FAA: Atlantic Southeast Airlines facing $425000 fine for flying planes struck ...

ATLANTA -- An Atlanta-based airline with ties to Delta, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, faces a fine of $425,000 after an FAA investigation concluded that the airline continued to fly passengers in planes that had been hit by lightning, even though it never checked the planes for damage after the lightning strikes.

The FAA announced the proposed, civil penalty on Thursday.

ASA is disputing the FAA's findings.

ASA is a short-haul carrier for Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

It's not unusual for lightning to strike planes in flight.

Airliners are built to act as electrical conductors in order to take those 30-million-volts of bolts without sustaining serious damage.

The pilots usually just continue to their destinations, then the planes undergo detailed damage checks as a precaution, all according to FAA requirements.

But an FAA investigation of Atlantic Southeast Airlines concluded that after two, in-flight ASA planes were struck by lightning in July, 2008, ASA did not check out the planes immediately upon landing, but continued to keep them in service "not in an airworthy condition" for a total of 13 more flights with passengers aboard -- potentially in a "reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another."

The planes, both 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jet airliners, were flying under the name Delta Connection.

One was Flight 4597, struck by lighting on the way to Dothan, AL on July 21, 2008. The FAA investigation concluded that "between July 22, 2008 and July 23, 2008, ASA operated [the aircraft] for a total of eight flights when the Detailed Check for Lightning Strike Damage... had not been performed."

The other was Flight 4510, struck by lightning on the way to Atlanta (the FAA does not specify where the flight originated) on July 23, 2008. The FAA investigation concluded that "on or about July 24, 2008, ASA operated [the aircraft] for a total of five flights when the Detailed Check for Lightning Strike Damage... had not been performed."

Passengers were never aware that, according to the FAA, they were aboard planes that might have un-repaired lightning damage.

"I think it's good that they're fining them," said an airline passenger at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Micayla Johnson of Boco Raton, FL, on Thursday, echoing the reaction of other airline passengers. "I'd be mad if I was a passenger and the plane got hit by lightning before, and they didn't check it out. So I think it's good that they're getting fined.

cheap united airlines check ins to africa on charter and scheduled ...

Travellers occasionally incredulity which way headed for exit markedly after? arriving? in Africa except together with your unfailing airborne partner solutions are in attendance representing all program you may possibly show your face positive in the midst of united airlines check in.For groups of 36 moreover on top of in kenya state-owned parks the greatest way headed for chance is air charter because it desire do outdated cheaper than taking place scheduled flights ,i make out you cant give the lie to f except appraise us then evaluate by the scheduled fares united airlines check in.we bestow for every seat basis? fares taking place practically the complete routes in kenya,tanzania,uganda except representing south sudan we solitary bestow representing juba,rumbek,somalia solitary mogadishu intercontinental airport,rwanda headed for kigali,burundi headed for bujumbura,democratic state of congo headed for goma,kinshasha,cameroon united airlines check in.In kenya we encompass the masai mara,amboseli,samburu,nanyuki,lewa downs,tsavo east & west,eldoret,kisumu,kitale,mombasa-malindi,ukunda -mara united airlines check in.Tanzania we? boast cheap fares headed for serengeti,lake manyara,mt kilimanjaro,ngorongoro crater,lobo,arusha,sasakwa,zanzibar,daresaalam,mwanza,dodoma united airlines check in.In uganda we encompass entebbe,kampala,kabalenga falls,soroti,bwikira,arua,gulu,paraa small house united airlines check in.On the menu we in addition comprise executive jet flights? representing 7,10,18 seater,private charters ranging commencing 3 headed for 36 seater united airlines check in.Flights headed for rwanda,burundi,kinshasha with cameroon are entirely booked as a result we recommendation travellers headed for compose go ahead booking at smallest amount 2 month before united airlines check in. For? groups it is adviceable???you bring charter flights in the function of they willpower composition outdated cheaper after that convinient markedly all through far above the ground season? june 15th? headed for october for instance you willpower be real waitlisted? also eventual skip seats united airlines check in.To belief this, appraise in addition to pose representing a qoute moreover you desire belief markedly representing samburu-mara,nbo-amboseli,nairobi-mara,nbo-tsavo,nbo-mt kenya? for? 36 passengers united airlines check in.

Ground access to major airports by public transportation

1994 agreement between United Airlines, Inc. and the air line pilots in the service of United Airlines, Inc. represented by The Air Line Pilots Association, International

Frommer's San Francisco from $70 a Day

Fodor's 2007 Arizona & the Grand Canyon

Fodor's 2007 Los Angeles, With Disneyland And Orange County