RegionsAir resumes flights from Lambert Flights were grounded Saturday in dispute with FAA over training.

RegionsAir resumed its flights out of Lambert Field on Sunday after clearing most of its pilots of a Federal Aviation Administration concern about its training procedures.

The airline, which flies regional connections for American Airlines to nine cities, grounded its flights Saturday after an FAA review cited an outdated procedure in its training manuals. About 100 passengers were affected by the cancellations, according to RegionsAir CEO Doug Caldwell.

He said the violation had amounted to a "difference in opinion" about whether the airline's manual covered what the FAA deems required in the training of inspectors who fly alongside a pilot during certification and evaluate competency.

He said passengers were not at risk.

"You always default to the highest degree of safety," Caldwell said. The airline would have faced fines if it had flown while out of compliance.

The airline came under a blistering attack from Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who issued a statement Saturday regarding the suspension of service.

"This is yet another example of how RegionsAir has failed the tests of safety and service," he said.

Durbin said he talked to American Eagle officials in Dallas two weeks earlier about replacing RegionsAir with another carrier. He also contacted the Department of Transportation last week and said the airline was not living up to its Essential Air Service agreement and should not have its Illinois contracts renewed.

Durbin's statement said the Department of Transportation, American Airlines and the affected communities "share my lack of confidence in Regions."

American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner said he did not know the origins of Durbin's remarks.

"We are currently working with RegionsAir and hope they will be up to normal operations quickly," he said.

The troubled airline has been up for sale since fall of last year.

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