A safety controversy ensued; the US Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) accused the carrier of flying an " unairworthy " plane across the Atlantic Ocean.
12.
During World War II it was not unknown for " dropped " landings to render Stirlings or other large four-engined bombers unairworthy and suitable only for parts.
13.
"We never operated an airplane that was unairworthy or one that caused the remotest risk to the safety of any of our passengers, " he said.
14.
However, the type certificate was amended, stating that " . . . removal of the engine and pylon as a unit will immediately render the aircraft unairworthy ."
15.
The FAA's order cited a series of maintenance and safety violations that it said resulted in Kiwi flying airplanes that were " in an unairworthy condition ."
16.
The agency said Kiwi's planes were in " unairworthy condition, " that it failed to adequately maintain aircraft and could not operate safely without constant monitoring.
17.
As development of the new design dragged on, it was decided to build a test unit " early engine " using any components that were deemed unairworthy along with test items.
18.
Assembled P-66s were deemed unairworthy and abandoned at Karachi resulting in only 12 Vanguards on station at Kunming with the 74th Fighter Squadron of the 23rd Fighter Group, but this unit saw little action.
19.
An FAA report concluded that records were falsified on two MD-80s that made 840 flights in late 1998 and early 1999 . Because of the altered records, the aircraft were considered " unairworthy,"
20.
When Falla drove into his home on Friday morning and was asked by The Seattle Times about the letter, he said, " No aircraft under my authority has ever gone out unairworthy or unsafe ."
