Posted at 11:35 a.m., Monday, August 6, 2001

FAA backs American Air in Hawai'i flight dispute

Advertiser News Services

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines worked within safety rules by using two pilots instead of three on Boeing Co. 767 jets between Dallas and Honolulu, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The FAA investigation into the matter was prompted in part by a letter alleging safety violations from a 21-year veteran American Airlines pilot and representative of the Allied Pilots Association.

Capt. Rich Rubin criticized a decision in June to reduce staffing on the flights from three pilots to two.

American used an "acceptable'' process to schedule flights from June 15 through June 29, the FAA said.