Cabin Crew Initial Training - Day 1 & 2 Notes

Aviation Regulations and Regulatory Bodies

Regulatory bodies formulate and enforce aviation safety and security laws, setting basic standards to ensure the safe operation and management of aviation activities. Key organizations include:

  • International: ICAO, EASA, IATA
  • National: CAA
ICAO

Established in 1944 by the Chicago Convention, ICAO promotes the safety, security, efficiency, and regularity of civil aviation worldwide by setting comprehensive standards and regulations. It spans technical, operational, and administrative aspects of aviation, facilitating the interaction of global air transport.

IATA

Founded in 1945, IATA supports the aviation sector by establishing global standards for airline safety, security, efficiency, and sustainability. It provides services such as cargo and passenger transportation fare inspections, risk management advice, and automation solutions to member airlines, enhancing operational efficacy.

EASA

Established in 2002, EASA oversees aviation regulation across Europe, focusing on product certification, foreign approvals, and standardizing safety regulations among Member States. This body ensures strong safety protocols and environmental protection measures in the operation of EU citizens' air transport.

CAA

National Authorities that comply with EASA regulations, the CAA is responsible for supervising operator adherence to safety standards, conducting regular audits, and issuing various licenses and attestations.

An Air Operator Certificate (AOC) allows an aircraft operator to use its fleet for commercial purposes, demonstrating compliance with safety regulations.

The Concept of Safety in Aviation

Safety in aviation is defined as minimizing harm to persons or property through proactive hazard identification and safety risk management approaches. A robust safety culture is cultivated through:

Safety Management System (SMS)

A systematic methodology for comprehensive safety management, encompassing all levels of the organization with clear structures, defined accountabilities, policies, and procedures.

The Iceberg Model

This model represents accidents as the visible tip above the surface, with serious incidents, incidents, and the underlying latent conditions concealed below.

Safety Culture

Creating and maintaining a strong safety culture is essential for effective SMS implementation. A focus on a just culture promotes non-punitive responses to honest mistakes while addressing reckless behavior appropriately.

Aviation Hazards

Aviation hazards encompass anything that can potentially cause harm, including injuries, equipment damage, or loss of materials. Effective risk management strategies are crucial in preventing incidents.

Crew Responsibilities

The Commander bears responsibility for the safety of all crew members, passengers, and cargo on board. Each crew member must adhere to the operator's reporting schemes for any irregularities.

Fatigue in Aviation

Fatigue can significantly impact flight safety; it is defined as a physiological state of diminished performance due to the following factors:

  • Sleep loss
  • Extended wakefulness
  • Circadian rhythm phase
  • Workload pressures

Fatigue Risk Management (FRM)

This comprises strategies employed by aviation service providers and operational personnel to manage fatigue's safety implications, promoting alertness and operational safety.

Consequences of Fatigue
  • Slower reaction times
  • Increased errors and lapses
  • Impaired judgment
  • Decreased situational awareness
  • Poor work efficiency
Signs of Fatigue
  • Early: Physical discomfort, tired eyes
  • Moderate: Yawning, frequent blinking
  • Severe: Long blinks, head nodding, difficulty keeping eyes open

Managing Alertness

Strategies include effective communication among crew, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy diet, and recognizing early warning signs of fatigue.

General Cabin Crew Responsibilities

Cabin crew members play a critical role in ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of the airplane's occupants while protecting the operator’s assets.

Cabin Crew Member Definition

An appropriately qualified individual assigned to perform duties associated with passenger and flight safety during all operational phases.

Conditions for Assignment to Duties

Cabin crew members must meet specific criteria:

  • At least 18 years old
  • Medically fit
  • Completion of initial training and recurrent training

Number and Composition of Cabin Crew

At least one cabin crew member is mandatory for aircraft with more than 19 seats when carrying any passengers. Each crew member should be assigned based on the number of emergency exits and passenger seating configurations, with proportional distribution of responsibilities.

Senior Cabin Crew Member (SCC)

The SCC reports to the commander and is responsible for ensuring adherence to both normal and emergency procedures during flight operations.

Regulations Related to Cabin Crew

  • Operation on More Than One Aircraft Type: Cabin crew may operate on a limited number of aircraft models, ensuring familiarity with equipment and procedural similarities.
  • Air Operator Manuals: There is a shared responsibility between operators and cabin crew to continually access, update, and stay familiar with the manuals relevant to their duties.

Prepared with Valid Documents for Duty

Cabin crew members must have:

  • Cabin Crew Attestation
  • Cabin Crew Medical Report
  • Aircraft Type Qualification Certificate
  • Professional Validity Statement
  • Necessary personal identification documents

Cabin Crew Attestation (CCA)

This document is issued indefinitely unless it is suspended or revoked under regulatory circumstances.

Cabin Crew Medical Report

This certificate is valid for a maximum period of 60 months, ensuring ongoing medical fitness for duty.

Compliant with Duty Related Tasks

All crew must report any discrepancies affecting the airworthiness or safe operation of the aircraft immediately to the commander.

Compliant with Duty Related Prohibitions or Limitations

Crew members are prohibited from performing duties if they do not fulfill applicable medical and fitness standards or are under the influence of psychoactive substances.

Alcohol Consumption Guidelines

The aviation industry mandates that no alcohol should be consumed less than 8 hours prior to a crew member's reporting time, and the legal blood alcohol level must not exceed 0.2 per thousand.

Theory of Flight

This area explains the four forces acting on an airplane: lift, drag, gravity, and thrust.

Cabin Pressurization

The process where air is actively pumped into the aircraft cabin to increase air pressure, ensuring occupants have sufficient oxygen.

Depressurization Processes

Depressurization can occur in three ways:

  • Slow
  • Rapid
  • Explosive

Stabilizers

Stabilizers include vertical and horizontal elements that control the aircraft's orientation and stability during flight.

  • The vertical stabilizer prevents the wing from swinging uncontrollably from side to side.
  • The horizontal stabilizer counters up-and-down motion of the nose.

Flaps

Hinged surfaces positioned at the wings' trailing edges, which enable increased lift and greater control during takeoff and landing, allowing the aircraft to operate at lower speeds.

Slats

Aerodynamic features located on the wings' leading edges that enhance lift capability, thereby increasing the angle of attack that the wings can effectively handle.

Aviation Equipment

This term covers the extensive range of tools and machines essential for safe flight operations:

  • Jet Bridge: Connects the terminal to the aircraft for passenger boarding
  • Girt Bar: A metal component linking to the evacuation slide
  • Runway: Designated airport area for takeoff and landing operations
  • ATC: Air Traffic Control systems for managing aircraft movements
  • APU: Auxiliary Power Unit
  • GPU: Ground Power Unit

Equipment Used on Board

Onboard equipment is vital for both crew operations and passenger safety, including:

  • Jump Seats: Used by cabin crew during take-off and landing
  • Trolley: For serving food and beverages
  • Safety equipment: Such as seatbelts and safety instruction cards
  • Emergency equipment: Including oxygen masks and fire extinguishers
  • Slide-raft: For emergency evacuations

Prior to every flight, cabin crew check that all onboard equipment is functional and familiarize themselves with the equipment's location and usage to ensure readiness in emergencies.

Aviation Terminology

A collection of aviation-specific terms, abbreviations, acronyms, and the aviation alphabet is critical for clear communication among personnel. Examples include:

  • Turbulence: Sudden fluctuations in airflow
  • Sterile Flight Deck: A period during which non-essential conversation is avoided to maintain focus during critical phases of flight.

Communication Basics

Effective aviation communication necessitates understanding how and when to disseminate information while selecting appropriate communication tools. Standards must prioritize safety, and emotional communication should be skillfully managed. The Crew Resource Management (CRM) principle is critical in multi-national and cross-cultural crew settings, promoting teamwork and collaboration.

Passenger Briefings

During operations, it is essential for cabin crew to conduct thorough passenger briefings before take-off and following boarding, addressing safety procedures, and emergency protocols, including communication in cases of hijacking. The NITS briefing structure provides a concise method to convey key details in ABNORMAL/EMERGENCY situations:

  • Nature of the situation
  • Intentions
  • Time remaining
  • Special instructions

Tools for Communication

The Interphone system serves as the primary communication method between the cockpit and cabin. It is imperative during both routine operations and emergencies. Also, the crew should ensure they understand physical access to the flight deck and correctly use “Read-back” instructions to prevent miscommunication.

Flight Time Limitations (FTL)

FTL regulations are designed to ensure that crew members receive adequate rest periods. The responsibilities of operators and crew members are documented by EASA.

  • Duty Periods: Maximum permissible hours in any consecutive period:

    • 60 hours over 7 days
    • 110 hours over 14 days
    • 190 hours over 28 days
    • 2000 hours over 12 consecutive months

  • Flight Time: Maximum time allowed for flights is:

    • 100 hours over 28 days
    • 900 hours in a calendar year
    • 1000 hours over 12 consecutive calendar months

Minimum Off Days

Crew members must have a minimum of 7 days off in a calendar month and 96 days within one calendar year.

Meteorology

The study of atmospheric phenomena, meteorology is crucial in aviation primarily for analyzing weather conditions influencing flight operations. Knowledge of meteorological principles aids aviators in anticipating potential challenges.

Weather Phenomena

  • Jet Stream: Fast-flowing, narrow air currents often found near the tropopause.
  • Wind Shear: Variation in wind speed or direction at different heights within the atmosphere.
  • Turbulence: Abrupt, irregular air movement primarily caused by terrain, storm fronts, and jet streams, posing risks for unsecured passengers.
  • Wake Turbulence: Experienced when an aircraft flies through the wake of another aircraft, necessitating careful spacing during takeoff and landing.

Aircraft Contamination

Contamination caused by ice, fluids, or other meteorological elements requires immediate reporting to the Captain and can significantly affect aircraft performance.

Critical Surfaces

Components crucial for aerodynamics include:

  • Wings
  • Control surfaces
  • Rotors
  • Propellers
  • Stabilizers (horizontal and vertical)
  • Upper fuselage surface

Take-Off and Landing Minima

Take-off and landing conditions are significantly influenced by weather, available airport aids (such as ILS), aircraft capabilities, and pilot qualifications.

Cabin Crew Duties During Operations

Cabin crew responsibilities include:

  • Ensuring safety, security, and well-being of all passengers
  • Maintaining the integrity of the Operator’s assets from reporting time until check-out.

Basic crew responsibilities, as outlined by EASA in the EASA OPS regulations, include monitoring cabin conditions, assisting special categories of passengers, ensuring the safe storage of cabin luggage, and readiness for safety and emergency duties at any moment.

Chain of Command

In case of an incident, the recommended chain of command is:

  1. Pilot-in-Command
  2. Check Pilot/Supervisory
  3. Senior Cabin Crew
  4. Other Cabin Crew

Pre-Boarding Responsibilities - Security Procedures

Cabin crew must excel in recognizing suspicious items or behavior and safeguard against potential threats before take-off.

Pre Take-Off Responsibilities

These may include simplified procedures if there is a reduced number of cabin crew present, ensuring compliance with refueling processes, managing passenger distribution, and conducting the standard safety demonstration.