FAA Audit: U.S. Carriers 98% AD-Compliant Sep 5, 2008 Frances Fiorino fiorino@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The FAA has found 117 carriers in the agency's Air Transportation Oversight System to be 98% compliant with airworthiness directives, according to Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell, who was detailing final results of an unprecedented AD-compliance audit launched earlier this year. "That's a remarkable score for a system as complex and extensive as ours," says Sturgell. "And I challenge any agency today to conduct the type of review and achieve that rate of compliance." The U.S. system, Sturgell notes, has not had a fatal accident in two years. In addition, the systems' earned a 91 score--compared to a world average of 56--under International Civil Aviation Organization safety oversight review. In total, the FAA conducted 5,628 reviews of directives in the two-phase audit. The final results revealed Sept. 5 closely mirror initial findings released in March that indicated 99% AD compliance. The small fraction of non-compliance issues discovered in Phases 1 and 2 in general related to "improper record-keeping," notes Sturgell. The FAA is taking a closer look at these cases and hopes to complete the investigations by October. All the discrepancies were resolved before aircraft flew again--and resolved usually through administrative actions, such as a letter, or fine, explained FAA officials. In some cases, a carrier's alternate means of compliance, such as substituting insulation not approved under an AD, was in question. While the score is "near perfect," Sturgell warned, "We can't be complacent with the results we've seen with this audit." The agency needs to continually improve the system and is now focused on "getting that last 2%." The FAA undertook this AD-compliance review after legislators accused Southwest Airlines of operating passenger aircraft without first checking for fatigue cracks. The agency admitted complicity in the Southwest incident, by failing to ground the aircraft until the required checks were completed. The FAA fined Southwest $10.2 million for failure to comply with the directive. And in April, Congress launched hearings into the agency's safety oversight of carriers. In the wake of the hearings, the agency launched a series of self-improvement projects, including establishing an internal safety reporting system. Sturgell on Sept. 5 noted the FAA has initiated rulemaking that would set a work ethics policy. It would require a certain "cooling off" period between the time an FAA inspector could leave the agency and take a job at an airline. He hopes to have the rule issued in Fiscal 2009. In addition, Sturgell said that any reported compliance discrepancies would now require additional sign-offs by senior managers at the carrier as well as the FAA certification manager. The FAA is also working with industry to improve the clarity of airworthiness directives and compliance processes. These actions relate to the Southwest incident and legislators' charges that the FAA was "too cozy" with airlines. One of the great lessons learned in this comprehensive review, explains Sturgell, is that the FAA has "mechanisms in place to check ongoing work within the compliance timeframe--and not after the fact. At the end of the day, we are going to have a better system." Logo via FAA <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".