Evacuation initiation....
I'm an ex-military pilot so forgive my lack of knowledge in the civvy AT world but as a fairly frequent flyer still as SLF I have a fairly straight forward question to ask.
As SLF I try and sit next, or at least close, to an emergency exit. I pay attention to the briefing and try to be "aware" as to what's going on around me.
Many on these exits are not "manned" by a member of the cabin crew and the pax (me) is briefed how to open the door/window.
My philosophy has been to lead rather than to follow - it's in my training so if faced with the situation in Phoenix I would like to say that I would have made it 100% clear to the cabin crew that there was a problem. And faced with in-decision/in-action on their part I would have no hesitation when fumes/smoke (or whatever) made breathing/seeing difficult in opening said exit on my own initiative.
The question is, is the cabin crew permitted to initiate an evacuation without being instructed by the flight deck? If so, what are the circumstances and what would be the repercussions for the crew by senior management for doing so in a case like this? Would they be praised or hung out to dry? Not an easy decision I'd admit but I'd prefer to have a switched-on crew down the back, able to make whatever decision needed - and justify it afterwards - rather than "sheep". Judging by the eyewitness accounts it can't have been very pleasant for the pax.
MB