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Independence Air's Big Fine Isn't Its First

July 23, 2005
When the Federal Aviation Administration proposed fining Independence Air for safety violations, it set the figure at a relatively high $1.55 million. Why? Because it's not the first time the troubled carrier has racked up a string of violations.

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In fact, it's the second time in two years the company has been fined for maintenance and record-keeping violations, The Washington Post reported. The company negotiated a $1.25 million settlement two years ago and promised that its maintenance and record-keeping problems had been resolved.

Technically, the fines were levied against Atlantic Coast Airlines, since renamed Flyi Inc., the parent company of Independence Air. The carrier previously flew commuter routes for United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

The earlier fine covered infractions from 1999 to 2004, the FAA said. The latest fine covers a much shorter time frame -- from May through October 2004 -- and would probably been lower had it not been for the earlier violations, an FAA official said.

The violations involve routine and "heavy" maintenance that are necessary to ensure that aircraft are safe to operate. In one instance, the FAA charges the airline flew a jet on 455 flights after the deadline had passed for its heavy maintenance rebuild.

The airline also failed to perform safety-related tests and inspections at required intervals.

Flyi says the problems were the result of an outdated computer system used to maintain maintenance schedules.

Despite the continuing problems, the FAA says the airline is safe. It wouldn't be allowed to fly if it wasn't, a spokesman said.

After years of operating profitably as a commuter carrier, Independence Air has lost millions of dollars since relaunching itself as an independent, low-fare carrier. It lost $103.7 million in the last quarter.

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