Southwest investigated by FAA for luggage weight data

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The FAA began its investigation in February 2018, the FAA told CNN Business on Monday.

"Since that time, the FAA has been leading the development of a comprehensive solution for the methods and processes used by Southwest Airlines to determine this performance data," the FAA said.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the story. He quoted FAA officials and agency records that airline employees had made mistakes that required pilots to calculate the wrong weight of planes at takeoff.

The errors were described as "systemic and significant", resulting in take-off weights reported to be 1,000 pounds lower than the actual weight of the aircraft.

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According to the FAA Weight and Balance Manual, a safety guideline for aircraft operators, the overweight of an aircraft can pose a variety of problems, including the need for a higher take-off speed, increased reduced cruising speed, reduced maneuverability and increased strain on the landing gear. .
South West (LUV) stated in a statement to CNN Business that there was "continued effort to voluntarily track and communicate operational data to the FAA so that we can mitigate and eliminate all operational risks."

But the airline added that she had already put in place controls and procedures to solve the problems of weight and balance. Southwest said it shared these measures with the FAA.

"Southwest believes that the controls and procedures we put in place in 2018 have improved our mass and balance program and resolved the issues originally reported to the FAA," the airline added.

The FAA has associated no accidents to weight differences. But the agency said in its statement to CNN Business that she "will not close her investigation until she is convinced that Southwest's corrective actions are consistent and sustainable."

The news of the FAA investigation was also announced as Southwest was facing an "operational emergency" due to a labor dispute with the mechanics.

Southwest said Friday in a statement to CNN Business that the percentage of aircraft out of service with maintenance issues in its fleet had more than doubled last week.

"We require all deck personnel to review the maintenance items so we can quickly return the aircraft to service," said a Southwest spokesperson in an e-mail at the time.

CNN's René Marsh contributed to this report.

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