American changes instructions on lightning damage

American wanted to give mechanics clear directions on whether to ground and immediately inspect a plane or conduct a more cursory examination. The brief exam might be enough if no one reported seeing lightning strike the plane.

But the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday it would direct American to stick with old rules that gave mechanics more discretion in deciding to conduct the more thorough inspections, an agency spokesman said.

A spokesman for American said late Wednesday that the airline had not been contacted by the FAA.

The FAA action is the latest development in a standoff between the nation's largest airline and some of its employees, who complained to the regulators.

The new instructions covered Boeing 767 aircraft that travel over water and are subject to more rigorous inspection standards. They took effect this month.

Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American, said airline representatives met with Federal Aviation Administration officials in May "and agreed on mutually acceptable revisions to the work card involving lightning strikes for the 767 aircraft." Work cards outline required tasks for mechanics.

Before this month, the work cards directed mechanics to conduct intensive lightning-strike inspections only after pilots reported a suspected hit or eyewitnesses saw lightning in the area.

The new instructions give mechanics more authority to initiate inspections in other cases, such as when they see dings or dimples larger than a certain size on planes. They also direct mechanics to Boeing's guidelines for when to conduct a limited or more thorough examination.

FAA spokesman Les Dorr said the agency initially accepted the change in American's work cards while continuing to review the issue. But regulators found objections--which he wouldn't specify--on Wednesday.