Boutris – Southwest findings just tip of iceberg

Federal Aviation Administration inspector Bobby Boutris told Rep. James Oberstar’s House Transportation Committee today that reported safety inspections violations by Southwest Airlines are just the surface of problems:

Boutris charged that Southwest has repeatedly sought to circumvent FAA airworthiness requirements, and that those violations go beyond the 117 aircraft that Southwest continued to fly in March 2007 despite knowing that the planes were overdue for inspection. That instance led FAA to levy a record $10.2- million fine on the airline last month.

FAA whistle-blowers’ testimony turned on the allegation of a too-cozy relationship between the principal FAA inspector with responsibility for Southwest, Douglas Gawadzinski, and Paul Comeau, Manager of Regulatory Compliance at Southwest.

“I believe that Southwest knowingly hired Mr. Comeau for his FAA connections with inspectors in our office, and to their advantage placed him in the position that directly interfaces with our office on a daily basis,” Boutris told the committee.

The allegation of intent by Boutris is the most serious part of his testimony, and the one most damaging to Southwest’s public image.

It remains to be seen, either in their Congressional testimony or outside of it, how Gary Kelly and Herb Kelleher address this issue.