How BA Engineering quickly integrated BMI's 25 narrowbodies.

Deferring maintenance happens, but it adds up over time

FAA issued an airworthiness directive requiring modifications

Carrier wants to determine requirements to retrofit A320s

Those who understand aircraft operations know there is at least one more: maintenance downtime.

Forty-three years after entering revenue service, the Pratt & Whitney JT9D series continues to power a cross section of operators sprinkled around the globe. While still diverse, the cross section is much thinner than in years past, however, with many operators flying just a handful of engines. It's a sign of the steady and inevitable decline facing the venerable series.

Every day, in maintenance hangars all over the world, technicians are interrupted or distracted during safety-critical maintenance tasks.

The deficit-reduction measure that went into effect March 1 cuts 7.9% from discretionary defense spending and 5.3% from non-defense discretionary spending. Surely, Washington's latest manufactured crisis will not do any serious damage, will it? Well, consider this: