The crew diverted the flight to Billings Montana where they made a safe landing.

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Spartanburg EMS, and Boiling Springs, Greer, Pelham and Tyger River fire departments were on the scene

The post Air Tran Engine Shut Down, Return to Greenville-Spartanburg IA first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.

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.

The post AirTran Flight Attendants Announce Six-Week Picketing Schedule in Six Cities first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.

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.

Src: NTSB report

The post Air Tran Airways Turbulence Injures 2 first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.

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!

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