Lots of failures of front of engine/cowling on airliners these days

[Vraciu]

This wasn't the first engine to disentegrate.  In fact, in 2016 an engine disentegrated on a flight over Florida.  Now windows are blowing out for no reason.  Southwest has been fined numerous times.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-southwest-airlines-safety-investigation-20180424-story.html

Nobody is perfect.   Subcontractors are not directly controlled by the airline.

We have had issues with some of ours in the past.  We aren't set up for heavy maintenance so we have no choice but to use manufacturer-approved vendors.   Some are good and some are not.   Sometimes you find out the hard way.

[DaveBB]

Nobody is perfect.   Subcontractors are not directly controlled by the airline.

We have had issues with some of ours in the past.  We aren't set up for heavy maintenance so we have no choice but to use manufacturer-approved vendors.   Some are good and some are not.   Sometimes you find out the hard way.

Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.

[Meatwad]

Another incident with a Southwest window today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2018/05/02/southwest-airlines-flights-diverts-because-cracked-window/573435002/

[Vraciu]

Another incident with a Southwest window today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2018/05/02/southwest-airlines-flights-diverts-because-cracked-window/573435002/

Seems to me this is a Boeing/Certification thing again.  Just like when the Comet was ripping itself apart or the old 737's were blowing their tops off.   We learn by doing but that usually comes with a price, unfortunately.

[Puma44]

Now windows are blowing out for no reason. 

What windowS are you referring to?  At least know the facts before making a lame accusation.  You know good and well there was a reason for the Flt 1380 window. 

Southwest has been fined numerous times.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-southwest-airlines-safety-investigation-20180424-story.html

As have most other airlines for one reason or another. 

[DmdJJ]

Nobody is perfect.   Subcontractors are not directly controlled by the airline.

Although subcontractors are not directly controlled by the airline, the airline is directly responsible for the subcontractor. The FAA will hang both if proper procedures are not followed.

[Vraciu]

Although subcontractors are not directly controlled by the airline, the airline is directly responsible for the subcontractor. The FAA will hang both if proper procedures are not followed.

That’s precisely my point.   Sorta.    Nobody can “control” a subcontractor, really.  The FAA does (tries) via PMIs, enforcement, and so forth.  If they do a bad job you usually find out well after the fact—and you fine or fire them.

You can delegate authority but never responsibility.  It’s the nature of the beast.

[Puma44]

Although subcontractors are not directly controlled by the airline, the airline is directly responsible for the subcontractor. The FAA will hang both if proper procedures are not followed.

True.  Southwest doesn’t tolerate substandard work from contractors.

[DaveBB]

What windowS are you referring to?  At least know the facts before making a lame accusation.  You know good and well there was a reason for the Flt 1380 window. 

As have most other airlines for one reason or another.

Another Southwest jet made an emergency landing for a window blowing out. 
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/02/us/southwest-flight-957-unplanned-landing/index.html

My job in real life is to study trends and predict when equipment is going to fail.  Southwest may have been a stellar airline when you worked for them, but the evidence is mounting against that.  A bunch of small events usually lead to a big event.  For whatever reason you are being very subjective about this event.  I'm being objective.  Southwest was fined millions of dollars for failing to inspect aircraft and to continue to fly with critical repairs.  An engine disentegrated in mid-air in 2016.  An engine catastrophically failed in April. A window blew out at altitude in May.  Something isn't right. 

[Skuzzy]

What is the incidence per mile flown, as compared to other airlines?

[Vraciu]

What is the incidence per mile flown, as compared to other airlines?

Probably identical.  But SWA is a cycle generator more than distance.  They fly shorter average legs than everyone else.  Cycles are the most important factor for this sort of thing. 

[Vraciu]

Another Southwest jet made an emergency landing for a window blowing out. 
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/02/us/southwest-flight-957-unplanned-landing/index.html

My job in real life is to study trends and predict when equipment is going to fail.  Southwest may have been a stellar airline when you worked for them, but the evidence is mounting against that.  A bunch of small events usually lead to a big event.  For whatever reason you are being very subjective about this event.  I'm being objective.  Southwest was fined millions of dollars for failing to inspect aircraft and to continue to fly with critical repairs.  An engine disentegrated in mid-air in 2016.  An engine catastrophically failed in April. A window blew out at altitude in May.  Something isn't right.

Evidence is mounting for what?   That cycles cause wear?   These airplanes aren’t old even by that measure.   If there is a problem here then it is the manufacturer’s.   

SWA generates way more cycles than anyone.   They fly a LOT LOT LOT.   More flying means more exposure to risk and thus more incidents.   Southwest’s safety record beats everyone in the business. 

If you study this for a living then you KNOW that it is the RATE that matters, not the total number of incidents.

Windows fail.   It happens.  I’ve had three delaminations in my airplane type over my career.  It had nothing to do with our maintenance.   It was the manufacturing.  Those windshields are no longer made and are being replaced on-condition by a better version fleetwide.

[Mister Fork]

Evidence is mounting for what?   That cycles cause wear?   These airplanes aren’t old even by that measure.   If there is a problem here then it is the manufacturer’s.   

SWA generates way more cycles than anyone.   They fly a LOT LOT LOT.   More flying means more exposure to risk and thus more incidents.   Southwest’s safety record beats everyone in the business. 

If you study this for a living then you KNOW that it is the RATE that matters, not the total number of incidents.

Windows fail.   It happens.  I’ve had three delaminations in my airplane type over my career.  It had nothing to do with our maintenance.   It was the manufacturing.  Those windshields are no longer made and are being replaced on-condition by a better version fleetwide.

Agreed. SWA is known for happy staff - and that includes their maintenance workers. Happy/confident workers tend to not cut corners and actually look for ways to improve quality of work done, with better efficiencies in repairs and procedures that make sense.

Some points:

• Want to see an airline with lots of issues - then look at how they treat their maintenance teams.
• If they outsource the entire maintenance program, they don't really care about quality - it's another companies job (until there is an issue)
• Several large airlines are using foreign OVERSEAS maintenance providers with 'questionable' reporting requirements to the F.A.A..
• Eventually, you'll run into issues if you're constantly racing to the cost-control bottom at the expense of quality work at the risk of safety of your passengers.
• The job of almost all service providers is to do work for your customer, closest to the minimum specified in the service agreement to be as profitable as possible.

And I can guarantee you, those that outsource do a risk calculation on the cost savings of outsourcing their maintenance work verus in-house over a period of time against the payout they would face to families if they have a major incident. After all, it's about profit, not people.

[Puma44]

Another Southwest jet made an emergency landing for a window blowing out. 
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/02/us/southwest-flight-957-unplanned-landing/index.html

My job in real life is to study trends and predict when equipment is going to fail.  Southwest may have been a stellar airline when you worked for them, but the evidence is mounting against that.  A bunch of small events usually lead to a big event.  For whatever reason you are being very subjective about this event.  I'm being objective.  Southwest was fined millions of dollars for failing to inspect aircraft and to continue to fly with critical repairs.  An engine disentegrated in mid-air in 2016.  An engine catastrophically failed in April. A window blew out at altitude in May.  Something isn't right. 

You are not being objective if you intentionally misrepresent the information in your own link. The precautionary landing in Cleveland was for a cracked window.  It was not blown out.  Read your link again and look at the picture.  Either you have something against Southwest or you don’t have a grasp on facts, or both.  What ever your agenda is about Southwest, it is not based on factual information.

[Puma44]

What is the incidence per mile flown, as compared to other airlines?

That’s a question DaveBB needs to research and present the facts versus his agenda driven comments.