WN to ground 737-700 fleet
Feb 24, 2015, 9:14 pm
#16
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
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Only 90 so far tonight. Tomorrow's cancellations have not been announced yet. Mostly because WN is petitioning the DoT/FAA to be able to continue flying the planes while it works to get the inspections done. They might get away with that given that the inspection is the first of three levels in the timeline for the system, but hard to know until the FAA issues guidance.
I would be very, very surprised if the inspections for 128 planes could be completed tonight.
I would be very, very surprised if the inspections for 128 planes could be completed tonight.
Feb 24, 2015, 9:43 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 140
Stuck in Chicago
I'm sitting in a Chicago hotel tonight because my MDW-DAL flight was cancelled this evening. I just assumed it was due to weather in DAL. I'm rebooked early tomorrow and hope that flight won't be cancelled as well.
Seems this should be eligible for some serious passenger compensation. Not to mention I'll be rethinking my 50-60 yearly flights with Southwest. All of these recent safety problems do not give me confidence.
Seems this should be eligible for some serious passenger compensation. Not to mention I'll be rethinking my 50-60 yearly flights with Southwest. All of these recent safety problems do not give me confidence.
Feb 24, 2015, 10:09 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2011
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I'm sitting in a Chicago hotel tonight because my MDW-DAL flight was cancelled this evening. I just assumed it was due to weather in DAL. I'm rebooked early tomorrow and hope that flight won't be cancelled as well.
Seems this should be eligible for some serious passenger compensation. Not to mention I'll be rethinking my 50-60 yearly flights with Southwest. All of these recent safety problems do not give me confidence.
Seems this should be eligible for some serious passenger compensation. Not to mention I'll be rethinking my 50-60 yearly flights with Southwest. All of these recent safety problems do not give me confidence.
The DAL forecast calls for Armageddon tonight & tomorrow morning (for the second time this week).
They can't prove that it IS weather, and you can't prove that it ISN'T.
Best of luck getting there in the morning....please let us know how that goes.
Feb 24, 2015, 10:12 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2000
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The procedure was incorrect. The maintenance checks in general were performed as scheduled, but the procedure list for a particular kind of check omitted one specific step that should have been done at that time.
Feb 24, 2015, 11:53 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posts: 1,788
Looks like BWI, HOU, DAL and ATL are being hit the hardest with flight cancellations so far. Given 128 aircrafts are out of service, this can be a major scheduling problem for Southwest if FAA decides to ground these Boeing 737-700s under the maintenance check is performed.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/missed-i...j_nview_latest
http://www.experiencetheskies.com/tr...west-airlines/
http://www.wsj.com/articles/missed-i...j_nview_latest
http://www.experiencetheskies.com/tr...west-airlines/
Feb 25, 2015, 12:21 am
#21
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Yes, they didn't do anything. Southwest is not responsible for damage. They have make sure it is everything is good. They have to do inspected all aircraft before put back on revenue routes.
They will be grounded for those days.
They will be grounded for those days.
Feb 25, 2015, 12:49 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Southwest has issued a statement. They received approval from the FAA to keep flying the planes while they complete the inspections; they have up to 5 days to do so.
Statement regarding Inspection of standby Hydraulic Component
Feb 24 2015
Operational Impact Minimized as FAA approves plan to complete inspections within five days
Southwest Airlines discovered an overdue maintenance check required to be performed on the standby hydraulic system, which serves as a back-up to the primary hydraulic systems. As a result of this discovery, 128 -700 aircraft were identified as having overflown a required check. Once identified, Southwest immediately and voluntarily removed the affected aircraft from service, initiated maintenance checks, disclosed the matter to the FAA, and developed an action plan to complete all overdue checks. The FAA approved a proposal that would allow Southwest to continue operating the aircraft for a maximum of five days as the checks are completed. Approximately 80 cancellations occurred today as a result of the events and the airline is anticipating a very minimal impact to their operations tomorrow. The Safety of our Customers and Employees remains our highest priority and we are working quickly to resolve the situation.
Feb 24 2015
Operational Impact Minimized as FAA approves plan to complete inspections within five days
Southwest Airlines discovered an overdue maintenance check required to be performed on the standby hydraulic system, which serves as a back-up to the primary hydraulic systems. As a result of this discovery, 128 -700 aircraft were identified as having overflown a required check. Once identified, Southwest immediately and voluntarily removed the affected aircraft from service, initiated maintenance checks, disclosed the matter to the FAA, and developed an action plan to complete all overdue checks. The FAA approved a proposal that would allow Southwest to continue operating the aircraft for a maximum of five days as the checks are completed. Approximately 80 cancellations occurred today as a result of the events and the airline is anticipating a very minimal impact to their operations tomorrow. The Safety of our Customers and Employees remains our highest priority and we are working quickly to resolve the situation.
Feb 25, 2015, 1:32 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2004
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The FAA should have only issued a waiver if the airline discloses to all passengers and employees that they are about to board on an overdue maintenance aircraft.
If I were part of union negotiations I would have had the following in my contracts from day #1: "will not fly on any aircraft found to be overdue for any safety inspection or operating under a temporary waiver of inspection requirement."
Heck, if Ding! were still in operation this could make for some catchy promo taglines.....
If I were part of union negotiations I would have had the following in my contracts from day #1: "will not fly on any aircraft found to be overdue for any safety inspection or operating under a temporary waiver of inspection requirement."
Heck, if Ding! were still in operation this could make for some catchy promo taglines.....
Feb 25, 2015, 3:31 am
#24
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 429
Oh, so that was the reason. Yesterday evening, arriving home after two pleasant on-time (actually early) flights, I was surprised to see 6 cancellation at SNA: to SFO, OAK, LAS, SMF, SJC. All short flights. It looked like a West Coast Armageddon. The weather was nice, I did not see many cancellations at MDW or DEN (only to DAL), so I was very surprised.
Last edited by pirossalma; Feb 25, 2015 at 3:37 am
Feb 25, 2015, 6:01 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Posts: 375
This check, us it done by the outsourcing company in Central America or done during a C Check? What I notice is OAK post a RON Check Mechanic once every four months, but I don't think RON mechanics do this type of check. Flew to PHX, hope I return Thursday late afternoon.
Feb 25, 2015, 6:46 am
#26
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That is still unacceptable... I am a process guy, so whoever designed the maintenance process to allow an error to occur 128 times is ridiculous for a large airline like Southwest.
Feb 25, 2015, 8:09 am
#27
Join Date: Jun 2011
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As for CANCELLATIONS today, it doesn't look all that bad so far.
No certain way to know which are attributable to the topic-at-hand and which are related to the second coming of the Ice Man. Let the temp drop another couple of degrees and it won't be good.
The Country as a whole looking good this morning is likely a function of many preemptive cancellations overall.
No certain way to know which are attributable to the topic-at-hand and which are related to the second coming of the Ice Man. Let the temp drop another couple of degrees and it won't be good.
The Country as a whole looking good this morning is likely a function of many preemptive cancellations overall.
Feb 25, 2015, 9:09 am
#28
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Why is this story not on the front page of FT, instead of a drunken porn star's chest? Just another example of how FT is in the tank with WN, some type of quid pro quo to avoid negative WN publicity, embellish negative stories on competitors.
Feb 25, 2015, 9:29 am
#29
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Flying out of DAL, I am not worried.
It seems that far too many of my flights are on -500's, which must be safer than these underinspected -700's.
Or maybe not ...
It seems that far too many of my flights are on -500's, which must be safer than these underinspected -700's.
Or maybe not ...
Feb 25, 2015, 9:49 am
#30
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