Southwest's short-haul operations may be linked to jetliner rupture FAA plans to order emergency inspections for metal fatigue on older 737s. Officials say aircrafts' aluminum skin can be stressed by changes in cabin pressure from an average of six flights a day.
By Dan Weikel, Los Angeles Times
April 4, 2011, 8:06 p.m.
Aviation experts said the aluminum skin of the 15-year-old Boeing 737-300 could have become fatigued from the stress of daily landings and takeoffs as well as frequent changes in cabin pressure.
According to airline officials, some Southwest planes fly even more often as the low-cost carrier hustles to perform in an industry battered by high fuel prices and cutthroat competition.
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