What: Air Tran Boeing 737 en route from Seattle to Milwaukee
Where: Billings Montana
When: Oct 29, 2011
Who: 124 passengers
Why: The flight took off normally, but over Montana, the windshield cracked.
The crew diverted the flight to Billings Montana where they made a safe landing.
What: Air Tran Boeing 717-200 en route from Charlotte to Atlanta
Where: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
When: May 4 2011
Who: 115 passengers
Why: After taking off, the left engine compressor stalled. The pilots shut down the left engine and returned to the airport.
Spartanburg EMS, and Boiling Springs, Greer, Pelham and Tyger River fire departments were on the scene
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — AirTran Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today announced a “Six Cities in Six Weeks” picketing tour. As frustrations escalate over management’s continued stalling of contract negotiations, AirTran Flight Attendants will begin a series of public protests on Monday, February 14 in Atlanta and conclude on April 1 in Baltimore. If a tentative agreement is not reached by April 1, then picketing will continue in six additional cities.
Six Cities in Six Weeks Picketing Tour
Monday, February 14 – Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Tuesday, March 1 – Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Wednesday, March 9 – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Thursday, March 17 – Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Wednesday, March 23 – Orlando – AirTran Shareholders Meeting
Friday, March 25 – General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Friday, April 1 – Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Following the announcement of the acquisition by Southwest Airlines, AirTran management approached AFA requesting an abbreviated list of the Flight Attendants’ greatest concerns in order to expedite negotiations. When presented with the union’s “short list” proposal, company management responded with a minimal counterproposal that failed to address the most basic work, duty and rest provisions. AFA rejected management’s proposal and filed for mediation services from the National Mediation Board the following day.
“While we do not want to have to take our struggle to the street, our Flight Attendants deserve fair work rule improvements now,” said Stephen Grimaldi, AirTran Flight Attendant and AFA Chairperson of Flight Attendant Mobilization. “Management has been dragging their feet for too long – enough is enough.”
Ready to begin focusing on the transition to Southwest Airlines, AirTran Flight Attendants may continue to work under the AFA contract for at least another two years. Under the Railway Labor Act, this future change in ownership does not negate the carrier’s obligation to negotiate now with its Flight Attendants in good faith.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Cary Liao
What: Air Tran Airways Boeing 717-200
Where: Norfolk, Virginia
When: October 26, 2009
Who: 117 passengers
Why: maneuvered to avoid another airplane during cruise-descent near Norfolk, Virginia. The 2 certificated airline transport pilots, 2 flight attendants, and 116 passengers were not injured.
One flight attendant received serious injuries, and one passenger received minor injuries.
An hour into the flight the captain had made a public address announcement to report turbulence, within seconds of when one flight attendants in the forward galley was “thrown” into the galley counter, and another “came up slightly” off her jumpseat. It appeared to both of them that the airplane had “dropped,” several hundred feet.
A flight attendants who noticed a 10 year old boy exiting an aft lavatory decided to wait to be seated until the boy had made his way back to his assigned seat when both of them were tossed to the ceiling.
An eye doctor and a retired paramedic assisted the injured until paramedics met the flight.
The operations center received an “ACARS” (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) message from the flight crew advising them that a flight attendant had fallen and a boy had a “bump on head.” They also advised that they had been descending from flight level 350 to 330 due to turbulence.
Pictured: An Airtran Airways Boeing in Flight
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jaysen F. Snow
What: AirTran Airways Boeing 717-200 en route from Orlando to Akron
Where: Orlando
When: Oct 4th 2009
Who: 122 on board (117 passengers and 5 crew)
Why: The flight experienced engine problems–fire in the left engine– and made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff.
Ground personnel witnessed sparks from the left engine. When passengers debarked by emergency chute, one was injured. Passengers were bussed off the tarmac where they were eventually transferred to a replacement Boeing.
George’s Point of View
Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!
