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Alaska Air Mary Ann Akers reports on today's proposal by the Federal Aviation Administration to strip Alaska Airlines of its authority to do heavy maintenance. Heavy maintenance requires an airplane to be temporarily removed from operation. The FAA has been keeping a close watch on Alaska Airlines since the crash in January of Flight 261, in which 88 people died. The government agency's inspections found 150 instances in which the heavy maintenance work had been performed, but not correctly documented. It says that lack of documentation suggests poor attention to detail. The airline has seven days to show it has taken steps that would keep it from losing heavy maintenance authority.

All Things Considered

Alaska Air

Heard on All Things Considered

Alaska Air

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Mary Ann Akers reports on today's proposal by the Federal Aviation Administration to strip Alaska Airlines of its authority to do heavy maintenance. Heavy maintenance requires an airplane to be temporarily removed from operation. The FAA has been keeping a close watch on Alaska Airlines since the crash in January of Flight 261, in which 88 people died. The government agency's inspections found 150 instances in which the heavy maintenance work had been performed, but not correctly documented. It says that lack of documentation suggests poor attention to detail. The airline has seven days to show it has taken steps that would keep it from losing heavy maintenance authority.