Notams

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly apologized to customers for maintenance problems that temporarily grounded 43 older Boeing 737s and prompted the FAA to propose a $10.2 million penalty. The Dallas-based airline canceled about 4 percent of its flights because the airplanes were unavailable. The FAA fined Southwest for flying 46 aircraft without performing required safety inspections. The grounded airplanes were scheduled to return to service after the inspections had been completed at maintenance bases in Dallas and Chicago.

Continental pilots increase war chest

Pilots at Continental Airlines voted to increase the size of a fund designed to protect their interests in case of a future merger. Airline consolidation rumors have intensified as Delta Air Lines and Northwest confirmed they were holding merger talks, although steps toward a deal appear to have halted over a dispute about how to combine pilot seniority lists.

SAS buys jets and turboprops

SAS Scandinavian Airlines will buy 27 jets and turboprops with options for up to 24 despite the airline's concerns over several landing gear failures on Bombardier's Q400 turboprops. SAS banished Q400s from its mainline fleet last fall after the third landing gear incident in its fleet in six weeks. SAS will buy CRJ900s and Q400s with a value of $883 million, and that could grow to $1.75 billion if the airline exercises all options.

Career-related news is updated weekly on AOPA Online.