Wirraway
6th Sep 2003, 01:39
Fri "The Australian"
Cabin crew's safety plea
By Steve Creedy, Security
September 05, 2003
FLIGHT attendants want a greater voice about security and safety issues.
The Flight Attendants Association of Australia is calling for more government and industry consultation on changes in policy and regulations.
"We're the ones who implement all of these cleverly devised and carefully crafted regulations and yet we're not considered primary aviation participants and consultation partners," FAAA manager of safety and regulatory affairs Guy McLean said.
Mr McLean said the FAAA had worked hard to develop a relationship with the Transport Department and it had made some ground.
But there needed to be more recognition of flight attendants' expertise and their primary role in ensuring the safety of passengers.
"It's time they realised that cabin crew are vital, critical members of an integrated operational safety team," Mr McLean said.
The responsibilities facing cabin crews were increasing as aircraft got bigger, flight deck crews smaller and sectors longer, he said.
Cabin crew were the biggest aviation group in Australia and their front-line safety role had been highlighted by their actions during this year's alleged hijacking attempt on a Launceston flight.
"If something happens on an aeroplane the aeroplane goes in to what they call a lockdown and those pilots are not coming out," MrMcLean said. "The cabin crew have got to deal with it and their role has clearly evolved."
The association is also worried about commercial pressures to differentiate airline products and moves to boost the proportion of the workforce working part-time.
Pressures to differentiate product led to rapid changes in cabin layouts, often without guidance from a regulatory framework.
"Within CASA there are no cabin safety officials in the standards division," Mr McLean said. "The only cabin safety specialisation in CASA is in compliance."
The FAAA is one of several organisations due to testify today before federal parliament's public accounts and audit committee.
Others include the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, and Australian National University terrorism expert Clive Williams.
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Cabin crew's safety plea
By Steve Creedy, Security
September 05, 2003
FLIGHT attendants want a greater voice about security and safety issues.
The Flight Attendants Association of Australia is calling for more government and industry consultation on changes in policy and regulations.
"We're the ones who implement all of these cleverly devised and carefully crafted regulations and yet we're not considered primary aviation participants and consultation partners," FAAA manager of safety and regulatory affairs Guy McLean said.
Mr McLean said the FAAA had worked hard to develop a relationship with the Transport Department and it had made some ground.
But there needed to be more recognition of flight attendants' expertise and their primary role in ensuring the safety of passengers.
"It's time they realised that cabin crew are vital, critical members of an integrated operational safety team," Mr McLean said.
The responsibilities facing cabin crews were increasing as aircraft got bigger, flight deck crews smaller and sectors longer, he said.
Cabin crew were the biggest aviation group in Australia and their front-line safety role had been highlighted by their actions during this year's alleged hijacking attempt on a Launceston flight.
"If something happens on an aeroplane the aeroplane goes in to what they call a lockdown and those pilots are not coming out," MrMcLean said. "The cabin crew have got to deal with it and their role has clearly evolved."
The association is also worried about commercial pressures to differentiate airline products and moves to boost the proportion of the workforce working part-time.
Pressures to differentiate product led to rapid changes in cabin layouts, often without guidance from a regulatory framework.
"Within CASA there are no cabin safety officials in the standards division," Mr McLean said. "The only cabin safety specialisation in CASA is in compliance."
The FAAA is one of several organisations due to testify today before federal parliament's public accounts and audit committee.
Others include the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, and Australian National University terrorism expert Clive Williams.
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