The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and United Firm of Carolina Law (UFC Law) announced the filing of a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines for removing two Islamic religious leaders, or imams, from a flight to a conference on Islamophobia in Charlotte, N.C., earlier 2011 after the pilot refused to fly with them on board. According to the lawsuit, the defendants violated both a federal law preventing an air carrier from subjecting a passenger to "discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or ancestry" and a Tennessee law that prohibits denying an individual the "full and equal enjoyment of the advantages and accommodations of a place of public accommodation on the grounds of race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction that would prohibit the defendants from "singling out passengers for mistreatment based on their perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, alienage, ancestry, and/or national origin" and order them to "take all affirmative steps necessary to remedy the effects of the illegal, discriminatory conduct described herein and to prevent similar occurrences in the future." It also seeks attorneys' fees and compensatory and punitive damages against Delta and Atlantic Southeast Airlines "in an amount to be determined at trial''.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing civil penalties ranging from $66,000 to $133,950 against eight companies for alleged violations of FAA regulations. They include the following: Apollo Aviation of Fruitland Park $77,300 for allegedly operating a Cessna 172 on nine flights between July 21 and 24, 2010, when it was not in compliance with FAA regulations. JetSmart, Inc., of Rochester $133,950 for allegedly operating a Hawker Beechcraft 125-800 business jet aircraft on 63 flights between Oct. 3, 2009 and Dec. 15, 2009, when it was not in compliance with FAA regulations. 26 North Aviation, Inc. of Allentown, Pa. $81,000 for allegedly failing to inspect overwing emergency exits after opening them as part of crew evacuation training on several of its aircraft. The company’s FAA-approved general maintenance manual mandates the inspections that must be completed and documented before the aircraft can be returned to service. The alleged violations occurred at multiple points beginning on June 2, 2009 and continued through Feb. 17, 2010. Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc., of Boise, Idaho: $77,000 for allegedly installing a night vision system on a helicopter used for emergency medical services when it was not authorized to perform that modification. The FAA further alleges that Aviation Specialties failed to perform the modification correctly and used unacceptable technical data to guide the work. The alleged violation occurred Nov. 24, 2009. Liberty Jet Management Corporation of Oyster Bay, N.Y.: $75,000 for allegedly using a pilot who had failed his most recent checkride as second-in-command on approximately 25 charter flights. FAA regulations require all crewmembers to have passed checkrides (or other appropriate evaluations) before they may fly as required crew. American Eagle Airlines of Fort Worth: $77,500 for alleged violations of the company’s operations specification for its ground de-icing/anti-icing program. Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) of Atlanta: $132,000 for allegedly operating a Bombardier CRJ regional jet on 22 passenger-carrying flights between May 14 and May 18, 2010, while it was not in compliance with FAA regulations. Jet Aircraft Maintenance of Miami: $66,000 for allegedly failing to perform tire changes properly on various United Airlines A320 airliners.

United States Department Of Transportation assessed a civil penalty against Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc.(ASA) for violating rules protecting air travelers with disabilities. The carrier was assessed a $200,000 civil penalty of which up to $75,000 may be used to improve its service to disabled passengers above levels required by DOT rules. The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 requires airlines to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities in boarding and deplaning aircraft, including the use of wheelchairs, ramps, mechanical lifts or service personnel where needed. During June 2010, the Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office conducted a review and inspection at ASA’s Atlanta offices and airport operations of the carrier’s compliance with Department consumer protection requirements. The Enforcement Office reviewed, among other things, disability-related complaints received by the carrier from January 2009 through May 2010. That review revealed a number of violations of the rules requiring assistance to passengers with disabilities who use wheelchairs. Of the $200,000 penalty, up to $35,000 may be used to relocate passenger lifts that have been acquired by ASA to airports that the carrier serves in order to supplement and improve enplaning and deplaning services. Up to $40,000 may be used by the carrier to conduct audits and surveys to ensure that its employees are complying with the airline disability rules.