UPDATED: FAA proposes big fines for US Airways, United

The Federal Aviation Adminstration today proposed mutli-million-dollar fines for US Airways and United Airlines for safety violations related to aircraft maintenance. Read the basics in a brief AP story here. UPDATE; The Inquirer's longer Thursday morning story is here. 

Here is the essence of US Airways's response, in a message to employees from chief operating officer Robert Isom: The propsed penalty relates to efforts to integrate maitenance for its America West and US Airwas fleets. The integration  "presented some challenges in the ares of inspection and records during 2007, 2008 and early 2009," Isom said. "Our team has worked cooperatively with the FAA to investigate and correct any discrepancies to the FAA's satisfaction."