Press Release – FAA Proposes $325,000 Civil Penalty Against Southwest Airlines

[WNMECH]

Just for the record, the size of a fine isn't an indication of the original problem.
The fine is multiplied by the number of flights the aircraft made before the problem was corrected.

This paperwork lapse apparently happened in 2002 and was discovered and corrected in 2014.
The number of flights caused the larger fine.

To say one carrier has more defects because of the size of the fines, is not the case.
I could explain the true details behind some of the larger fines without the media spin, but some people wouldn't listen.
So I won't bother.

 

[WorldTraveler]

I'd be happy to let you explain.... and yes you are right that the multiplier effect is a big part of why WN's fines have been so large.

but the question still has to be raised as to why it takes WN or worse yet the FAA so long to find out these problems before the multiplier effect gets out of hand.