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FAA finds no significant problems with ValuJet/AirTran

February 27, 1998
Web posted at: 5:03 p.m. EDT (1703 GMT)

(CNN) -- A Federal Aviation Administration report released Friday revealed "no systemic safety problems" with AirTran Airlines, formerly ValuJet.

The agency's National Aviation Safety Inspection Program (NASIP) team "took an extremely conservative approach" to its inspection of the airline, conducted from October 20 through November 7, 1997 and thoroughly analyzed in the months that followed.

Initially, the agency reported 106 problem areas, but the new report said that 60 of those findings "were not substantiated" and were dropped. The remaining 46, the FAA report said, "have either been corrected by the airline or corrective action is in progress."

The report cited the airline for hiring an unauthorized company to paint some of its aircraft and handle some interior modifications, and for failing to update a listing of the weight of some of its aircraft after changing the seating configurations. The report also noted that some flight crew members incorrectly filled out flight time records, and that the airline needs to improve its internal oversight program.

ValuJet, which merged with AirTran and adopted its name last year, was under close FAA scrutiny following the May 11, 1996 crash of Flight 592, which plunged into the Everglades, killing all 110 people aboard. Investigators believe that oxygen generators in the plane's cargo hold ignited a fire that brought the plane down.

ValuJet was not authorized to carry the generators, considered hazardous material, and blamed a contractor for mislabeling and packing the canisters. The FAA has since banned carrying oxygen generators as cargo, and has issued rules requiring smoke detectors in aircraft's cargo holds.

The airline was grounded after the crash, and allowed to fly again later on a smaller scale.

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