FAA fines Evergreen

THE US Federal Aviation Association (FAA) is considering a US$180,000 fine against cargo player Evergreen International Airlines for allegedly operating aircraft when the pilots had not been properly trained.

FAA states that on seven flights from August to September 2009 Evergreen failed to conduct the appropriate required familiarisation flights involving the use of the flight management system on 747Fs before assigning individuals to revenue flights.

The training programme specifically calls for familiarisation flights in Class I and Class II airspace.

Class I airspace includes ground-based navigation aids; Class II is airspace without ground-based aids, such as over an ocean. Evergreen provided only the Class I familiarisation flights.

Evergreen has 30 days to respond to the agency. The carrier operates 11 747Fs and two MD-DC-9s.