UPS grounding of planes could last through peak delivery season

By SARAH RAZA Associated Press A deadly crash has forced UPS Airlines to ground a fleet of planes for inspections and doable repairs that could last through the peak delivery season the company noted Wednesday in an internal memo Related Articles UPS and FedEx grounding MD- planes following deadly Kentucky crash At least dead injured in UPS plane crash and explosion at Kentucky airport Young Peninsula pilot killed in crash at Colorado airport California-based helicopter flying off USS Nimitz crashes in South China Sea A California-bound United Airlines emergency landing likely caused by collision with a weather balloon The airline grounded its McDonnell Douglas MD- fleet indefinitely as it works to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines explained the memo from UPS Airlines president Bill Moore to employees The process was originally estimated to take weeks but is now expected to take several months A fiery MD- plane crash on Nov in Louisville Kentucky killed people and injured at least when the left engine detached during takeoff Cargo carriers grounded their McDonnell Douglas MD- fleets shortly after ahead of a directive from the FAA Regarding the MD- fleet Boeing s ongoing evaluation shows that inspections and possible repairs will be more extensive than initially expected Moore wrote in the memo A UPS spokesperson announced in a report that the company will rely on contingency plans to deliver for customers throughout the peak season and it will take the time needed to ensure that every aircraft is safe The remaining MD- airliners averaging more than years old are exclusively used to haul cargo for package delivery companies MD- s make up about of the UPS airline fleet and of the FedEx fleet Boeing which took over as the manufacturer of MD- s since merging with McDonnell Douglas in explained in a announcement that it is working diligently to provide instructions and technical encouragement to operators so that they can meet the FAA s requirements The FAA explained Boeing will develop the procedures for inspections and any corrective actions pending approval from the FAA