American Connection Trans States Airlines, which also works as a United and US Airways Express, cancelled over 50 Embraer ERJ 145 jet flights out of St. Louis last week in the wake of FAA mandated inspections on nose gear steering controls to determine whether airlines were complying with airworthiness directives. Earlier American Eagle was forced to cancel its flights for the same reason. Related Story The cancellations impacted 20 American Connection flights as well as one United Express flight.
Trans States Airlines Spokesman Bill Mishk told the St. Louis Business Journal the carrier pulled 24 of its 50 jets for maintenance on Tuesday, 12 of which were back in service by Wednesday morning. Mishk indicated the rest would return to service by late Wednesday evening and he did not expect any cancellations on Thursday.
"We've been conducting internal audits to be proactive and stay ahead of any possible situations that may arise as a result of the recent FAA increased vigilance," Mishk told the Journal. The move comes in the wake of almost 3,300 American Airlines flights.