Koito

But the U.S. rule does provide American carriers more leeway in using Koito spare parts and replacing entire Koito seats that have malfunctioned.

Airlines Granted More Time on Defective Seats Andy Pasztor 2011

Released Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration's safety directive requires additional testing to determine whether some 40,000 seats manufactured by Japan's Koito Industries Ltd., and installed on more than 270 U.S. commercial aircraft, comply with mandatory safety standards.

Airlines Granted More Time on Defective Seats Andy Pasztor 2011

Since the manufacturing defects became public, Koito has apologized and worked extensively with manufacturers, airlines and regulators deal with the fallout.

Airlines Granted More Time on Defective Seats Andy Pasztor 2011

In late 2009 and again in 2010, Koito officials disclosed additional discrepancies that prompted regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to step up their investigations.

Airlines Granted More Time on Defective Seats Andy Pasztor 2011

After Japanese authorities began investigating the matter in early 2009, Koito said it used a computer program that produced false readings on strength tests.

Airlines Granted More Time on Defective Seats Andy Pasztor 2011

After initially maintaining that no safety directives were appropriate, Koito recently has adopted more of a conciliatory approach.

Airlines Granted More Time on Defective Seats Andy Pasztor 2011

Released Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration's safety directive requires additional testing to determine whether some 40,000 seats manufactured by Japan's Koito Industries Ltd., and installed on more than 270 U.S. commercial aircraft, comply with mandatory safety standards.

Airlines Granted More Time on Defective Seats Andy Pasztor 2011

But the U.S. rule does provide American carriers more leeway in using Koito spare parts and replacing entire Koito seats that have malfunctioned.

Airlines Granted More Time on Defective Seats Andy Pasztor 2011

Taken together, industry officials said the actions amount to a major step toward ending the global industry turmoil caused by Koito's 2009 admissions that it had falsified test data for flammability and strength affecting some 150,000 seats used by more than 30 carriers world-wide.

Airlines Granted More Time on Defective Seats Andy Pasztor 2011

Koito also said it skipped some safety tests entirely and used results from previous tests.

Airlines Granted More Time on Defective Seats Andy Pasztor 2011