Ok, a post or two of mine about this was deleted so let me repeat. Regarding evacuation:
1. As correctly pointed out, there is a procedure to be followed by both FD & CC
2. The CC are required to wait for assessment/instruction by the FD crew EXCEPT in a catastrophic situation
3. CATASTROPHIC for most airline purposes means- A major or multiple breaks in the fuselage, a major, self sustaining fire INSIDE the cabin, or Ditching, any kind of ditching.
Now, from what we have heard so far, I would not be so quick to blast the CC or pilots for taking what you may think is "too long". The figure for a 90 sec evac is generally taken to mean 90sec once it BECOMES APPARENT THAT EVAC IS NECESSARY.
From the CC side, an immediate, CC-initiated evac is generally when there is an IMMEDIATE AND SUSTAINED THREAT TO THE LIFE OF THE CC MEMBER and/or passengers in the vicinity.
Running the checklist is procedure for a reason. We have seen cases where in hindsight, popping the slides and going for gold would have turned out not so good. (Think QF32 as an example- engines were still running)
Now, when we take into account what the purser said, her description of the landing and what we see in the first photos taken by pax. They MAY have felt it was 'only' a hard landing. She describes the plane as "Swaying from side to side" (We know it did much more than that from the video- she obviously did not feel it to be so bad)
She followed procedure and went immediately to the FD (either contact by phone or in person, tick that box, she did it) This rules out for the time being a CC initiated evac- the pilots are still standing and are contactable.
The captain said "wait". Most CC would take this to mean he is running the checklist and deciding if immediate evacuation is needed. If things appeared very dire she would no doubt tell them at this point (it seems from what she said that she did not realize the extent of the damage at first until she went back further into the cabin)
She mentions taking a fire extinguisher- ergo- it was the belief of the crew that the initial cabin fire was controllable. We know that 5 (maybe 7) crew were knocked out. Therefore she has lost them as a source of info and last thing pax will do/know is how to pick up the phone and call her.
Once the information changed, it appears the evacuation was immediately commanded.
The 'line' for the CC to initiate, when it is not a ditching:
1- The flight crew are NOT contactable
2- There is immediate and serious danger to continued life
3- Conditions inside the cabin are untenable
Then the procedure is along the lines of
1. Command evacuation/relay to other crew (verbally or by PA)
2. Evaluate the conditions at your specific door
3. Operate the door if able and expedite the evac
Of course exact procedure varies between airline but would be something along these lines.
As to the FD crew, once the pax are out you go check on them. Hopefully by the time the pax are streaming along down the slides everyone except the Capt are out the cockpit windows helping on the ground or out of the door assisting in the cabin.
Of course this is just an example of some of the factors that may have come into play and may of course vary depending on whether the accounts have changed or become clearer with time. Hope this gives some insight to those who are not on the cabin side of the door.
As always, personal post only and no official comment associated with my employer/s
