FAA Charges Companies with Aircraft Cargo Violations

The Federal Aviation Administration is asking for $838,250 in civil penalties from two shippers and an aviation maintenance company for violating aircraft hazardous cargo and safety rules.

The agency is proposing a $140,000 fine against K-Mart for allegedly attempting to ship two packages containing 33 containers of nail color and aerosol sun block ot its returned goods center in McDonough, Ga.

The UPS shipments, which originated in Caguas, Puerto Rico, were sent in September and October of 2009.

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The FAA said that the packages should have been labeled as containing hazardous materials. Nail color is considered paint; the sun block flammable gas.

Radiology Corp. of Delray Beach, Fla., could pay a $168,000 fine for allegedly failing to report hazardous material after trying to ship a box containing a butane-fueled soldering iron as checked baggage aboard a Delta flight on Feb. 6, 2010.

The agency is proposing a fine against Aviation Technical Services of Everett, Wash., for allegedly failing to follow Southwest Airlines’ Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program terms in performing five airworthiness directives between January 2007 and March 2008.

The companies have 30 days to respond to letters from the FAA announcing the civil penalties.

--Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.