What has initially started as an example about not being informed on the
issue of handling irate passengers, has been blown completely out of
proportion.
My point was that there are flight attendants, I'm sure at every airline
and also on corporate aircraft, that do not have the knowledge they need
to have on how to handle and irate passenger. The key is knowing what
your options are. I used an incident the had happened to me as an
example.
I think a flight attendant, just out of training, should be able to give
correct information (the operative word being correct) on an article
that is covered in the boarding announcement/safety briefing.
It shows competency. However, I do agree with you, she should not
necessarily know all or any of the physics as to how cellular phone
effect your instruments.
Kim :)
P.S. Do you know if Ted Stallone is still at SWA?
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Swauger [mailto:TheSwaugers_at_CompuServe.COM]
Sent: Saturday, September 26, 1998 8:35 AM
To: INTERNET:crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu
Subject: Sky-Rage -- Here we go again....!!!!!
Keep in mind that the airline can regulate beyond the limits of
the
regulation. At Southwest Airlines, we restrict ALL use of cellular
phones
on the aircraft, whether it is parked at the gate or on short final with
700 RVR. Yes, it may be more restrictive than the regulation requires,
but
it draws a clear line in the sand. Without this clear line, the
potential
for `interpretation' expands (anyone have a teenager out there). We do
not
expect a Flight Attendant fresh out of training to understand the
physics
of electro-magnetic interference. They are taught simply - no cellular
phone use on the aircraft - period. True, while we are on the ground, I
don't need my instruments, but I am required to perform BIT checks on
these
instruments and your cell phone might interfere with these checks.
As an observation, with the emergence of country-wide
single-zone
cellular service, people are becomming more dependent on their cellular
phones. They are also becomming more militant in their use. I am
regularly hearing stories of passengers that are told to turn their
phones
off and become belligerent. I have experienced EM interference with my
cockpit instruments. It is real. It is a problem. It is potentially
serious. Please, follow the rules and turn off your cellular phones.
Steve Swauger
Southwest Airlines
<<<<Message text written by INTERNET:crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu>>>>
>I agreed with everything you said until you got to the cell-phone.
There
is
no
confusion about the FAA vs the FCC, but as you pointed out, the lack of
understanding behind the SOP of turning down the lights on TO&L
is similar to F/As demanding a pax turn off their cell phones while on a
gate-hold for 3 hours because it might interfere with navigation. There
is
a total lack of understanding behind certain procedures and that makes
pax
angry, especially in a scenario just like this.
<