=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/06/07/f= inancial2219EDT0361.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday, June 7, 2004 (AP) FAA proposes $2.5 million in civil penalties against United, Atlantic Coast (06-07) 19:25 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing $2.5 million in civil penalties against Atlantic Coast Airlines and United Airlines for violating regulations. Under the proposal Monday, the FAA alleges both airlines failed to follow required maintenance actions on specific aircraft and operated those planes when they weren't in compliance with regulations. In the case of Atlantic Coast, now operating as Independence Air, the FAA proposes a $1.5 million penalty, saying the airline operated several of its aircraft without performing mandatory inspections of engines, airframes and other components. The agency said the airline failed to maintain its aircraft in according to Atlantic Coast's FAA-approved maintenance program. The FAA also claims Chantilly, Va.-based Atlantic Coast did not have a properly functioning inspection program and did not keep appropriate maintenance records on its aircraft. Atlantic Coast "has taken immediate remedial steps to comply with maintenance, inspection and record-keeping requirements," the agency said. The FAA proposed a $1 million penalty against United, based in Elk Grove Village, Ill. The airline operated a Boeing 777 on about 263 flights in 2001 during which the escape slides would have been unusable during an emergency evacuation, the FAA said. An investigation found that safety maintenance pins installed in all eight of the plane's emergency escape slides caused the problem. United spokeswoman Chris Nardella said the airline is cooperating with t= he FAA investigation but was "disappointed that the amount of the fines are so significant since United took corrective action." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 AP