DFW cancels 200 flights today; people stranded..

[Lauri]

i'm just seeing this on FOX right now.. they are being checked for possible mechanical problems.

chicago o hare airport affected as well..

26,000 passengers affected..

[Lauri]

correction... 300 flights.

and this is hitting during spring break for lots of people down there..

[Chris_]

I was just checking -- my normal flights for tomorrow look OK and had I been flying today I would have been OK (for the moment).

BUT, had I been flying here (KCI) from LAX my 10 AM flight was delayed until 6 PM!  Why they just didn't cancel it, I don't know.  They probably need to get the equipment to DFW no matter what.

[guest]

American Airlines cancels about 300 flights

By TREBOR BANSTETTER
tbanstetter@star-telegram.com


American Airlines canceled 300 flights today to conduct re-inspections of its MD-80 airplanes, a type of plane that's widely used at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

About 80 departures at D/FW have been cancelled, as well as dozens of flights at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, said airline spokesman Tim Wagner. The rest are spread around American’s system.

The airline is working to re-book passengers as quickly as possible. It’s a busy travel day, Wagner said, with airplane bookings at more than 80 percent full.

Link

Well, now there's the reason I didn't exactly enjoy my flight from Atlanta to Dallas and back, over the holidays.     I hate flying on MD-80's. 

[DixieBelle]

The questions arose amid a Federal Aviation Administration audit of maintenance records at American. The FAA is reviewing records of airlines nationwide after an inspection lapse at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, which resulted in a record $10.2 million fine.

The size of the fine was primarily because Southwest failed to ground dozens of planes after the lapse was discovered. Since the fine was announced, airlines have been quick to take jets out of service if any inspection problems are discovered.

In a statement, airline officials said that many of the airplanes are already back in service. Wagner said the rest will be returned to the skies "on a rolling basis throughout the day."

The problem was discovered by a team of FAA and airline inspectors who are reviewing maintenance records.

So this is the result of someone combing through records, not a visual proactive inspection. Yikes.

[Lord Undies]

The nerve!  Don't they know people's travel plans are much more important than if they actually die trying to get there?  The flight's the thing!  

[Chris_]

American Airlines cancels about 300 flights

By TREBOR BANSTETTER
tbanstetter@star-telegram.com


American Airlines canceled 300 flights today to conduct re-inspections of its MD-80 airplanes, a type of plane that's widely used at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

About 80 departures at D/FW have been cancelled, as well as dozens of flights at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, said airline spokesman Tim Wagner. The rest are spread around American’s system.

The airline is working to re-book passengers as quickly as possible. It’s a busy travel day, Wagner said, with airplane bookings at more than 80 percent full.

Link

Well, now I know why I didn't exactly enjoy my flight from Atlanta to Dallas and back, over the holidays.     I hate flying on MD-80's. 

You can get used to anything. At least MD-80's have a 2 side (one of the few real planes flying that do) -- if you can get row 20 or 21 on the AB side it is manageable.  The problem is the noise -- it is so thin that the wind noise is unbelievable.  That's why I use QC-2s.  Also the seat power ends at row 23 or 24.

MD-80's is all they (AA) fly out of Burbank.  I have probably flown 200 or 300 segments in the last 10 years.  I could draw a map of one from memory.

[Chris_]

The questions arose amid a Federal Aviation Administration audit of maintenance records at American. The FAA is reviewing records of airlines nationwide after an inspection lapse at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, which resulted in a record $10.2 million fine.

The size of the fine was primarily because Southwest failed to ground dozens of planes after the lapse was discovered. Since the fine was announced, airlines have been quick to take jets out of service if any inspection problems are discovered.

In a statement, airline officials said that many of the airplanes are already back in service. Wagner said the rest will be returned to the skies "on a rolling basis throughout the day."

The problem was discovered by a team of FAA and airline inspectors who are reviewing maintenance records.

So this is the result of someone combing through records, not a visual proactive inspection. Yikes.

This is a second look at something had already been inspected.  It turns out that regs say that the clips that hold the wire bundle in the wheel well are required to be 1" apart.  Someone (AA? not sure) noticed they were 1-1/2" apart on some MD-80's.  So AA decided to re-inspect them and, if necessary, re-clip.

[Chris_]

American Airlines cancels about 300 flights

By TREBOR BANSTETTER
tbanstetter@star-telegram.com


American Airlines canceled 300 flights today to conduct re-inspections of its MD-80 airplanes, a type of plane that's widely used at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

About 80 departures at D/FW have been cancelled, as well as dozens of flights at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, said airline spokesman Tim Wagner. The rest are spread around American’s system.

The airline is working to re-book passengers as quickly as possible. It’s a busy travel day, Wagner said, with airplane bookings at more than 80 percent full.

Link

Well, now I know why I didn't exactly enjoy my flight from Atlanta to Dallas and back, over the holidays.     I hate flying on MD-80's. 

You can get used to anything. At least MD-80's have a 2 side (one of the few real planes flying that do) -- if you can get row 20 or 21 on the AB side it is manageable.  The problem is the noise -- it is so thin that the wind noise is unbelievable.  That's why I use QC-2s.  Also the seat power ends at row 23 or 24.

MD-80's is all they (AA) fly out of Burbank.  I have probably flown 200 or 300 segments in the last 10 years.  I could draw a map of one from memory.

Yep, that was my problem with the MD-80: the NOISE! 

[DixieBelle]

The questions arose amid a Federal Aviation Administration audit of maintenance records at American. The FAA is reviewing records of airlines nationwide after an inspection lapse at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, which resulted in a record $10.2 million fine.

The size of the fine was primarily because Southwest failed to ground dozens of planes after the lapse was discovered. Since the fine was announced, airlines have been quick to take jets out of service if any inspection problems are discovered.

In a statement, airline officials said that many of the airplanes are already back in service. Wagner said the rest will be returned to the skies "on a rolling basis throughout the day."

The problem was discovered by a team of FAA and airline inspectors who are reviewing maintenance records.

So this is the result of someone combing through records, not a visual proactive inspection. Yikes.

This is a second look at something had already been inspected.  It turns out that regs say that the clips that hold the wire bundle in the wheel well are required to be 1" apart.  Someone (AA? not sure) noticed they were 1-1/2" apart on some MD-80's.  So AA decided to re-inspect them and, if necessary, re-clip.

I still don't feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I used to work for an airline. I'm jaded.

[Lauri]

Dixie, I'm with you ... my first hubby was a flight engineer with the Air Force and what he learned about the civilian stuff back in the 80s was mind boggling.

Hopefully it has gotten better, but its still a business ran by humans who make mistakes.. so, I'm glad they took the extra time to re inspect the planes even if it makes people irritated.

i'll sit all day long in an airport rather than fly on a questionable plane..

[Chris_]

The questions arose amid a Federal Aviation Administration audit of maintenance records at American. The FAA is reviewing records of airlines nationwide after an inspection lapse at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, which resulted in a record $10.2 million fine.

The size of the fine was primarily because Southwest failed to ground dozens of planes after the lapse was discovered. Since the fine was announced, airlines have been quick to take jets out of service if any inspection problems are discovered.

In a statement, airline officials said that many of the airplanes are already back in service. Wagner said the rest will be returned to the skies "on a rolling basis throughout the day."

The problem was discovered by a team of FAA and airline inspectors who are reviewing maintenance records.

So this is the result of someone combing through records, not a visual proactive inspection. Yikes.

This is a second look at something had already been inspected.  It turns out that regs say that the clips that hold the wire bundle in the wheel well are required to be 1" apart.  Someone (AA? not sure) noticed they were 1-1/2" apart on some MD-80's.  So AA decided to re-inspect them and, if necessary, re-clip.

I still don't feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I used to work for an airline. I'm jaded.

Me neither.  In fact this and the SWA problem scare the crap out of me. But, I owe I owe so off to the Airport I go.

[Chris_]

More flights have been cancelled today, with Delta making cancellations of it's own.

Delta, AA ax hundreds of flights Thursday for inspections

DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines and Delta Air Lines canceled dozens of flights Thursday as they continue their inspections of wiring bundles on some of their planes.

American, the nation's largest airline, canceled 132 flights of its estimated 2,300 flights scheduled for Thursday, spokesman Tim Wagner said. That was about 6% of American's Thursday schedule after the Fort Worth-based airline canceled 325 flights on Wednesday.

Delta expects about 275 cancellations through early Friday, affecting about 3% of Delta's worldwide flight schedule, said spokeswoman Chris Kelly. About 70% of Delta's MD-88 fleet was to be inspected by early evening Thursday, with normal operations planned by early Friday, she said.

Link

[Bondai]

I have been a licensed A&P mechanic for years and I still work on aircraft parts, engines and APU's. I see them everyday and the condition these parts are in.....I don't fly.