FAA Could Clear ATR Commuters for Full Service Soon
The ATR turboprop commuter plane, grounded from cold-weather flights after a recent crash in Indiana, may soon be back in full service, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday.
FAA Administrator David Hinson said he was “reasonably optimistic” the plane’s European manufacturer “will be able to get the airplane returned to service very soon.”
The FAA barred the aircraft from flying in icy conditions on Dec. 9, after tests suggested the plane was unusually susceptible to loss of control when ice formed on the wings. Federal investigators suspect icing may have caused the Oct. 31 crash of an American Eagle ATR-72 in Indiana that killed all 68 people aboard.
Hinson, appearing on ABC-TV’s “This Week With David Brinkley,” said further tests were being conducted, and the French-made aircraft could be operating again soon. But he did not say whether the FAA might impose restrictions on use of the planes in cold weather.
Nine U.S. regional airlines have about 150 of the ATR-72 and the smaller ATR-42 turboprops.
Hinson and Transportation Secretary Federico Pena both said Sunday that the FAA has stepped up its inspection of all of the nation’s airlines. They also said they consider flying to be safe.
