Alaska Airlines has completed wing slat inspections on all of its 56 next-generation Boeing 737 aircraft before the deadline set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The checks confirmed all parts of the wing leading edge slat assemblies are properly installed per the manufacturer's specifications. The FAA's directive relates a China Airlines 737 fire that destroyed the aircraft. As a proactive safety measure, Alaska Airlines initiated inspections of its next-generation 737 wing slat assemblies Aug. 23, before the FAA required the checks. The FAA's airworthiness directive requires U.S. carriers to complete visual inspections by Sept. 7 and more detailed torque checks by Sept. 18. Alaska conducted the visual inspection and torque check together during a six-hour process on each aircraft. The airline's next-generation 737s represent about half of its 115-aircraft fleet. In addition to 20 737-700s, 24 737-800s and 12 737-900s that were included in the inspection process, the carrier operates 40 737-400s and 19 MD-80s.