Whoa!!

[Buzzerd]

"Without the threat of unexpected FAA inspections, workers may be tempted to cut corners".......:=


http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-sun-skid-united-airlines-mar30,0,3958989.story

[lomapaseo]

It's not the job of FAA inspectors to inspect what the workers actually do either announced or unannounced.

We have to trust workmanship in all parts of our lives. Where it is critical we develop and implement procedures which are in place over long periods of time covering numerous work processes. Lack of procedures/processes don't really lend themselves to being covered up. Missed inspections or plain human error are there to be seen by all who look.

Fortunately the aircraft itself has multi layers of tolereance to single system screw ups.

I do expect that both FAA and the operator may announce a closer look at the maintance processes that let this happen.

[airfoilmod]

The expected "shake-up at the FAA", has intimations of politics and surprises. It doesn't take a too clever chap to notice how some heavy hitters got slapped recently. The System is a good one; not perfect, it has vulnerabilities and can be "flexible" in areas that are less than flight critical. When one party to a human enterprise feels slighted and has a "weapon" to retaliate, mischief and "punishment" can occur, even going public. I've seen obviously unairworthy aircraft returned to service when a ferry permit should have been rendered; "When one party to a contract has information that is material to the performance and execution of Same, and does not disclose, it is a species of Fraud."