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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSouthwest Airlines fined for operating with incorrect weight&balance calculations
There's no indications that any of the flights SW operated were unsafe, but the potential for this to go wrong and end badly should be obvious
https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/faa-proposes-to-fine-southwest-airlines-39m-for-incorrect-weight-and-balance-data/136101.article
The FAA has proposed to levy a $3.9 million fine on Southwest Airlines for operating more than 20,000 commercial flights with incorrect weight and balance calculations, potentially putting the safety of the flights at risk.
The violations took place between 1 May and 9 August 2018, on 21,505 flights with 44 aircraft, the FAA alleges. The incorrect data included empty weight, centre of gravity or moment data. This information is used to determine the number of passengers and amount of fuel that can be carried, and how cargo is loaded, the FAA says in a statement on 10 January.
Southwests operation of these aircraft was contrary to the airlines approved weight-and-balance programme and FAA-issued operations specifications, the FAA says.
Weight and balance calculations on any aircraft are critical to flight safety. Faulty or incomplete calculations can compromise the aircrafts structural integrity, and lead to tail strikes upon take-off or control difficulty in the air.
Southwest has 30 days after receiving the FAAs enforcement letter to respond to the allegations.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)But I will venture a guess that SWA's incorrect calculations allowed them to carry more passengers than correct calculations would have.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,899 posts)That should all be calculated automatically by dispatch software. Either there are bugs in the software or they are getting incorrect information about passenger numbers and baggage loading from the gate or fuel loads from the fuelers.
lostnfound
(16,193 posts)Or insufficient training of a new employee who manages input of weight and balance information
lostnfound
(16,193 posts)Ohhh. Its older news referenced in the article but it also mentions missed rudder inspections and fatigue
Rudder inspections?? Fuselage fatigue crack inspections?
bluedigger
(17,087 posts)I flew SW last week and their system ghosted me. They didn't know I was there.