FAA seeks $10.2M fine against Southwest Airlines!

[Fly2e]

[font=arial][size=15]

WASHINGTON

[Fly2e]

Congressman blasts Southwest Airlines' inspection system

WASHINGTON

[RitterKreuz]

i like southwest but its about time they get nailed for something.

They taxi at 70 MPH practically and are constantly exceeding the speed limitation of 250 knots below 10K

hundreds of times going into Dallas i see them pass us by a rate of at least 50 knots and we are pegged on 250kt!

ATC asks them to "Say speed" and the answer is always "250"  ::) yah right

and what about the FAA regulation that says "No PIC may allow a person who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or dugs onto the aircraft." ? ? ? seems to happen a thousand times a day just in Dallas Love Field

have to wonder what else they are up to  :-/

[Wii]

[quote]i like southwest but its about time they get nailed for something.

They taxi at 70 MPH practically and are constantly exceeding the speed limitation of 250 knots below 10K

hundreds of times going into Dallas i see them pass us by a rate of at least 50 knots and we are pegged on 250kt!

ATC asks them to "Say speed" and the answer is always "250"

[RitterKreuz]

250 is the limit, as a passenger you have no reference of speed... but sitting up front in the cockpit when you see your airspeed indicator saying 250 knots, and directly off your 3:00 is a southwest 737 passing you with easily close to 100 knots overtake it is obvious something is amiss.

[Slotback]

They taxi at 70 MPH practically

Beeeeee Esssssss.

20knots max, 30 knots on long.... straight taxiways,

and are constantly exceeding the speed limitation of 250 knots below 10K

The speed limit can be exceeded if you request from ATC. And if you were going 250 knots and a 737 was going 100 knots faster... then that's 350 close. At or Above Vne.

Wouldn't make much sence to decend that fast (Unless you like 4000fpm or using power to decent (inefficiant)).

[RitterKreuz]

well the 70 knot taxi is obviously an exaggeration  ;)

Fly around Dallas long enough you will hear at least 10-15 queries per day from ATC "Southwest say speed"

and if you ever jump seat with them...  ;D you will see, their cruise flow for some of the flight crews goes like this

1. Overspeed circuit breaker pull
2. barber pole plus 10 knots

trust me  ::)

[Slotback]

LOL OK.

I don't think they're doing anything wrong. That doesn't mean they're not pushing limitations with ATC however.

[Chris_F]

250 is the limit, as a passenger you have no reference of speed... but sitting up front in the cockpit when you see your airspeed indicator saying 250 knots, and directly off your 3:00 is a southwest 737 passing you with easily close to 100 knots overtake it is obvious something is amiss.

Maybe they have a very strong, very localized tail wind?  :)

[Slotback]

You ARE allowed to exceed 250 knots under 10000 if have permission granded by ATC.

[Fly2e]

UPDATE from the Associated Press 2 hours ago:::!

Southwest Airlibnes has just purchased over 453 roll of duct tape. More info to follow as we hear it!

[RitterKreuz]

You ARE allowed to exceed 250 knots under 10000 if have permission granded by ATC.  ::)

"if you have permission" being the key phrase.  ;)

thats not saying much considering that most of the regulations in FAR part 91 start with the phrase "unless otherwise authorized by air traffic control..." i mean honestly... a pilot could pretty much do anything he wanted if he had a controller willing to grant permission.

as someone who works in the airline industry i have the privilege of frequently viewing southwest airlines getting star treatment out there

times when ATC says "oh your going to miss that crossing restriction because your too fast?... thats ok." the proceeds to move everyone out of his way to accommodate him. why should I take a 70 degree heading change AWAY from my destination while southwest gets to go direct when HE f'ed up?

or how about this frequent exchange?...

ATC: "American 123 say speed."

AMR123: "American 123 is doing 250 knots"

ATC: "American 123 roger maintain 7,000 i have a southwest jet at your six o'clock same direction at 5,000 with a 30 knot overtake on you."

how can the southwest jet legally have a 30 knot overtake?  ::)

well there is always the argument that radar see's ground speed, and the 250 knot requirement deals with indicated airpseed but when both aircraft are on the west bound arrivals and the winds at 3, 6 and 9 thousand feet are all out of the west at 10 - 20 knots??? if anything these guys should be going slower?

it happens all the time.

im not saying southwest is a shatbox operation... because they are not, but they do a good number of things that are not necessarily in the book or just flat out go against the book if you know what i mean

everyone looks at that cheap, cattle car, redneck catering southwest airlines as if they are the best in the world because you can get on board with a blood alcohol level that should be rendering you comatose... my argument is that its about time they got shafted.. even if its just a little bit.  :-/

[Fly2e]

RitterKreuz, why do you think they get away with it?
I have also heard that Southwest's pilots are usually ex-fighter jet pilots. Is that true or just a rumor?

Dave

[RitterKreuz]

i think a lot of them are ex military of some sort.

why they get away with it is anyone's guess.

i suppose if you are doing 280+knots and the controller asks "say speed" and you say your doing 250... its your word vs his. and since the reg states "indicated airspeed" the only way to prove it is to be in the plane with the pilot.  ;D

and how many times do we have to see a soutwest 737 in the dirt off the end of some runway as a result of faster than normal approaches??? that has happened what 3 times now?

But... i guess the core issue is that if an airline is not complying with these required inspections they deserve whatever they get as punishment.

we all remember what happened to Alaska air off point mugu, CA as a result of shoddy maintenance practices... elevator jack screw jammed and nose dived into the ocean.

as a word of warning to anyone flyign the airlines... remember, regardless of what airline you choose, your getting on board an airplane that belongs to a company that will do anything to save a buck.

Trust me  ;)

i have ahd mechanics tell me that crimped hydraulic hoses and massive oil leaks with a zero oil indication are normal all because their shift was about to end.  ::)

[Slotback]

[quote]"if you have permission" being the key phrase.