Flights to Mexico: Alaska Cops Out
Dear Alaska Airlines:
Last January 20th I was on an Alaska Airline flight #222 that took off from Sea-Tac for Manzanillo, via Los Angeles. Less than two minutes after take-off, several loud banging noises were heard from the rear of the airplane. We immediately turned around and made an emergency landing at Sea-Tac, and most of us on that plane were convinced we were going to die on that runway. This was 11 days before Flight 261 went down in the ocean.
To date, your airline has not told any of us what happened on our flight, nor has it responded to my questions concerning that incident. The FAA says you did not file a detailed incident report.
For these reasons, and many more that have come to light in the past eight months, I have refused to fly Alaska planes. I have no intention of getting on another one of your MD-80s.
This brings up my forthcoming annual winter visit to Manzanillo. I notice in your recent promotional contest to Cabo San Lucas, you advertised it as being a Boeing 737 plane. I would like to know when, if ever, you plan to offer 737 flights to Manzanillo. I would like to know now, so that I may plan my winter vacation schedule accordingly. If you have no plans other than to fly MD-80s on that route, I will make other arrangements.
Sincerely yours,
Jef Jaisun
Dear Alaska,
I’m trying to find a flight to either Manzanillo or Puerto Vallarto from Seattle. I have never liked flying on the MD 80 planes. The flight crews call them Mad Dogs and hate them. The engine noise in the rear is near intolerable. The mechanical safety of these planes has been called into question with last year’s fateful flight out of PRV. I cannot bring myself to book a flight on an MD aircraft, especially since one of the persons that died on that flight out of PVR was a neighbor.
I want to know what Alaska’s policy is now regarding the wear tolerances on key control elements such as the rear stabilizer jack screw? I’d like to think that when tolerances get to a ten thousandth away from replacement, that remeasurement 6 times to justify not replacing the part is not going to happen. Especially when the next heavy check of that part won’t be for another 2 years. That’s fool hardy at best and put the lives of people at risk. When replacement tolerances are that close, the part should have been checked more frequently…or better yet replaced when it gets within one 10 thousandth of an inch of the wear tolerance. If that part cost $10,000 to replace it would have been cheap compared to losing an aircraft over it.
I would prefer to fly on a Boeing aircraft, but your fleet seems to be full of those MD’s. Why don’t you put more Boeing planes in service to Mexico? If you can help me with finding a flight on a Boeing Aircraft that has been properly maintained I’d appreciate it.
Thanks,
Grant
Mr. Silvey:
Thank you for writing in regards to our MD-80 aircraft.
I understand your concern, and want to assure you that all of our aircraft have completed inspections and are continually checked on a daily basis. The MD-80s are one of the safest commercial airliners in the history of aviation. Its safety record is .41 accidents per million departures (one incident out of over two million flights), which is four times safer than other aircraft, even the 737′s. The FAA made the public announcement a few months ago that our aircraft were safe for operation and that they had no concerns. We understand that these planes will be getting much attention until the cause of the accident is discovered, and we want to make you as comfortable and confident as possible. You are welcome to change your flight schedule, however, aircraft swaps do occur, and there is not a guarantee of which aircraft type you will be flying. Our Reservation agents can assist you in booking a flight that is operated with a 737.
All of our aircraft are Boeing aircraft. This includes that MD-80′s, which are now Boeing aircraft due to the past merger of Boeing and McDonnel Douglas.
Feel free to write us again if you have any further questions or comments.
Jeffry
Alaska Airlines
Supervisor, Consumer Affairs
Thanks for your reply. I was not aware of the MD 80′s safety record. I hear that almost one third of your MD 80 fleet was out of tolerance with respect to the rear stabilizer jack screw as found after the accident of flight 261. Has there been scrutiny of other critical control parts on all your aircraft?
I also heard that the pilots of flight 261 were aware of the control problem shortly after takeoff and could have returned to PVR, or landed at any number of airports along the way but opted to continue without aborting the flight.
What policy does Alaska air have with respect to supporting a pilots decision to abort a flight or to make an unscheduled emergency stop? Has the company reinforced to the pilots that any problem with a control surface is reason to abort the flight plan and to seek the closest airfield?
A recent Alaska flight had a deployment of the emergency oxygen masks, but then proceeded to it’s destination. Isn’t it FAA policy to abort the flight plan after such a deployment and to return to the nearest airport? Have the pilots been reprimanded? Has management taken a firm stand to avoid this type of incident in the future?
I’m curious about any undue pressure that the pilots might have either from management or because of their personal schedules to not abort a flight. Has the management set policy clearly to pilots that safety is the number one concern? Has management issued any statements to pilots supporting their decision to abort a flight under safety concerns? Has management made it clear to pilots that the number one priority is safety and following FAA guidelines for safe operation? Is it company policy to have it’s pilots abort the flight plan at the first indication of a problem with the flight controls?
If so then why did the crew of the plane with the deployed oxygen maskscontinue to it’s destination and not return to the nearest airport? When, exactly did the flight crew on 261 become aware that they had a problem with the rear stabilizer? Is that been made public knowledge?
My concerns with Alaska do not end with the aircraft. I’m concerned that Alaska has lost it’s focus on safety as the number one priority of an airline. I have flown Alaska for years, and have always felt comfortable on Alaska planes. But recent news surrounding flight 261, and the fact that my neighbor and her husband perished on 261, has me concerned about your commitment to safety. I was in Puerto Vallarta when 261 went down. I was flying on Alaska, and it was very disconcerting knowing that I was going to be boarding an Alaska flight on the same route three weeks after the crash.
Thanks,
Grant
Mr. Silvey:
I apologize, but due to NTSB regulations, we are not permitted to comment on flight 261 or the flight that had the oxygen masks deploy until both investigations are complete. I hope you understand.
Our policy towards safety, when flying our aircraft, has always been to insure the safety of the passengers. Certain situations are investigated when the flight crew elects not to operate a flight, but their decision is never questioned. The Captain of the aircraft is the sole authority of that flight, by our policy and by Federal Law. We will not, and are not permitted to, force the crew to operate an aircraft if they feel the flight may pose some safety concerns.
As a commercial pilot myself, I can tell you that there are procedures that are followed during an emergency. These will vary slightly for each aircraft, but are a set or ordered procedures that are done in order to see to it that the aircraft completes its flight without incidence. When an emergency landing is required, we allow the crew to have final say on what airport is chosen due to the fact that they are more likely to have the most information to make this decision.
I have done my best to answer all of your questions that I am permitted and able to. Again, please understand that we are not permitted to discuss certain items regarding our policies and the two occurrences. I hope we will have the pleasure of welcoming you on board a flight with us soon.
Jeffry
Alaska Airlines
Supervisor, Consumer Affairs