BA in FAA Legal Battle

In what some are calling a good example of the FAA needing to rewrite its rules, BA is fighting a $25,000 fine imposed after an incident on February 19 2006.

A flight from Los Angeles to Heathow experienced failure in engine #2 shortly after departure from LAX, and the crew decided to continue its flight on to London. The FAA claims the crew chose to bypass many US and Canadian airports to refuel, and therefore operated an aircraft that was not airworthy, and they then slapped the airline with its maximum fine for the rule.

The flight, which diverted to Manchester Airport for fuel, was found upon investigation to have had enough fuel tocomplete its flight after all. That, along with the dispute over whether or not the plane was operating under American or British law, will result in a court battle beginning May 16.