For the benefit of the press and travelling public I really must reject some comments in the Unite Media briefing.
A Cabin Services Director (CSD) is the most senior crew member.
Not true. The CSD is the most senior CABIN crew member.
The First Officer is second in command under the Pilot in Command (Captain). That is UK law.
During the flight, the CSD must speak to every passenger.
Not in my experience, although they usually have a word with premium pax.
They must also ensure that all passengers complete their visa entry forms.
Not true. Sometimes these are not completed until inside the terminal.
However, under BA’s imposed changes the CSDs have been brought
“into service”. This means not only do they have to complete their
own extensive management duties, but they also have to
absorb other crew duties.
Come on, 'extensive management duties'? OK, no one disputes the fact that the CSD has paperwork to complete but so did pursers on aircraft which did not carry a CSD and they managed to work in the galley and the aisles.
So what is the cabin crew job?
BA cabin crew are extremely professional. Their training enables
them to deliver babies; to administer Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
and an Epipen injection for anaphylactic shock; to operate a
defibrilator for people who have suffered cardiac arrest; to take
command of a life raft in a ditching scenario; in survival techniques;
in fire fighting; in search techniques when bomb threats received;
and how to deal with situations when a pilot becomes unconscious.
Aahh, at last, TRUE.
