UNITED-FAA differing press statements= need for Safety Assessment?
UNITED-FAA differing press statements= need for Safety Assessment?
Two articles included below evidence some adjustments that UNITED AIRLINES must make to achieve the safety culture demanded by 14 CFR Part 5. Two reports differ drastically about the status of the carrier under an FAA heightened scrutiny of United’s authority to add new aircraft and routes to its system. A company internal memorandum announced that it was CLEARED to restart its control of these two certificate privileges. Soon thereafter the FAA issued its own release, noting that it was BEGINNING on a process to restore United’s actions without supervision, but inspectors must still be present.
A careful parsing of the airline’s memorandum identifies two critical points: the absence of a mention of its ACCOUNTABLE EXECUTIVE and the loose use of the regulatory term- Certificate Management Office.
Both suggest that, although the air carrier has pages of appropriate prose on its SAFETY CULTURE, this promise may not have reached the C-SUITE, flight operations, maintenance hangars, pilot ready rooms, etc., with the vigor needed to raise risk awareness and action.
United’s Accountable Executive (AE), as required by Title 14 CFR Part 5, has been designated by the airline to make sure that all are focused on what must be the #1 Priority of any aviation organization. The executive holds ultimate responsibility for the safety performance of operations conducted under United Airlines’ certificate. That individual MUST have authority over the financial and human resources necessary for these operations. A most useful set of attributes for an AE includes interpersonal skills to connect with and inspire everyone to incorporate SAFETY CULTURE in their DNA. She/he needs to exhibit openness to all and to establish confidence in all that he will protect their safety inputs. An ability to express sincere gratitude for information from all.
SUCH AN AE would insist that he/she would be the author of such a statement. That the statement is anonymous is not a talisman of an AE who commands United’s safety presence. Further multiple AI searches did not identify UA’s EA. At best, its corporate page lists Torbjorn (Toby) J. Enqvist as its
Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. His job description states that he “is the global chief operations officer for United. He is responsible for CORPORATE SAFETY, airport operations, flight operations, inflight operations, network operations center, operations performance, corporate real estate and customer solutions. His resume does not emphasize the expected background:
Safety Culture should NOT BE SOLELY INWARD in its perspective. The AE and the SMS leaders must have open and honest communications with all of the relevant FAA principals[1][NOTE: the FAA concerns include an MX issue {certificating aircraft to fly}, the flight operations- which involve multiples CMOs). The fact that a second correcting/disagreeing statement HAD TO BE ISSUED suggests that the AE (whoever that is) did not hear/understand that added freedom was not total liberty—an important distinction.
United has one of the global airline community’s largest systems, largest fleet’s, distributed work force, and complex demands. That distribution challenges any AE to monitor the quality and depth of the carrier’s essential Safety Management System. FAA’S INITIATION OF ITS HEIGHTENED OVERSIGHT IS EXHIBIT #1 THAT UA’S SAFETY CULTURE WAS SUSPECT. Senior Leadership would be well advised to commission an external SAFETY CULTURE ASSESSMENT.
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United Airlines says FAA cleared it to start adding new aircraft, routes after safety review
United said in March that the FAA had stepped up scrutiny of the airline after a spate of incidents earlier this year.
May 16, 2024, 4:06 PM EDT / Source: CNBC.com
By Leslie Josephs, CNBC
UNITED AIRLINES SAID THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HAS CLEARED IT TO START ADDING NEW AIRCRAFT AND ROUTES MONTHS after the regulator stepped up its scrutiny of the carrier following several safety incidents.
“Today, we got SOME GOOD NEWS: after a careful review and discussion about the proactive safety steps United has taken to date, our FAA Certificate Management Office (???)[2] has allowed us to begin the process of restarting our certification activities, including new aircraft and routes, and we will continue to coordinate closely with the FAA,” United said in a note to employees Wednesday.
United said in March that the FAA had stepped up scrutiny of the airline after a spate of incidents earlier this year. That prevented it from launching new routes, including flights to Faro, Portugal, ahead of the busy summer travel season.
United said that it has more work to do, however.
“We will continue to see an FAA presence in our operation as they review our work processes, manuals and facilities,” it said in its employee memo.
United would send requests to the FAA to add aircrafts or new routes, though a spokesperson said it has yet to do so.
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FAA Denies Clearing United Airlines To Add Routes Or Planes As Audit Continues
PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO
There may have been a misunderstanding in the wording of a United Airlines memo.
SUMMARY
- FAA denies United Airlines expansion approval despite earlier claims by the carrier to its employees.
- FAA mandates its personnel be present during United’s aircraft inspections.
- United faces increased scrutiny and ongoing review by FAA following safety incidents.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has denied it has given approval for United Airlines to expand its network and fleet again, despite the airline apparently claiming it was free to do so earlier this week. Additionally, the FAA will mandate that its personnel are present when United carries out inspections of newly delivered aircraft.
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FAA denies United certification approval
On Thursday, Simple Flying reported on United Airlines claiming that it was cleared by the FAA to launch new routes and certify aircraft, which the carrier revealed in a memo to employees. In the memo, the airline shared the “good news” that the FAA Certificate Management Office had allowed it to “begin the process of restarting our certification activities,” which includes new routes and aircraft. However, it seems the salient word here is “BEGIN” as the FAA has now come out and said it has not approved any route or fleet expansion.
Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock
An FAA spokesperson told Simple Flying,
“The FAA has not approved any expansion of United Airlines’ routes or fleets. The Certificate Holder Evaluation Program that the FAA is conducting for United is ongoing and safety will determine the timeline for completing it.”
Following a series of safety incidents in recent months – including 16 incidents in March alone – the FAA suspended some of United’s certification activities and subjected the carrier to increased scrutiny. The carrier will hope to see some of its privileges restored soon with a record-breaking summer for the aviation industry looming – in an earnings call last month, United’s Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said the airline expects to carry record numbers of passengers this summer.
Aircraft inspection oversight
The FAA spokesperson added that FAA personnel must be present whenever United conducts final inspections of new aircraft replacing older models. As a result of the ongoing review, United has deferred “a small number” of Boeing 737 MAX 9 deliveries, which will also impact its growth plans for this year.
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[1] The United Air Lines Certificate Management Office (CMO) has certificate management oversight responsibility for the United Airlines Air Carrier Certificate and the United Airlines Repair Station. This includes both domestic and international flight and maintenance operations. To support the oversight activities of the agency, management responsibilities have been divided between four field locations:
- Chicago CMO- Supervisory Principal Operations Inspector (POI) is based in Chicago and is the primary point of contact on issues dealing with United Airlines flight operations. The Supervisory Principal Avionics Inspector (PAI), and The Supervisory Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI), are based in Chicago and they are the primary points of contact for issues involving United Airlines maintenance.
- Denver CMO– overseeing flight operations of the United Airlines certificate, including aircrew training and flight operations worldwide.
- Houston CMO joint overseeing United’s worldwide maintenance program, including the United Airlines Repair Station
- San Francisco CMO joint overseeing United’s worldwide maintenance program, including the United Airlines Repair Station
[2] The United Air Lines Certificate Management Office (CMO) has certificate management oversight responsibility for the United Airlines Air Carrier Certificate and the United Airlines Repair Station. This includes both domestic and international flight and maintenance operations. To support the oversight activities of the agency, management responsibilities have been divided between four field locations:
- Chicago CMO
- Denver CMO
- Houston CMO
- San Francisco CMO
Chicago location
- The Chicago location is collocated at the Great Lakes Regional office in Des Plaines, IL. The Supervisory Principal Operations Inspector (POI) is based in Chicago and is the primary point of contact on issues dealing with United Airlines flight operations. The Supervisory Principal Avionics Inspector (PAI), and The Supervisory Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI), are based in Chicago and they are the primary points of contact for issues involving United Airlines maintenance.
Denver location
- The Denver location has the primary responsibility for overseeing flight operations of the United Airlines certificate, including aircrew training and flight operations worldwide.
Houston and San Francisco locations
- The Houston and San Francisco locations have the primary responsibility for overseeing United’s worldwide maintenance program, including the United Airlines Repair Station.
Curiously though there are 4 CMOs there is one Administrative Officer: Samantha Garcia (HOU)
