Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Other Aircrew Forums > Cabin Crew
Reload this Page >

When are doors meant to be Armed?

Wikiposts
Search
Cabin Crew Where professional flight attendants discuss matters that affect our jobs & lives.

When are doors meant to be Armed?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 31st Aug 2004, 19:38
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London Gatwick
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When are doors meant to be Armed?

I recently flew from LHR to Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways and was shocked when I heard the command over the PA "cabin crew arm doors and x-check", after having pushed back from the gate and the aircraft was moving!!

At easyJet as soon as the doors are shut, we quickly arm the doors for departure, Im surprised that Etihad armed doors while the aircraft is moving.

Is this normal procedure in other airliners?
ezybuzz is offline  
Old 31st Aug 2004, 20:16
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
it would seem a bit quick to arm the doors as soon as they are shut. How do you know that the stand is clear of any equipment that may be in the way if you blew a slide?
Arming the doors when the a/c begins to push is standard in our airline, unless you have an extended wait on stand, when the doors would usually be armed, as long as the area around the a/c is clear.
ratarsedagain is offline  
Old 31st Aug 2004, 20:26
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Costa del Gatwick
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It all depends on the particular airline's SEPs. Some arm doors on closing, some arm on aircraft's first movement (to prevent possible slide deployment should a door need to opened again)
starbag is offline  
Old 31st Aug 2004, 20:53
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: uk
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
at ryanair we arm as soon as the L1 door is closed, aometimes at this point the captian could be doing a pa, as soon as he has finished i always say arm x-check so its recorded that all doors are armed but like starbag said it could do with the airlines sep
cabincrew1 is offline  
Old 31st Aug 2004, 22:04
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Essex, based at LTN
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi ezybuzz!

I'm an sccm for ezy at LGW and I will only request doors to be armed when steps/airbridge are completely clear of a/c with enough space for the slide to deploy properly, if this means waiting until pushback then thats what I do. Our SOP is that all equipment must be clear of doors before arming, several captains have suggested I wait until pushback if the area is not clear (i.e stand 2 which barely moves away from a/c!) so thats what I do!
Many airlines have differing SOPs but I would imagine it should be pretty similar for everyone that all equipment is away from slide deployment area before you 'arm up'!!

I wonder if we know each other? Lol!

Happy flying!
x
BecauseCIDSsays_so! is offline  
Old 1st Sep 2004, 05:28
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: all over the shop
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Our airline SOPs are to arm doors either on pushback; or if on a standoff bay with no aerobridge, on first engine start. Having flown Emirates a few times as pax, I seem to recall (completely open to correction though!) that they arm doors on pushback too?
sinala1 is offline  
Old 1st Sep 2004, 07:16
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LGW
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
at MYT we arm our doors when the cabin supervisor advises us, usually a few minutes after the doors have been shut and the steps are clear etc as the other posts have said.

We disarm them when the command comes from the captain, when we are safely on stand.
sammyhostie3 is offline  
Old 1st Sep 2004, 13:35
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Costa Del Solent
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Arrow

Different airlines have different SOP's, there is not an official right or wrong way.

Related topic, disarming of doors, but also includes arming of doors!

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hreadid=121791

Trislander is offline  
Old 1st Sep 2004, 15:15
  #9 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London Gatwick
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I forgot to say yeah we will only arm doors once the airbridge or steps are away from the a/c.

So BecauseCIDSsays_so who are you then?? lol

hehe! xx
ezybuzz is offline  
Old 1st Sep 2004, 17:43
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: ---
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Our doors are only armed after pushback, when clear of aerobridge's etc.
OZcabincrew is offline  
Old 1st Sep 2004, 18:06
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Europe
Posts: 3,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Our SOPs too are to arm with when the first engine is started.
flyblue is offline  
Old 1st Sep 2004, 18:18
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Essex, based at LTN
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well ezybuzz tall....dark....(under the eyes.. ) handsome...(wheres the laughing smilie???)

LOL...I'm trying to think of a realistic clue..too easy just to tell ya! If you have flown with me, you will know of my TOTALLY crazy obsession with a particular thing on the 319- not too far from the subject in hand! If you haven't then that clue is no good...

Tune in soon for the next installment!

Happy flying!
x

PS- Whilst we are on the subject- is there any other airlines that u have to give the 'arm' command over the i/p? Just in case the captain makes a PA? It is sooooooo much quicker on the PA 'cabin crew arm doors for departure' is sooo not gonna interrupt the foreign demo by more than 3 seconds! Doors PA..Press Play..easy..by the time u have received the check and confirmed with the oracle its time to start the English!! Capt on PA..i/p.. easy too! Hey Ho! but I guess I'm not management so it must make sense to someone!! Lol! XxX
BecauseCIDSsays_so! is offline  
Old 2nd Sep 2004, 20:17
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: kent
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Angel

On push back, once jetway has cleared.
Jason King is offline  
Old 2nd Sep 2004, 23:47
  #14 (permalink)  
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 1998
Location: err, *******, we have a problem
Age: 58
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Had this discussion with my Purser today... our SOP is once the aircraft pushes back, then the doors should be armed. As we had a short taxi, I'd briefed her that as soon as the door was closed and the jetty removed then she should arm the doors and start the demo...

BUT... the caveat... in this case I knew the jetty would be removed to such a place as not to affect slide deployment, and all the other doors were clear so therefore briefed for an early arming/safety demo. I did also point out that this was not a decision that should be made by the Purser without reference to the flight crew (only because she asked, being newly promoted.. and extremely good, I have to add)... arming a slide whilst adjacent to a fixed jetty is not good airmanship, and if your company's SOP's require that, then they are cutting a corner too many.

Also, with regard to arming on starting first engine..generally OK, but I can think of several fixed jetty stands (LHR Shuttle stands straight off and most former Russian/East German states) where with an APU not working I would need to start one engine on stand, then push-back, set the brakes, and start the second engine. I would not allow the doors to be armed until we moved in that case, since....

All exits must be clear before slides are armed. Are you sure that the jetty has gone? Do you have enough space? Can you tell that through the small window on the door? What about the rear doors? What about the right-side of the aircraft, the service side? Just because the door 1L is "clear" are the others? Would slide deployment be snagged by a loading vehicle? Or ground personnel?

Arming slides before an aircraft has moved is something that should only be done with the consent of the Flight Crew, as they in this case have the bigger picture. An SOP that calls for something different should be revisited, IMHO.

The problem is SOP's can never cater for all situations. If in doubt, refer to the ladies and gents at the sharp-end, they will have the full-picture and hopefully sould be able to advise accordingly. Also, the Captain has the authority to vary any SOP if he/she sees fit...

Ha! I like that last little rule!
Sick Squid is offline  
Old 6th Sep 2004, 11:17
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Saudi Arabia
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When are doors meant to be Armed?

Here at Saudia,all the doors are armed when boarding has ended and when the ground crew leaves the plane,However during taxi the captain /FO say:
"Good Morning/Evening Flight Crew.All doors to flight and be seated for take off"

I dont understand why pilots say good morning/evening.I thought the entire crew met in the crew room?

Anyway,after arrival when the plane has parked,the captain/FO say:
"All doors to ground"

Its the same with PIA too.
SV_741_India_Bravo is offline  
Old 7th Sep 2004, 09:56
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: About 3000 below Midhurst SID I reckon
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Most sensible procedure would be as soon as possible after doors are closed and free from obstruction, incase of need to evac.

Different companies have different policies to ensure compliance but as long as the crew are aware if theyre in or out of armed mode and if they have to evac they follow their drill, it makes no difference when theyre armed when still near to the stand.

Our rule is on pushback the sccm orders doors to auto & xCheck by PA. Then the flight deck on approach to stand give command for doors into manual & xCheck.
sixmilehighclub is offline  
Old 9th Sep 2004, 16:57
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My understanding is to arm doors on pushback or engine start and disarm as soon as the seatbelt sign is switched off.
KTPops is offline  
Old 28th Dec 2004, 19:22
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: England
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Probrably a bit of a late post, but our SOP in my company is to arm the doors and start the demo as soon as the L1 door has been closed! This was due to an APU fire/incident on stand a few years ago with the doors un armed and (I think) a delay in the evacuation!

Makes sense to me! And with regards to outside obstructions... common sense (and SOP!) states "check outside conditions" before you open the door!

S.
scobie is offline  
Old 30th Dec 2004, 13:29
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: England, UK
Age: 41
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
At British Airways as the aircraft starts to move away from the stand, or starts to move forward under it's own power if on a remote stand, we receive the "Cabin Crew, doors to automatic and cross-check" call from the Cabin Service Director.

For arrival, when the aircraft has turned onto stand and is still moving we receive the "Cabin Crew, doors to manual and cross-check" call from one of the Flight Crew.
BA Boi is offline  
Old 4th Jan 2005, 01:07
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Sydney
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
At QF the CSM makes "Cabin Crew Arm Doors" PA on pushback or when stairs are removed from L1 Door, and completes call back to confirm. Demo is started when the Flight Crew cycle the "No smoking" sign twice..ie "Ding..Ding."

It has something to do with the transfer of power, usually one engine is started by that time, and the Flight Attendants are doing the demo during taxi. Fun, when its a short taxi

"Cabin Crew disarm doors" PA is made by Flight Crew on approach to the terminal whilst still moving and another call back is completed to confirm.

Fascinating stuff hey?
Bodum is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.