Why ISM's think it is unsafe to start service?
Dont know how long this has been the way it is done but know it was not like this not that long ago.
When the cockpit cycles the belts it used to be the start of service by the cabin crew. Now the belts get cycled and nothing usually happens. On two flights I have been on recently upstairs as a pax on the 400 it has gotten to the point of the belts being turned off, passengers begin wandering about and going to the loo etc but the crew are still strapped in. Both these times a passenger has asked the girl sitting by the door for something and she has said something and just remained seated. Could not hear what was said but the guy asking returned to his seat looking slightly confused.
How does the ISM know it is safe? What are they waiting for? Is it just to assert authority to let the crew know that she/he is in charge and they will work when she/he is ready and thinks it is safe for them to work? If it is just about angle of the cabin that is something only the front will know what will happen, if it is about anything else surely the ISM would have to do a quick tour of the cabin before allowing work to start. It seems to me to just be a way to reinforce that the cockpit dont really know what is going on and that the ISM knows best, rather stupid thing to reinforce especially with so many young crew.
Not only does this make it look like the crew are not communicating or do not know what is going on to the passengers as most know that there is a sign from the front when they can begin work. It also reinforces the belief that the ISM is in charge. Wont post what the most recent CRM course I did with the cabin crew and cockpit crew was like as it is a public forum but I think the idea that the captain is in charge needs to be reinforced.
Anyone know the reason as to why we do it like this? Understand belts being cycled and the ISM then calling all stations but why the wait, just makes us look unprofessional as an airline. If anyone knows what the ISM knows that we don't about weather it is safe to work please enlighten me. Both flight this happened on it was very smooth. Minor I know but whats the point?