FAA Is Urged to Block Eastern Plan
A House committee urged the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday to block a plan by Eastern Airlines for a cargo carrier to fly Eastern passenger flights in the event of a strike.
In a report, the House Government Operations Committee said Orion Air Inc. of Raleigh, N.C., should not be allowed to fly Eastern aircraft until Orion corrects “major deficiencies” noted in an April, 1987, FAA report.
“The committee is of the view that prudence and common sense dictate that Orion not be graduated to the ranks of a passenger carrier pending a full and complete resolution of the major problems cited in that report,” the panel said.
Orion officials have said they have corrected most of the problems cited by the FAA.
The committee also recommended that the government require Eastern to notify passengers if their flights are to be operated by Orion personnel.
Earlier this year, Eastern signed an agreement under which Orion would hire and train up to 400 pilots to fly Eastern planes if pilots honor a possible walkout by mechanics.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Barrington D. Parker temporarily blocked the plan.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
