, Mr. Arpey. Let's get that debt paid down.

re: Shame on American Airlines

Gumbo123 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:36:25 GMT

All the anger isn't really about the inspections. Most thinking people understand that this has to be done, unfortunate as the circumstances behind it might be. It's really just one more straw, and the final one for many air travelers. I, for one, am sick of being treated rudely after paying a price for a ticket at which the airlines chose to sell it to me. I see a lot of airline personnel making rude comments on blogs and messaqge boards about bargrain travelers. Franikly it shouldn't make a difference. If it will help though, why not just raise the ticket prices to a level where you all will be happy to treat me with some courtesy--oh wait, that's first class! Ok then, make all the tickets the same price, make all the planes first class, give us room, give us realistic schedules, treat us as if you're glad to have us as customers and then perhaps we'll trickle back. When flying makes a leisure trip more stressful than it's worth, people like me seek other forms of transportation.

re: Shame on American Airlines

Doug — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:54:12 GMT

The CEO of AMR Gerard Arpey has a Golden parachute worth over 35 million. He'll be rewarded handsomely for his lack of leadership if and when he gets the boot he deserves. But he's just an example of corporate greed and out of control executive compensation. Here's 40 million a year if you do a good job. How about a cool 35 million if you screw up and we decide to can you later. Sign me up for that job!

re: Shame on American Airlines

JM — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:41:38 GMT

There is no problems with the MD-80s. American was cancelling flights to save fuel, so they can save themselves from bankruptcy.