An airliner crew comprises the flight crew and the cabin crew, without one of which the aircraft crew is incomplete. The cockpit crew is trained to handle the technical operations and mostly works from a closed cockpit. The cabin crew interacts with the passengers and offers service to the passengers. On the surface therefore, the flight and cabin crew are worlds apart. In reality however, the two crews are supposed to work together regardless of their different work stations and training backgrounds. In fact, poor working relationships between the crews have resulted in scores of fatal accidents.
Just like the cockpit crew, cabin crew members do notice problems which could lead to accidents. Sometimes, it so happens that a cabin crew member notices a problem which the cockpit crew has not noticed. The cabin crew members are allowed to walk into the cockpit or to use an interphone to alert the cockpit crew of the existence of such a problem. For a number of reasons however, cabin crew members fail to alert the cockpit crew to problems which could jeopardize the safety of the passengers and the aircraft crew. These reasons include the fear of rebuke or inaction from the cockpit crew, or disciplinary action from the company. The cabin crew may also not alert the cockpit crew as the former is not trained to understand the mechanical operations of the aircraft and may therefore be unable to assess the seriousness of the problem.
Despite the artificial barriers between the two, cockpit crews and airline companies should appreciate that the safety of the passengers, crew and the plane is paramount. A flight attendant who notices or suspects a problem with the aircraft should therefore be encouraged to alert the cockpit crew immediately. Rebuking or punishing the cabin crew for raising a red flag over what the cockpit crew judges as a minor problem only discourages the cabin crew from alerting the cockpit to another problem which could turn out to be serious. Just to ensure that cabin crew members do not pester the cockpit crew with minor or inexistent problems, members of the cabin crew should also receive some technical training to ensure that they have an idea of how the aircraft works. This ensures that they are able to tell between problems and to alert the cockpit immediately in case they suspect a serious problem.
Just like the cockpit crew, cabin crew members do notice problems which could lead to accidents. Sometimes, it so happens that a cabin crew member notices a problem which the cockpit crew has not noticed. The cabin crew members are allowed to walk into the cockpit or to use an interphone to alert the cockpit crew of the existence of such a problem. For a number of reasons however, cabin crew members fail to alert the cockpit crew to problems which could jeopardize the safety of the passengers and the aircraft crew. These reasons include the fear of rebuke or inaction from the cockpit crew, or disciplinary action from the company. The cabin crew may also not alert the cockpit crew as the former is not trained to understand the mechanical operations of the aircraft and may therefore be unable to assess the seriousness of the problem.
Despite the artificial barriers between the two, cockpit crews and airline companies should appreciate that the safety of the passengers, crew and the plane is paramount. A flight attendant who notices or suspects a problem with the aircraft should therefore be encouraged to alert the cockpit crew immediately. Rebuking or punishing the cabin crew for raising a red flag over what the cockpit crew judges as a minor problem only discourages the cabin crew from alerting the cockpit to another problem which could turn out to be serious. Just to ensure that cabin crew members do not pester the cockpit crew with minor or inexistent problems, members of the cabin crew should also receive some technical training to ensure that they have an idea of how the aircraft works. This ensures that they are able to tell between problems and to alert the cockpit immediately in case they suspect a serious problem.
No comments:
Post a Comment