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Jul 23, 2008 2:14 pm US/Central
American Changes Instructions On Lightning Damage
FORT WORTH (AP) ―
American Airlines changed instructions that mechanics use to decide how to inspect planes suspected of being hit by lightning.
The change is intended to end a standoff between the nation's largest airline and some of its mechanics, who complained to federal safety regulators.
The new instructions cover Boeing 767 aircraft that travel over water and are subject to more rigorous inspection standards. They took effect this month.
Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American, said airline representatives met with Federal Aviation Administration officials in May "and agreed on mutually acceptable revisions to the work card involving lightning strikes for the 767 aircraft." Work cards outline required tasks for mechanics.
Before this month, the work cards directed mechanics to conduct intensive lightning-strike inspections only after pilots reported a suspected hit or eyewitnesses saw lightning in the area.
The new instructions give mechanics more authority to initiate inspections in other cases, such as when they see dings or dimples larger than a certain size on planes. They also direct mechanics to Boeing's guidelines for when to conduct a limited or more thorough examination.
In minor cases, repairs could be delayed until the plane's next maintenance check. If a plane is taken out of service for immediate repairs, it can be sidelined for several hours -- a potentially costly move.
Wagner said airliners get hit by lightning frequently. They are designed to dissipate the shock, but strikes can damage the plane's skin, causing pitting or tiny dimples, he said.
A study by American managers, maintenance crew chiefs and pilots found that in a six-month period last year, 30 of 62 lightning-strike reports were lodged at one maintenance station, leading to flight delays. Some of the planes were cleared for flight, then inspected again for the same lightning strike.
FAA officials did not have an immediate comment Wednesday.
In May, the FAA said the meeting with American followed complaints by a mechanic at New York's Kennedy Airport and two pilots who raised questions about the inspection policy.
American is a unit of Fort Worth-based AMR Corp.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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