11 APR 2008 - This is off topic for this reflector, but I think you all would like to know exactly what the problem is that requires an FAA-mandated grounding of all American Airlines MD-80s. This all started when Southwest Airlines was caught flying older model B-737s that actually had some fuselage structural cracks. An AD on this issue had been issued several years earlier. Congress angrily over-reacted and publicly threatened the FAA for its ongoing failure to closely monitor airline safety - even though it has been cutting FAA operations budgets for many years; particularly under the George W. Bush administration. Now in panic mode, the FAA is enforcing all of its ADs literally to the letter, even though most of them are not serious enough to warrant an immediate fleet grounding. Most ADs are resolved by timely maintenance action within the specified time limit. I believe this was the original type of time requirement for the electrical cable inspection AD for all MD-80s. The first grounding had American's mechanics re-checking and modifying the specific electrical (wire bundle) cable that controls the electric auxiliary hydraulic pump was in response to an FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) originally issued in 2006. I understand this AD was originally complied to by American within the required time period in the manner prescribed. because no fine was later assessed by the FAA. However, the FAA did not directly inspect the aircraft and accepted American Airlines Inspectors' reports stating the work had been properly completed. After the Southwest Airlines problem, the FAA then randomly inspected a few American Airlines MD-80s and found one or more discrepancies. I assume the same situation exists at Delta Airlines and the few other U.S. air carriers operating MD-80s, but they have not yet been audited or re-inspected by the FAA. The attached annotated picture that goes with the comments below shows exactly what is going on at American Airlines right now. The second round of re-inspections is not rocket-science. However, it's an expensive time- consuming procedure that does not improve safety one iota. It's purpose is to allow the FAA to tell its congressional critics and the mass media that it is truly enforcing the rules, regardless how nit-picking they may be, at great cost to the airlines and the flying public. - Dick, W9GIG ========================================================================= Forwarded by another airline retiree: American Airlines MD-80 Fleet Grounding Problem This is what the FAA controversy is all about. It's about the spacing of the ties on the wiring bundle. Notice the bundle is covered in a kevlar??? sleeve and has new rubber-covered cable clamps. It's not like it's going to go anywhere, but the FAA says it has to be tied at exactly one inch intervals. This doesn't seem like it's quite in the same category as the cracks in a few Southwest B-737 Aircraft fuselages! []
