SabreTech, faced with losing its repair-station licence from the US Federal Aviation Administration, closed its Orlando aircraft repair station on 17 January. The company previously shut down its Miami centre which is alleged to have played a significant role in the crash of the ValuJet McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 on 11 May, 1996, in Florida, killing 110 people. SabreTech is looking for a buyer for that plant.
The company, formerly ValuJet's maintenance contractor, surrendered its Orlando repair- station certificate when it was notified that the FAA was issuing an emergency order of revocation. Following a two-month probe of the maintenance centre, the FAA alleges that SabreTech falsified records by signing off on work that was not performed, failed to use proper tools, equipment and materials, and performed maintenance without proper manuals.
Source: Flight International
