FAA Seeks $633,000 In Civil Penalties Against Trans States Airlines

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FAA Seeks $633,000 In Civil Penalties Against Trans States Airlines

By Jim Douglas

January 8, 2013 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing two civil penalties totaling $633,000 against Trans States Airlines, Inc., of Bridgeton, Mo., for allegedly operating two Embraer 145 regional jets on 3,660 passenger flights while the planes did not comply with Federal Aviation Regulations.

Trans States Airlines is the 22nd largest American regional airline. Trans States Airlines, along with Compass Airlines and GoJet Airlines, is owned by Trans States Holdings and is headquartered in Bridgeton, Missouri.

As of 2011, Trans States Airlines employed 650 people throughout North America. The airline operates over 150 daily flights in 39 cities as United Express for United Airlines and US Airways Express for US Airways. In total, TSA carried 2.1 million passengers in 2011.

In the first case, the FAA alleges Trans States improperly installed replacement radio altimeter antenna cables on two airplanes, which the airline then operated on 268 revenue passenger flights when they were not in compliance.

Inspectors found the new cables lying unsecured to the airframe inside each aircraft’s large aft wing-to-fuselage fairing. Inspectors found the old, apparently defective cables still mounted to the walls where the new cables should have been secured to prevent them from chafing. The proposed civil penalty is $322,000.

The FAA also alleges Trans States improperly installed electrical wiring in the fuel supply system on one of the aircraft, which it then operated on 3,392 passenger flights when it was not in compliance. The FAA alleges the electrical wires were spliced too close to the fuel tank. The proposed civil penalty is $311,000.

The FAA discovered the alleged violations during inspections in 2009, after Trans States returned in the leased aircraft to their owner. Trans States has 30 days from receipt of the civil penalty letters to respond to the agency.