There's thread running on RP where some people believe that cabin crew generally are not aware of the chain of command on an aircraft.

Can this be true? I am asking purely out of interest, curious to find out what this is like with other airlines.
Are those posters on RP correct and does there exist in some companies a culture where cabin crew are not aware of the legal position of the various crew members aboard? Where CSDs, Pursers, No1s or what have you, actually are considered to be not only in charge of the cabin but also to be the end-responsible? In other words, considered the boss in both their own eyes and those of the rest of the cabin crew?

In our company, the chain of command was drummed into us from day one. I have never seen even an inkling of confusion on this issue.
The captain is also universally and amicably referred to as "The Boss" by the whole crew. His/her word is the law, and if the captain, while still on the ground, decides on a course of action which the highest ranking CC deems too dangerous, the only option the CC has is to leave the aircraft.
If the same happens in flight, the CC will have to do as the captain decides, while taking up the matter after landing via the proper channels.
System works fine.

Without getting into a rights and wrongs discussion but merely for "survey purposes", what's it like at your airline?

To get a good picture, it would be nice if you only participate in the poll if you are cabin crew!

I AM

....or at least ... so says mrs Squelch.

To be honest Flaps I think I am but I realize you manipulate captains to such an extend that they don't even realize they are not in charge at all. This, we all realize, is the best management style in our part of the world.

Sq

Same as you Flaps. Here no misunderstanding about that.
To obtain the CSS (the Flight Attendant licence) in France you have to study, between others subjects, a bit of air law. The Captain's authority is really the ABC.

Hey flaps - been down this road before or one similar if I remember rightly.

Captain is in charge - it's in the books for all to see so if anyone thinks different, go read up.

I think there are a few "grey areas" that could be sorted out, but 99% of captains I've met are happy to leave what goes on in the cabin to the cabin crew, and in the same way the cabin crew don't decide if we need deicing or not.

But when it comes to safety issues and emergency proceedures they are set in stone and must be followed to the letter.

This one seems to crop up on PPrune fairly regularly: I have never met any FA's who have not fully understood the legal and published vcommand chain. Really, I haven't. I sometimes wonder whether they really exist, or whether they are merely perceived to exist by one or two flight crew who lack self-confidence? I also think that this perception may be more likely when the senior FA (The "In Charge") is a male.

I call all pilots "Boss" when on the jet. Firstly because they are, and secondly because it lets them know, that I know they are.. (if you can follow that thought through, you haven't had enough gin!).

Facinating thread - thanx Flaps - maybe we can lay this one to rest once and for all.

When I first started flying you could only speak to the Capt through the First Officer and even then you were not guaranteed a reply - unless of course it was the First Class menu being presented, in which case you asked the Capt how he would like his steak cooked!! on one flight back came the answer through the FO ''wipe its arse and walk it past the oven''!!!

JAR Ops makes the chain quite clear:

1 - The aircraft commander
2 - Any other operating Captain
3 - Senior First Officer
4 - First Officer
5 - Second Officer
6 - Senior Cabin Crew Member


Many tasks are delegated to the Senior Cabin Crew memeber, but ultimately the buck stops at the sharp end.

I would hope that in this day crew of all ranks can see the big picture and work together in a well mannered fashion.

No one in my company is in any doubt as to the chain of command on board an a/c . yet given the locked door policy there is far more CRM involved these days . The captain relies far more on the SCCM to give accurate information concerning problems that occur in the cabin and any course of action the SCCM recommends the captain should take ie diversion due to passenger restraint etc . Respect is a two way process and should always be given .. in doing so good F/D C/C CRM is built and maintained and therefore there is no question of doubting the chain of command

Capt is the Boss.....no question about that ??