FAA official says ValuJet was thoroughly inspected

May 13, 1996
Web posted at: 10:50 a.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Federal Aviation Administration was "aggressively prompt" in inspecting ValuJet earlier this year after the airline encountered a series of mishaps, FAA administrator David Hinson told CNN Monday.

In its original review, the FAA found that ValuJet followed federal aviation rules, regulations and procedures to the full extent of the law, Hinson said.

"We were there early, we did a thorough investigation, " he said. However, because of Saturday's ValuJet crash, federal officials have decided to move up and extend a previously scheduled seven-day checkup on the airline.

"We're going to go back and intensify that effort and just reassure ourselves and the American public that this airline is safe," Hinson said. (136K AIFF or WAV sound)

Hinson said the new investigation will focus on four specific areas:

• Contract maintenance programs
• Cockpit resource management, including how well crews work together
• Internal processes for monitoring the maintenance of ValuJet aircraft
• Dispatch and control of in-flight operations

Hinson said all airlines are held to the same safety standards and that low-fare airlines are safe.

"The price of a ticket is absolutely irrelevant to the safety oversight that the FAA gives to all airlines," Hinson said. "We hold every single airline accountable to the same standards."

The age of an aircraft, Hinson added, is less important than the number of times it flies. When an aircraft does fly repeatedly, there are "special programs in place to make sure that these planes get the extra attention they need to maintain their safety," Hinson said.

Service records for the 27-year-old DC-9 that crashed show the plane was required to abort a takeoff or make an unscheduled landing eight times in the last two years.

Related stories:

• High school sweethearts, missionaries among crash victims - May 13, 1996
• Search for survivors called off - May 12, 1996
• Families, loved ones in shock - May 12, 1996
• Road to be built at plane crash site - May 12, 1996
• Regulators defend safety record of budget airlines - May 12, 1996
• Pena says ValuJet followed safety rules - May 12, 1996

Related sites:

• Federal Aviation Administration
• ValuJet home page
• Miami International Airport
• United States Coast Guard home page
• The US Department of Transportation

Related newsgroups:

• alt.disasters.aviation
• rec.travel.air

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