Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)
- On September 10, our AFA Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work representing Flight Attendants’ interests in safety, health, and security.
- The Committee met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants face onboard the aircraft.
- Reporting safety concerns is crucial in these challenging times. Use ReportIt! to file FAIR, ASAP, and fatigue reports. Contact your Local ASHSC if you need assistance.
On Tuesday, September 10, our AFA Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting in person were Debi Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Kalin Lackey (PDX), Brad Young (SFO), Carin Meritt (LAX), and Eva Gatus (SAN). Also present was MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple.
The Committee met with Director of Inflight Safety & Compliance Geri Jarrett, Inflight Policy & Procedure Specialist Kevin Weatherbie, Manager of Inflight Safety & Compliance Claudia Modl, Inflight Training Supervisor Veronica Carrillo, and Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder
The next scheduled Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee meeting is Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
Topics of Discussion
The committee reviewed a number of items when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:
- DEMO Kit Divider: Issues with DEMO kits being buried by carry-ons in first-class bin. Action: Geri is working with Maintenance and Engineering to address the need for dividers.
- Boarding Without Pilots: Currently, boarding may start before the pilots’ inbound flight has landed. This has resulted in Flight Attendants being onboard with passengers but without pilots for extended periods of time, leading to hot cabins and other safety issues. Action: Geri will follow up with the NOC.
- Pilots Switching to Ground Power and Deplaning with Passenger Still Onboard: This policy has resulted in numerous safety reports, primarily due to the loss of power to the interphone and PA system. Action: Claudia will take this back for further discussion.
- Meeting Agents Leave During Deplaning: Agents are not returning ten minutes after deplaning starts as required. This is causing issues with safely assisting passengers with special needs and unaccompanied minors. It has also resulted in FAs having to extend their debrief periods. Action: Geri will follow up with CSA leadership.
- Tarmac Delay Snacks: Need for clear guidelines on tarmac delay snacks; they are not a required item. Action: Geri will ensure guidelines are communicated.
- Minimum Water Count on Board: The ASHSC believes no aircraft should be dispatched without a required minimum number of water bottles onboard for safety. Action: Geri will review the business model while the Inflight Service Committee and ASHSC work with Matthew Coder to determine the water which should be required.
- MedLink App Not Working: FAs have not received an adequate level of communication about the MedLink app being down. Action: Geri and Heidi will meet with MedAire and look at additional communication.
- MedAire App Flight Number Requirement: Need for flight number to be auto-loaded or requested earlier in the app flow. Action: Veronica will take this back to Training and user feedback will be provided to MedAire
- Old Trash Behind Forward Galley Trash Bin: The forward galley trash bin needs to be cleaned regularly. The area can smell and become unsanitary. Action: The area should be cleaned every RON. Flight Attendants should report significant issues via FAIR and Cabin Discrepancy.
What the Committee is Working On
- Bin Divider Missing on Refurbished 737-800s. The divider that used to separate the 10-person raft from the portion of the bin that was authorized for the stowage of carry-on bags was removed during the installation of the 25-person raft. We are trying to get the company to reinstall the divider and update the placarding to ensure the raft remains accessible and undamaged.
Better Monitoring of Carry-On Bags. We continue to see a significant number of excess and oversized bags being boarded and are advocating that the company does more to ensure their FAA-approved Carry-on Bag program is followed and that limits are enforced. Dealing with excessive and oversized carry-ons is a driver a Flight Attendant injuries.
Attempting to change or mitigate the impact of several recent policy changes:
Single door catering
Switching to ground service power with passengers onboard
CSAs leaving the deplaning door after arrival
We Want to Hear From You!
If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please help the committee to advocate for improvement and change by filing a report. Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) reports, and fatigue reports can all be submitted using ReportIt! If you’re not sure what type of report to file for a particular situation or need help, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of your Local ASHSC.
Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local ASHSC is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the ASHSC page of the AFA Alaska website.
