American Changes Instructions on Lightning Damage

DALLAS --

Federal regulators on Wednesday blocked American Airlines from making changes to the way it inspects planes suspected of being hit by lightning.

American wanted to give mechanics clear directions on whether to ground and immediately inspect a plane or conduct a more cursory examination. The brief exam might be enough if no one reported seeing lightning strike the plane.

But the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday it would direct American to stick with old rules that gave mechanics more discretion in deciding to conduct the more thorough inspections, an agency spokesman said.

A spokesman for American said late Wednesday that the airline had not been contacted by the FAA.

The FAA action is the latest development in a standoff between the nation's largest airline and some of its employees, who complained to the regulators.

The new instructions covered Boeing 767 aircraft that travel over water and are subject to more rigorous inspection standards. They took effect this month.

Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American, said airline representatives met with Federal Aviation Administration officials in May "and agreed on mutually acceptable revisions to the work card involving lightning strikes for the 767 aircraft." Work cards outline required tasks for mechanics.

Before this month, the work cards directed mechanics to conduct intensive lightning-strike inspections only after pilots reported a suspected hit or eyewitnesses saw lightning in the area.

The new instructions give mechanics more authority to initiate inspections in other cases, such as when they see dings or dimples larger than a certain size on planes. They also direct mechanics to Boeing's guidelines for when to conduct a limited or more thorough examination.

FAA spokesman Les Dorr said the agency initially accepted the change in American's work cards while continuing to review the issue. But regulators found objections - which he wouldn't specify - on Wednesday.

"They need to go back to doing the full post-lightning-strike regardless of whether it's reported by flight crews or mechanics," Dorr said.

The difference between a full or limited inspection can mean money to an airline.

American was delaying repairs in minor cases until the plane's next maintenance check. If a plane is taken out of service for immediate repairs, it can be sidelined for several hours - a potentially costly move.

Wagner said airliners get hit by lightning frequently. They are designed to dissipate the shock, but strikes can damage the plane's skin, causing pitting or tiny dimples, he said.

A study by American managers, maintenance crew chiefs and pilots found that in a six-month period last year, 30 of 62 lightning-strike reports were lodged at one maintenance station, leading to flight delays. Some of the planes were cleared for flight, then inspected again for the same lightning strike.

In May, the FAA said the meeting with American followed complaints by a mechanic at New York's Kennedy Airport and two pilots who raised questions about the inspection policy.

American is a unit of Fort Worth-based AMR Corp.