FAA proposes fine against Atlas for improper 747 repair

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $275,000 civil penalty against Atlas Airlines for allegedly operating an improperly repaired Boeing 747 cargo plane.    The U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $275,000 civil penalty against Atlas Airlines for allegedly operating an improperly repaired Boeing 747 cargo plane.
   The FAA alleges that the Purchase, N.Y.-based air carrier’s maintenance workers mishandled a repair to the plane’s landing gear after it would not retract on departure from Sydney, Australia. “Atlas repaired the gear using the wrong part, and maintenance workers had to install the component upside down to get it to fit,” the FAA said.
   According to the FAA, Atlas then operated the plane on 24 cargo flights over a 10-day period after the landing gear repair. “The aircraft was not in an airworthy condition during those flights,” the agency said.
   Atlas has been in communication with the FAA about the case, the agency said.