Pilots Not Properly Trained FAA Fines Evergreen Airlines $4.855 Million

 

NEWSROOM
 
 
  Bookmark and Share
 
 
 
 

Pilots Not Properly Trained FAA Fines Evergreen Airlines $4.855 Million

By
Steve Hall
 

September 25, 2010 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $4,855,000 civil penalty against Evergreen International Airlines of McMinnville, Oregon for allegedly using pilots on 232 revenue flights that had not been trained in accordance with an FAA-approved training program. 

The flights were made between Feb. 19 and July 9, 2009, on aircraft equipped with a new flight management system (FMS) that was different enough from the prior system that it required a specific training program for pilots who were flying the aircraft. The FAA alleges Evergreen did not complete its FAA-approved training for pilots before assigning them to fly revenue trips using the new FMS.

 

The FAA alleges Evergreen line pilots received ground training and a check ride on the new FMS, 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 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.

Subsequent to these improperly conducted flights, Evergreen has ensured that its pilots are trained in accordance with its FAA-approved training program and continues to operate under an FAA-approved training program. ?Even though Evergreen now complies with its training program, this penalty is appropriate because requiring operators to complete required, approved training is the only way to make sure crews are fully qualified to operate the equipment and systems to manage flights safely,? said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

?We put rules and regulations in place to keep air transportation safe and we expect airlines to comply,? said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Evergreen has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA?s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.

Evergreen International Airlines is a cargo airline based in McMinnville, Oregon, USA. It operates contract freight services, offering charters and scheduled flights, as well as wet lease services. It operates services for the U.S. military and the United States Postal Service, as well as ad hoc charter flights.  

 

Its main bases are Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus, Ohio, John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York and Columbus Metropolitan Airport, with a hub at Hong Kong International Airport. Evergreen maintains a large aircraft maintenance and storage facility at the Pinal Air Park in Marana, Arizona that the company acquired from the CIA's Air America fleet. Evergreen International Airlines fleet consists of the Boeing 747-100SF, Boeing 747-200C, Boeing 747-200BSF, Boeing 747-200FSCD, Boeing 747-400LCF, and Boeing 747-400F.

 

 
Other News Stories

 
 
Home Aviation News Aviation Stories Of Interest FAA Exam Upcoming Events Links To Other Sites General Aviation Helicopters Medical Factors Facing Pilots
Maintenance and Aircraft Mechanics Hot Air Balloon Aviation Training Handbooks Read Online Aviation History Legal Issues In Aviation Sea Planes Editorials
 
 ?AvStop Online Magazine                                                                 Contact Us                                                  Return To News                                          Bookmark and Share
 

 

AvStop Aviation News and Resource Online Magazine

Grab this Headline Animator