DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - While the government shutdown paralyzed most businesses that required furloughed regulators, Southwest Airlines managed to fly around the turbulance. The Federal Aviation Administration says Southwest hired furloughed FAA inspectors and got three jets certified to fly while the shutdown was taking place.
The FAA says Southwest paid $3,150 and an FAA spokesman said Southwest did not violate the Anti-Deficiency Act because the agreement was entered into before the shutdown.
"They knew they had these planes coming, the anticipated the possibility it would be during the shutdown," says Kent Krause, a Dallas aviation attorney. "They contacted the FAA and said 'Hey is there anyway, if that happens, can we get them on so that we not have an airplane that's worth $60-million, or whatever it is, on the ground and actually have it flying in the air?'"
Krause says it's smart business. Some competitors were rejected when they tried to do the same thing.
"The FAA initially turned down the requests from other carriers because we did not have enough excepted personnel to perform the work. As we recalled safety personnel in accordance with our pre-existing shutdown plan, they were able to do some of this work when time permitted. The safety work of course is prioritized and work performed in accordance with those priorities," the FAA said in a statement.