plantraveler
25th Sep 2010, 16:15
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Aviation Administration moved Friday to fine Evergreen International Airlines $4.9 million for allowing pilots to fly more than 200 trips without being fully trained on newly installed navigation equipment.
Evergreen, which is one of the largest airlines most people have never heard of, is based in McMinnville and does much of its business flying cargo for the U.S. government, especially the military. The company denied the charges in a statement and suggested it would launch a vigorous defense.
"This case should not have been brought," Evergreen's Executive Vice President Raymond H. Wright said in statement. "It represents a good faith dispute about appropriate training when we transitioned in early 2009 from one GPS-based navigational system to another GPS navigation system."
FAA officials contend, however, that Evergreen allowed pilots to fly 232 times between February 2009 and July 2009 with planes equipped with new flight management systems before their training was complete. The FAA acknowledges that Evergreen pilots received some training on the new system, but decided to levy a fine after concluding the company managers took short cuts they knew were improper.
"We put rules and regulations in place to keep air transportation safe and we expect airlines to comply," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in announcing the action.
The case centers around a new flight management system (FMS) the airline installed in some of its fleet. The technology allows the planes to fly more efficiently while maintaining safety standards required by the government.
In explaining its decision, the FAA acknowledged that Evergreen pilots received some training but fell short of completing the comprehensive training government officials deemed necessary.
"The FAA alleges Evergreen line pilots received ground training and a check ride on the new (flight management system), but that the company did not provide required familiarization flights supervised by the company's check pilots, despite being told to do so by the FAA," the agency said in a statement.
"The familiarization flights are part of the FAA-approved training program for Evergreen aircraft equipped with the FMS. Evergreen also failed to distribute copies of the required system manual to crews who would be using the FMS."
It might seem like an open-and-shut case, but John M. Cox, a veteran pilot and safety consultant said in an interview that the issue is often more complicated. Airlines and the FAA, he said, often adjust their requirements based on their interpretation of regulations.
In this case, the point of contention is likely to be the FAA's requirement that pilots undergo comprehensive training when there is "substantial change" in cockpit equipment. The standard is intentionally left vague, Cox said, to force the airline to adopt the most rigorous training. But it also opens the door for different interpretations.
Cox, who is CEO of Safety Operating Systems and who has no involvement with the Evergreen case, said, "It's not as if these pilots weren't trained by Evergreen. The question is, did they get the full range of training?"
That is likely to be the central question when Evergreen contests the fine. The company says --and the FAA concedes -- the pilots now have met the training requirements.
From a safety standpoint, Cox said, "I don't think anybody was put in extreme risk by" Evergreen's actions. The pilots who flew the 232 flights were experienced and certified to fly the specific aircraft. If the new equipment had not been installed there would not have been any impropriety.
At the same time, Cox noted that the aviation industry in the United States is "a highly regulated industry and highly compliant" to ensure safety and passenger confidence. The large fine, he said, could be the FAA sending a message that airlines must be diligent in meeting all training standards.
Evergreen conceded that point in its statement.
"While we'll be challenging both the substance and amount of the proposed penalty, we appreciate the FAA's recognition that we addressed their concerns long ago, with pilot training that is fully in compliance with the law and our FAA-approved training program," Evergreen's Wright said. "Evergreen has always maintained state-of-the-art training for our pilots, and we'll continue to safely serve our customers all around the world."
Evergreen, which is one of the largest airlines most people have never heard of, is based in McMinnville and does much of its business flying cargo for the U.S. government, especially the military. The company denied the charges in a statement and suggested it would launch a vigorous defense.
"This case should not have been brought," Evergreen's Executive Vice President Raymond H. Wright said in statement. "It represents a good faith dispute about appropriate training when we transitioned in early 2009 from one GPS-based navigational system to another GPS navigation system."
FAA officials contend, however, that Evergreen allowed pilots to fly 232 times between February 2009 and July 2009 with planes equipped with new flight management systems before their training was complete. The FAA acknowledges that Evergreen pilots received some training on the new system, but decided to levy a fine after concluding the company managers took short cuts they knew were improper.
"We put rules and regulations in place to keep air transportation safe and we expect airlines to comply," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in announcing the action.
The case centers around a new flight management system (FMS) the airline installed in some of its fleet. The technology allows the planes to fly more efficiently while maintaining safety standards required by the government.
In explaining its decision, the FAA acknowledged that Evergreen pilots received some training but fell short of completing the comprehensive training government officials deemed necessary.
"The FAA alleges Evergreen line pilots received ground training and a check ride on the new (flight management system), but that the company did not provide required familiarization flights supervised by the company's check pilots, despite being told to do so by the FAA," the agency said in a statement.
"The familiarization flights are part of the FAA-approved training program for Evergreen aircraft equipped with the FMS. Evergreen also failed to distribute copies of the required system manual to crews who would be using the FMS."
It might seem like an open-and-shut case, but John M. Cox, a veteran pilot and safety consultant said in an interview that the issue is often more complicated. Airlines and the FAA, he said, often adjust their requirements based on their interpretation of regulations.
In this case, the point of contention is likely to be the FAA's requirement that pilots undergo comprehensive training when there is "substantial change" in cockpit equipment. The standard is intentionally left vague, Cox said, to force the airline to adopt the most rigorous training. But it also opens the door for different interpretations.
Cox, who is CEO of Safety Operating Systems and who has no involvement with the Evergreen case, said, "It's not as if these pilots weren't trained by Evergreen. The question is, did they get the full range of training?"
That is likely to be the central question when Evergreen contests the fine. The company says --and the FAA concedes -- the pilots now have met the training requirements.
From a safety standpoint, Cox said, "I don't think anybody was put in extreme risk by" Evergreen's actions. The pilots who flew the 232 flights were experienced and certified to fly the specific aircraft. If the new equipment had not been installed there would not have been any impropriety.
At the same time, Cox noted that the aviation industry in the United States is "a highly regulated industry and highly compliant" to ensure safety and passenger confidence. The large fine, he said, could be the FAA sending a message that airlines must be diligent in meeting all training standards.
Evergreen conceded that point in its statement.
"While we'll be challenging both the substance and amount of the proposed penalty, we appreciate the FAA's recognition that we addressed their concerns long ago, with pilot training that is fully in compliance with the law and our FAA-approved training program," Evergreen's Wright said. "Evergreen has always maintained state-of-the-art training for our pilots, and we'll continue to safely serve our customers all around the world."