By DAN CATERINICCHIA

Federal oversight of Southwest Airlines Co. is under investigation after a lawmaker received evidence that a plane was allowed to fly without being properly inspected.

Rep. Jim Oberstar requested the audit after whistleblowers gave him documentation showing that the Federal Aviation Administration inspector for Southwest "demonstrated extremely poor judgment by allowing the air carrier to operate aircraft in revenue service without properly inspecting the aircraft for fuselage cracks," according to a letter from the Transportation Department inspector general's office to the FAA.

The House Transportation Committee has scheduled an oversight hearing for March 12 that will include findings of an investigation by congressional staffers and the Transportation Department of the FAA's oversight of aircraft maintenance, a committee spokesman said Tuesday. Oberstar, D-Minn., chairs the committee.

"Any safety issues regarding Southwest have been addressed," FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette said Tuesday, adding that more details will be provided at next month's hearing.

A Southwest spokeswoman said the Dallas-based airline has no evidence it "ever flew an aircraft in violation of FAA" or internal safety standards.

"We have an outstanding safety history," Beth Harbin said in an e-mail Tuesday. "If there is anything to be learned from this audit, we are eager to do that."

The inspector general's office said the audit, to begin this week, will investigate the thoroughness of the FAA's investigation of the whistleblower allegations and the corrective measures taken by the agency in response to "any inappropriate inspector actions."

The inspectors will also examine the oversight process to see if the FAA needs to strengthen it, according to the letter sent Monday.

Some lawmakers have expressed concern about the FAA's inspector staffing levels. On Monday, the Teamsters union and a business traveler trade group called for a moratorium on all aircraft maintenance done overseas because they say foreign locations are not properly regulated.

Source: businessweek.com