The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating Southwest Airlines after multiple incidents of close calls and other safety-related incidents.
This year alone, Southwest flights have experienced a “Dutch roll,” jets flying dangerously low and instances of aircraft flying too close. Other airlines have also experienced similar situations, but Southwest’s high-profile issues have been stacking up in recent months. The Federal Aviation Administration will conduct a Certificate Holder Evaluation Process, an audit conducted by the agency’s safety analysis and promotion division.
“The FAA has increased oversight of Southwest Airlines to ensure it is complying with federal safety regulations through the Certificate Holder Evaluation Process,” a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson confirmed in an email. “Safety will drive the timeline.”
A spokesperson for Southwest said the airline is working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration, noting the Dallas-based carrier has a safety program that includes an FAA-accepted safety management system to mitigate operational risks.
“We recently formed a dedicated team of subject-matter experts and leaders from Southwest, our union partners, and the FAA to bolster our existing SMS,” the spokesperson said in an email. “This group is tasked with performing an in-depth, data-driven analysis to identify any opportunities for improvement. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”
The CHEP is an in-depth examination of operations, everything from manuals to training to Southwest’s line operations.
The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association was alerted to the Federal Aviation Administration’s intent to perform the evaluation. Pilots at Southwest will expect an increase in line checks and increased inspector presence.
“SWAPA pledges our pilots’ complete cooperation with the process,” an email from the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association training and standard committee read. “As the FAA identifies areas of focus, we will communicate to our members what they can expect as well as best practices when interacting with the inspectors you may encounter during training or out on the line.”
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