Helpful websites for Airline Crew

Here is a small list of helpful websites I thought would be nice to pass along to airline crew members. I saw these on another site (Flight Attendant Source) and thought it would be good to include in my small blog.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
TSA has established guiding principles to maintain the security of the traveling public and continuously set the standard for excellence in transportation security. Any inquiries about the policies and procedures of the TSA can be found by searching there website or contacting their staff during business hours. Visit Site

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The FAA provides air traffic services for the world’s largest and busiest airspace. Tens of thousands of aircraft are guided safely and expeditiously every day through America’s National Airspace System to their destinations. For a value of aviation news and information you can browse their website. Visit Site

Known Crewmember (KCM)
This is a TSA approved security program in which authorized crew members are trusted to forgo security line.  Use this link to check if a specific airport has a Known Crewmember line. Visit Site


Global Entry
This is especially beneficial for International Flight Attendants. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Visit Site

The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA)
The world’s largest labor union.  AFA represents nearly 60,000 flight attendants at 19 airlines, serving as a voice for flight attendants at their workplace. the goal of flight attendants who become part of AFA-CWA is to negotiate better pay, benefits, working conditions and work rules at their airline, and to improve their safety on the job. Visit Site

Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA)
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants is the official bargaining representative for all of the US-base flight attendants at American Airlines. APFA is also the largest independent Flight Attendant Union in the nation, representing ONLY American Airlines Flight Attendants. All APFA Representatives are also AA Flight Attendants. Visit Site

Turbulence Forecast
Turbulence Forecast is a tool that can be used to give an estimate on how turbulent your flight might Visit Site



Airline Ambassadors International (AAI)
Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) helps orphans and vulnerable children worldwide by leveraging connections with the airline industry towards humanitarian service. We are the only charity of the overall airline industry.

Their volunteers escort children for life changing medical care, hand deliver humanitarian aid to children in orphanages, clinics and remote communities and advocate and educate and advocate on child protection and human trafficking awareness. Visit Site

United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)
Change for Good is an innovative partnership between UNICEF and the international airline industry. Established in 1987, it is one of UNICEF's best-known and longest-running partnerships. Currently eleven international airlines support the Change for Good program. Thanks to the generous support of customers and participating airlines, the global Change for Good program has generated more than $120 million that UNICEF has used to provide a healthier, happier future for millions of children. Visit Site

Flight Aware
Founded in 2005, FlightAware was the first company to offer free flight tracking services for both private and commercial air traffic and quickly rose to become the most popular flight tracking service.
FlightAware currently provides private aviation flight tracking in over 45 countries across North America, Europe, and Oceania, as well as global solutions for aircraft with datalink (satellite/VHF) via every major provider, including ARINC, Garmin, Honeywell GDC, Satcom Direct, SITA, and UVdatalink. FlightAware also continues to lead the industry in free, worldwide airline flight tracking and airport status for air travelers.

FlightAware's seamless integration of over 50 real-time, worldwide data sources combined with FlightAware's powerful, intuitive, responsive, and reliable web-based interface yield the most capable and useful flight tracking application and service. Visit Site

Flight Attendants in Aisle during Taxi

Why don't we see more Flight Attendants in the aisle during taxi-out/in to/from the gate?  Simply put, only safety related duties are permitted to be accomplished during aircraft surface movement. (Safety Demo, ensuring baggage is properly stowed, medical emergencies, ensuring electronics are either properly stowed-or in airplane mode, picking up any service items that were handed out during boarding)

Check out the legal version of this requirement of the FAR.

FAR 121.391

During taxi, flight attendants required by this section must remain at their duty stations with safety belts and shoulder harnesses fastened except to perform duties related to the safety of the airplane and its occupants.

What about the Galley?

While most flight attendant adhere to this requirement, unfortunately some (more often “Galley FAs”) are accomplishing duties not related to safety during taxi. This message is not about picking on the “Galleys.”  

After all, they are the miracle workers of the kitchen. Instead, the focus is to raise awareness that accomplishing non-safety duties during this period is risky. Here’s why.

Physics-101

While the aircraft is whisking along towards the departure runway, you (along with any other unsecured items) are being held in place by simple laws of gravity. Should the flight deck crew make a sudden stop, the laws of inertia quickly trump gravity -- thus placing you (and those loose items) in a precarious situation. In fact, the more distance from any fixed object (galley wall/surface), the greater the risk for severe injury.  What about those unsecured items (inserts/carts/rack of glasses)?  Applying the aircraft brakes “firmly” will result in those items very quickly on the floor -- even worse, possibly striking you!  Look at it this way….,

·        Greater Distance/Speed = Greater Inertia = Harder Impact

Don’t think it happens?  Guess again because in 2013 (for one airline) over 25 flight attendants were seriously injured due to surface movement accidents.  Sadly, most were avoidable had these flight attendants been seated and buckled-up.

 Let’s Talk $$

The FAA has taken a very clear position on this topic. During recent Town Halls, cabin safety inspectors have publicly stated that flight attendants can be personally fined for noncompliance with FAR 121.391. Your Cabin ASAP reports confirmed the FAA is watching since inspectors do not have to make themselves known to crewmembers when onboard.

But more importantly, you could be injured. Please don’t chance your personal safety. During taxi, all flight attendants not performing safety related duties must be in their jumpseats (focused on cabin safety) with lapbelt and shoulder harnesses fastened.

Opening wine bottles, linen lining inserts, tray unwrapping, and all the other fabulous things you do for our customers can wait.  On the other hand, your personal safety can never wait; it must always be #1.

Use of Approved Handheld Personal Electronic Devices

Back in November, and after extensive research, the FAA has concluded that customers can safely use handheld personal electronic devices (PEDs) during taxi, take-off, and landing and has expanded the approval for use of handheld PEDs to include all phases of flight, with limited exceptions. This approval applies to departures and arrivals in the U.S.  ONLY.

What is changed?
 

• Customers may use smartphones, tablets, electronic readers, MP3 players and other similarly-sized devices during taxi take-off and landing in the U.S., with limited exceptions.
  • Exception: Certain instrument approach landings, known as CAT 2 or CAT 3, require all electronic devices to be turned off. The flight deck will notify Flight Attendants when this is necessary.
• Larger electronic devices, such as laptop computers, are NOT considered handheld PEDs and must be stowed in an approved stowage location during taxi, take-off and landing.
• Approved handheld PEDs must be secured for taxi, take-off, and landing. Secured is defined as being kept controlled by the customer, e.g. held in the hand, seatback pocket or personal pocket rather than laying on the seat.
• Airlines have received FAA approval to allow customers to stow lightweight items in seatback pockets for all phases of flight, including taxi, take-off, and landing.  
• Items restrained in the seatback pocket must:
  • Not exceed a total of 3 pounds
  • Not block or hinder passenger egress
  • Be properly restrained to prevent being dislodged 
     
• The following are some examples of some items that are acceptable and not acceptable for seatback pocket stowage: 
   

Acceptable	Not Acceptable
Safety Instruction Cards Magazines Airsick bags MP3 players Eyeglasses Cell phones Tablets Beverage (less than 32 fl oz) and small food items	Laptop computers Purses (handbags or pocketbooks) DVD players Camera bags

  What has not changed? 

• Cellular functions are still not permitted for taxi out, take-off or landing. All electronic devices must be placed in airplane mode. Cell phone calls are permitted after landing on arrivals into the U.S. and U.S. territories as they are today.
• Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) calls remain prohibited. Our current Wi-Fi providers block all known VOIP calls.