Aircraft instruments firm settles U.S. export violations

Aircraft instruments firm settles U.S. export violations    The U.S. State Department on Wednesday said its Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has reached an agreement with Air Shunt Instruments to resolve export violations committed by the company from September 2003 to January 2004.
   Under the consent agreement to settle the case, the Chatsworth, Calif.-based company agreed to pay a civil penalty of $100,000, of which $70,000 will be suspended on condition that Air Shunt has already applied the amount to improving its internal compliance with the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The remaining $30,000 will be suspended on condition that Air Shunt will also apply this amount to compliance activities, the State Department said.
   In addition, Air Shunt must complete two independent audits of its compliance program prior to the termination of the consent agreement.
   The State Department said Air Shunt acknowledged the seriousness of the violations and cooperated with the department's investigators.