SWA Grounds Large Portion of Fleet

[JEP]

http://cbs11tv.com/local/southwest.a....2.675659.html

[PCL_128]

Southwest Airlines grounds dozens of jets after safety probe

11:55 AM CDT on Wednesday, March 12, 2008

By DAVE MICHAELS / The Dallas Morning News
dmichaels@dallasnews.com

Southwest Airlines has grounded as many as 42 of its Boeing jets for possible structural damage, the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday.
The airline’s decision comes as it faces regulatory and congressional investigations into its decision last year to keep flying 46 jets that required safety inspections for fuselage damage.
The FAA has proposed a record $10.2 million fine for those violations.
Southwest informed the FAA about the decision to ground the jets earlier Wednesday morning, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said.
Shortly before 11 a.m., a Southwest Airlines spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny the FAA report.
As of Dec. 31, 2007, Southwest flew 520 Boeing 737 jets, including 194 of the older Boeing 737-300 that have been the target of the stepped-up fuselage inspections.
Southwest said Tuesday that it had placed three employees on leave in connection with an internal investigation into the safety lapses.

[JEP]

hah...beat you buy 2 minutes.....

http://forums.jetcareers.com/general...em-41-a-c.html


merged the two threads.

[PCL_128]

You're quick, maing. I just saw it CNN a couple of minutes ago.

[JEP]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

You're quick, maing. I just saw it CNN a couple of minutes ago.

same here, saw it on the big red headlines.....copied the link and bam.....posted....

[Velocipede]

Don't they have 350+ airplanes? So 42 is about 12%. A couple cancelled flights here and there. The average SWA passenger won't even notice.

[PCL_128]

I'd imagine that grounding around 10% of the fleet will result in quite a few canceled flights, especially since so many flights are point-to-point.

[JDMcFly]

Originally Posted by Velocipede

Don't they have 350+ airplanes? So 42 is about 12%. A couple cancelled flights here and there. The average SWA passenger won't even notice.

I think Southwest gets a much higher utilitization out of their aircraft than other carriers. 40 Southwest planes will affect more flights than 40 XYZ Planes.

I think?

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

I'd imagine that grounding around 10% of the fleet will result in quite a few canceled flights, especially since so many flights are point-to-point.

I wouldn't believe the point to point hype at Southwest. I know they say they don't have a hub and spoke system, but amazingly enough I'd say each of their aircraft will see BWI, MDW, DAL, PHX, OAK, LAS or one of their other domiciles at least a few times a day. After jumpseating on them for a while, I've noticed I kept seeing the same cities over and over for "through stops."

They'll be able to replace the lift quickly.

[surreal1221]

I wonder how their rushed flight crews and quick turns are working out now. . .

Bummer.

[Snuggle]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

I wonder how their rushed flight crews and quick turns are working out now. . .

Bummer.

I didn't know much about Southwest and wasn't very interested in their operation until I jumpseated and sat up front on a few SWA flights. I was impressed by the operation they run and it seems like a great company to work for. It's a very efficient and safe operation at southwest, the flight deck seemed relaxed and professional.

Maybe I'm just used to doing things quickly flying a 1900 in the northeast, but I'm sure you will be rushed at times and doing quick turns at ASA as well.

[FlyChicaga]

I'm watching them doing inspections on two 300 models right now in SAT. Shouldn't keep them off line too long, although it sure will hurt financially.

I hope SWA can get this turned around fast and move on.

[minitour]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

...especially since so many flights are point-to-point.

I'd hope every flight is point-to-point. I hate it when it's point-to-nowhere...
-mini

[Maximillian_Jenius]

...when did SWA start putting winglets on their 300 models?

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Southwest-Airlines/Boeing-737-3H4/1309267/L/

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

I wouldn't believe the point to point hype at Southwest. I know they say they don't have a hub and spoke system, but amazingly enough I'd say each of their aircraft will see BWI, MDW, DAL, PHX, OAK, LAS or one of their other domiciles at least a few times a day. After jumpseating on them for a while, I've noticed I kept seeing the same cities over and over for "through stops."

They'll be able to replace the lift quickly.

....Lies, I have never seen a SWA plane here in PHX!

[tonyw]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

...when did SWA start putting winglets on their 300 models?

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Southwest-Airlines/Boeing-737-3H4/1309267/L/

Dude, you are such a geek.

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by tonyw

Dude, you are such a geek.

He is. Every OTHER meet 'n greet, he reminds me that "XJ" is not "ExpressJet".

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

He is. Every OTHER meet 'n greet, he reminds me that "XJ" is not "ExpressJet".

It's XE man, it's XE!!!

[Doug Taylor]

*snarf!*

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by Snuggle

Maybe I'm just used to doing things quickly flying a 1900 in the northeast, but I'm sure you will be rushed at times and doing quick turns at ASA as well.

Of course. But also know that most of our turn around in Atlanta are scheduled for 45 minutes. Now, at outstations, I think it's 30 minutes (but could be wrong - I haven't been able to get into FLiCA to really take a look at the lines yet). With passenger boarding occurring pretty much as soon as we roll into the gate and unload.

That's a huge reason SWA doesn't come into Atlanta, they wouldn't be able to stay on scheduled. So, they goto Birmingham instead. Good riddance.

[DenverPilot8]

It's interesting to see an airline like southwest drop the ball like this. They seemingly couldn't do anything wrong for last last couple of years. Proving over and over again that the cattle car mentality works when passengers only care about price. But I would say that if this negligance becomes widely known that some people might think twice about flying with them. But then again maybe they can't resist a $49 ticket to Las Vegas.

[Velocipede]

Passengers don't care about anything but price. They may talk about other things, but price is king.

They'll pay $50 to send a 2 lb. package, but they won't pay an extra $5 for their kid to fly.

Go figure.

[jtrain609]

Through reading between the lines on some of these news reports it sounds to me like their POI sold Southwest up the river in much the same way that JetBlue's POI did by approving doing more than 8 hours of flight in a day.

Anybody else wonder the same thing?

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

That's a huge reason SWA doesn't come into Atlanta, they wouldn't be able to stay on scheduled.

Wow, an airline that wants to run as promised to the passengers. Go figure. Kudos to them for actually caring about it.

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

Through reading between the lines on some of these news reports it sounds to me like their POI sold Southwest up the river in much the same way that JetBlue's POI did by approving doing more than 8 hours of flight in a day.

Anybody else wonder the same thing?

It's not really "selling them up the river," because every airline knows that their POI and PMI don't have the authority to approve these things. They just play dumb to the press and use their POI's "approval" for plausible deniability with the public. SWA tried to get away with something to save a few pennies. Simple as that.