Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio: Peter Jennings) Report introduced.

(NYC: Peter Lance) FAA's system for monitoring airline maintenance examined; FAA's March 1984 intensive inspection of airlines' safety practices, include those of Arrow Air, reviewed as example [December 1985, Arrow Air spokesperson Robin MATELL - defs. airlines.] Arrow's rate of significant safety problems discovered by March inspection but dismissed by Federal Aviation Administration as paperwork errors after Newfoundland crash noted; internal Federal Aviation Administration memorandum on Arrow quoted on screen. [Representative Guy MOLINARI - notes FAA, in the past, has grounded airlines with significant safety violations.] March inspection findings of other airlines listed on screen; Trans World Airlines, Inc. (TWA) and Pan Am mentioned having best and worst safety records, respectively. Other problems cited by agency memo outlined, discussed. [National Trans. Safety Association spokesperson Wayne WILLIAMS - cites lack of adequate number inspectors.] [Federal Aviation Administration deputy administration Anthony BRODERICK - claims memo's findings and recommendations have all been acted upon and changed.] [Aviation consultant Jordan GREENE - dismisses FAA's actions as primarily paperwork.] No. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors assigned to Eastern and crash of Air Illinois plane cited as exs.; details given.