FLT ATTENDANT RPT; B767-300; JFK-GIG (RIO DE JANEIRO); HYD PROB 20 MINS AFTER TKOF; RETURN TO JFK TO SWITCH PLANES. NO COCKPIT COM.

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OCT/XA/99. JFK-GIG. CAPT ADVISED PURSER TO HAVE FLT ATTENDANTS SEATED UNTIL FURTHER ADVISE FROM COCKPIT DUE TO SOME WX. 20 MINS INTO FLT; CAPT CALLED PURSER ADVISING OF AN EMER AND THAT WE WOULD RETURN TO JFK. SHE ENTERED COCKPIT TO ASK TEST AND WAS ASKED TO LEAVE. THIS IS WELL UNDERSTOOD AS THE PLTS ARE BUSY; BUT WE THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK TO US. CAPT MADE A PA LATER ADVISING PAX OF A HYD PROB AND OUR RETURN TO JFK. FLT ATTENDANTS HAVE PROCS TO FOLLOW AND WE DID NOT KNOW THE SEVERITY OF THE PROB. I FEEL THAT THE CAPT AND PURSER HAD A PERSONALITY CONFLICT FROM BOARDING AND HE WAS IN A MOOD. HE REPRIMANDED HER TWICE AND CALLED IT A VIOLATION OF PROTOCOL. IF THE CAPT COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH HER; THERE WERE 9 OTHER FLT ATTENDANTS ON BOARD. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING INITIALLY; BUT IT CONTINUED THE ENTIRE SEQUENCE OCT/XA/99 TO OCT/XB/99. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAPT IS OUR TEAM LEADER AND MUST COMMUNICATE. WE MUST KNOW ASAP WHAT IS HAPPENING AS WE ALSO HAVE PROCS TO FOLLOW. 6 OF THE 10 FLT ATTENDANTS ON BOARD ARE 45+ YRS OF AGE AND TAKE OUR JOBS SERIOUSLY AND IF WE CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER THEN THERE IS A MAJOR PROB. P.S. THE MATTER STARTED WHEN FLT ATTENDANT #1 WENT TO COCKPIT TO INTRODUCE HERSELF (AS CAPT NEVER HAD A BRIEFING NOR DID HE INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO ANYONE). CAPT SAID 'SO YOU ARE THE ONE WHO STAYS IN HER ROOM THE ENTIRE LAYOVER;' AND HER REPLY 'I DID NOT KNOW THAT I WAS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.' THE MOOD WAS SET AND IT ALL WENT DOWNHILL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR SAID THAT THE CAPT SHOWED ABSOLUTELY NO LEADERSHIP QUALITIES. THE COMPANY EVEN RECEIVED MANY LETTERS FROM PAX REGARDING THE LACK OF CREW COM AND THAT THE CABIN CREW DIDN'T DO THEIR SEATBELT AND BAGGAGE COMPLIANCE CHKS IN COACH. SHE DID HERS IN FIRST CLASS. AFTER THEY LANDED; THE CAPT TOOK THE PURSER OUT ON THE JETBRIDGE TWICE AND 'BAWLED HER OUT' FOR 'VIOLATING PROTOCOL.' THEY HAD A 2 1/2 HR DELAY ON THE GND BEFORE SWITCHING PLANES. THE CAPT 'FUDGED' OR ALTERED THE PAPERWORK SO THE CREW COULD FLY; EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ILLEGAL. EVIDENTLY; THEY ACTUALLY CLOSED THE DOOR AT XB45 AND THEY PUT DOWN THAT THEY CLOSED THE DOOR AT XA45. AFTER RESUMING THEIR FLT; THE CAPT GOT REAL PARANOID; AND WOULDN'T EAT HIS CREW MEAL UNLESS HE COULD WATCH THE GALLEY FLT ATTENDANT COOK IT. THE RPTR SAID SHE FELT VERY UNSAFE WITH THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS EXHIBITED BY THE CAPT; AND FELT HE NEEDED TO BE RETRAINED IN LEADERSHIP SKILLS.