In our situation, it was very interesting to hear the de-brief. It seemed that because the cabin crew scenarios are almost always run the same way - an escalation of events leading to an evacuation - that it had become almost second nature to them to go into evacuation mode a little too quickly. This wasn't about blame, it was pure training, and they found it very useful to reflect upon the actions and the speed at which they escalated the situation, even though in the scenario there was more than enough time to follow the correct procedure, which was to inform that flight deck. But no-one did. We had been monitoring their actions ourselves, as it was just a simulation, as we found it interesting to see their decision making process. Absolutely no gripe with the cabin crew, the problem is with the "set" way they are trained - afterwards the cabin trainer asked the crew who had made the decision to evacuate. Everyone looked at everyone else, those at the back said they'd seen those at the front opening doors, so had followed suit, and those at the front, on reflection, without the pressure of the situation, said that given the scenario again they would have checked with the flight deck, because it wasn't a life threatening situation and there was time.
It was really done as a "food for thought" exercise and to ensure people were thinking for themselves and taking a moment to consider the situation rather than rushing into procedures. Procedures that are always done the same way in the simulated exercises.
Last edited by Airbus Girl; 21st Feb 2011 at 12:18.