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Potential Issue with Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) Part

The Master Executive Council (MEC) has received inquiries from our members asking if we have additional information regarding the alert message that is posted on the Inflight web page,

which references a potential issue with a part on the Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) fleet.

Background

Last night (Friday), the MEC became aware of a KOMO news article, “Unexpected cracking found on critical Boeing 737 Next Generation part.” The name of the part in question is a “pickle fork.” We brought the article to the attention of Alaska Airlines Inflight management with a request to research the validity of the article’s contents and to communicate something to the flight attendants if appropriate. The alert notice was posted on the Inflight web page shortly thereafter.

Boeing’s statement to KOMO

KOMO quotes a Boeing spokesperson: “Safety and quality are our top priorities. Boeing has notified the FAA and been in contact with 737NG operators about a cracking issue discovered on a small number of airplanes undergoing modifications. No in-service issues have been reported. Over the coming days, we will work closely with our customers to implement a recommended inspection plan for certain airplanes in the fleet. This issue does not affect any 737 MAX airplanes or the P-8 Poseidon.”

The FAA confirmed required upcoming inspections

The FAA also confirmed the inspections to KOMO: “The FAA will require operators of certain Boeing 737NG jetliners to conduct inspections for structural cracks. Boeing notified the agency of the matter after it discovered the cracks while conducting modifications on a heavily used aircraft. Subsequent inspections uncovered similar cracks in a small number of additional planes. The FAA will instruct operators to conduct specific inspections, make any necessary repairs and to report their findings to the agency immediately.”

AFA Alaska leadership is following developments with extreme interest

It is unclear at this time if the Alaska Airlines NG fleet will in any way be affected by the required inspections. From what we have been able to gather so far, the various news outlets reporting on the issue are crediting KOMO as the original source, and there has been no new information published since yesterday. Be assured AFA Alaska leadership is in communication with management about the issue and is following developments with extreme interest. The MEC anticipates there will be more information in the coming days. Stay tuned for further updates!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee; and MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairperson Seth Heiple

Transition Training

As part of the merger between Alaska Airlines and Virgin America, Flight Attendants from both pre-merger airlines will need to be trained to work on the aircraft of the other pre-merger airline in order for crews to be able to fully integrate.

Transition training will take place regardless of whether or not the pending joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) is ratified.  All Flight Attendants, both pre-merger Alaska and pre-merger Virgin America, will be qualified to work both Boeing and Airbus aircraft by the end of 2018.  If the JCBA is ratified, all Flight Attendants will be able to fly on both aircraft types once full integration takes place (currently scheduled for the March 2019 bid period).  If the JCBA is not ratified, pre-merger AS and VX Flight Attendants will continue to re-certify on both aircraft types during recurrent training each year starting in 2019, but will not be able to serve as a working crew member on the other pre-merger fleet of aircraft until a JCBA is ratified.

Airbus Transition Training

For Pre-Merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

Airbus transition training will take place between July and November 2018.  Pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants will attend two, 8-hour days of transition training in either ANC, SEA, PDX, or LAX.  SAN F/As may bid into any location that has scheduled training sessions.  Similar to recurrent training, there will also be a 4-hour computer based training (CBT) that needs to be completed before attending class.

AFA and management have signed a letter of agreement pertaining to Airbus transition training, which you can view by clicking here.

Bidding

Pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants will bid for transition training between April 21 and May 4; awards will be posted by May 10.  All available training dates will be available for bid during this process.  Bids will be awarded in seniority order.  If you do not submit a transition training bid, you will be assigned a training date by management.

Boeing Transition Training

For Pre-Merger Virgin America Flight Attendants

Boeing transition training will take place between July and October 2018.  Pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants will attend two, 8-hour days of transition training in either SFO or LAX.  Similar to recurrent training, there will also be a 4-hour computer based training (CBT) that needs to be completed before attending class.

Bidding

Pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants will bid for transition training one month at a time.  Bids will be awarded in seniority order; if not enough Flight Attendants bid for the available training dates in a given month, FLICA will assign the dates in inverse seniority order until all classes for the month are full.

Management will be communicating specifics on when bidding will occur and when awards will be posted for each month.

Questions?

Management will be putting out more information about transition training within the next several weeks.  If you have additional questions, please contact your Local Council Officers.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

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