Date: 201208
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Aircraft: B737-800
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Aircraft component: Leading Edge Slat
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: About 15 minutes after take-off the inter-phone chime rang 'once.' Picked up the phone and heard the Captain declaring an emergency. Provided Number One with required information. Binding flap/trim (part of wing) on the leading edge. Returning to ZZZ. Need to burn fuel so that we are within landing limit weight. No Evacuation expected. Normal landing. Easy Victor if evacuation becomes necessary. Thirty minutes. Stated he would get back to us with more information in a few minutes. I briefed the Number Four. About five minutes later the inter-phone chime rang 'once.' [Captain] stated they were still having problems and that we were definitely returning to ZZZ. Number One asked if we needed to prepare for an emergency. The Captain stated that he declared an emergency; returning to ZZZ and expected a 'normal' landing. The Number One asked again if we needed to prepare for an emergency. It was clear that the Captain did not understand what the Number One was asking. I finally interrupted and stated we will take care of the cabin and be ready to land. Number One then asked the Captain if he was going to inform the customers. Captain made a PA informing the customers that we had an issue that was forcing us to return to ZZZ. He did not mention anything about following the flight attendant's special instructions regarding our return landing. Number One asked me; since I heard everything the Captain said on the inter-phone; if I thought he wanted us to complete our Emergency Checklist. I said 'no.' He kept stating to prepare for a 'normal' landing. Not to expect an evacuation. Plus he did not tell the customers to pay attention to our special instructions. About five minutes later the inter-phone chime rang 'once.' The Captain informed us that we were burning fuel faster than expected and that we would be landing in 15 minutes. About five minutes later the inter-phone chime rang 'once.' The Captain informed us that we were landing in about seven minutes. Number One asked the Captain if he would make the 'Prepare for Landing PA.' Captain made 'Prepare for Landing PA.' Number One made 'Prepare for Landing PA.' All flight attendants completed compliance check. Landed without incident. Came to a complete stop. About one minute later we taxi to the gate. First Officer made 'Prepare for Arrival PA.' Flight attendants completed arrival procedures. Customers were asked to remain on the aircraft until further notice from appropriate airport personnel instructions. If they wanted off they could exit the aircraft as long as they took all their belongs. About 15 minutes later aircraft was removed from service and all remaining customers were deplaned via jet bridge.The only narrative comment I have is that the landing was one of the best landings I have had on the 737! Pilots need to know what our Emergency Checklist is and what it entails so that they know whether to have us go through the checklist or not. We have had the opportunity to see their checklist in action; so that we know that we need to give them time before beginning our evacuations. There are times that our checklist does not fit a situation. This was clearly one of those situations. I believe if we completed the checklist we would have created unnecessary stress for our customers when the Captain kept insisting it would be a normal landing. In talking with many pilots they have told me that they do not know what is in our checklist. A LIST of HIGH RISK landings that require us to begin our emergency checklist versus normal landings that require a Captain to declare an emergency; but is not a typically associated with possible evacuations.




Synopsis: B737 Flight Attendant describes preparations for an emergency return to the departure airport.