The whistle blowers complained that the airlines had not complied with the original ADs. Certain FAA inspectors overrode the complaints and this was over a year ago. The airlines have a vested interest in taking the easy way out and they did by going along with the FAA inspectors that they had developed a chummy relationship with.
As the airlines are more and more operating under "risk management"/SMS/self regulation, it was incumbent on the airline to satisfy themselves that the aircraft were in AD compliance. They took the easy way out and were called to the mat when the complaints of the whistle blowers were finally heard, a year later. The FAA is just starting to realize the implications of self regulation and by calling for the audits, saw that Southwest/AA/United and several others were not regulating themselves very well.
Why do you think all of these voluntary shutdowns are happening? Do you think it is because all of a sudden the airlines have become so safety conscious, especially with regard to ADs that were previously certified as being in compliance.
With fuel costs as they are at present, we are seeing the results of the bean counters trimming every cost they can. Simply, less oversight equals the fox in the hen house.
carholme