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Federal Express
allegedly failed to ensure that the air carrier used approved standards,
inspections, and time limitations for 14 cargo Unit Load Devices (ULDs)
used on the company’s airplanes beginning in early 2008. The civil
penalty addresses 124 flights from March 20 to April 17, 2008. Aircraft
ULDs are sophisticated containers with integral pallets that are used to
load freight.
“When it comes to
maintenance, it’s unacceptable for any air carrier not to meet the FAA’s
standards,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. |
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During a routine
surveillance from March 14-20, 2008, FAA inspectors determined that
Federal Express had failed to incorporate Technical Standard Orders
(TSOs) into its Continued Airworthiness Maintenance Program for 14 cargo
ULDs. The TSOs contain specific maintenance instructions for the ULD
smoke detector, power distribution feed, and batteries. Federal Express
could not ensure that it used approved maintenance standards for the 14
newly installed ULDs because the company failed to make the necessary
revisions to its program for overhauling and inspecting the devices.
On March 20, 2008,
Federal Express was notified of the problem by the FAA but did not make
the necessary revisions to its Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance
Program until April 17, 2008. Federal Express has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency. Other News Stories
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