B747 CABIN ATTENDANT COMPLAINT REGARDING AGING CABIN ATTENDANT BEING UNSAFE DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE; PHYSICAL ABILITY AND LACK OF PROFICIENCY IN ASSIGNED DUTIES.

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THE ISSUE HERE IS AGING FLT ATTENDANTS. THE PURSER (LEAD FLT ATTENDANT) FOR THIS CREW IS 65 YRS OLD. SHE IS NOT LUCID. SHE HAS TROUBLE CONCENTRATING DURING CREW BRIEFINGS. SHE MAKES INAPPROPRIATE ANNOUNCEMENTS DURING TAXI AND DEP. THIS FLT ATTENDANT FORGETS TO ARM HER DOOR. THIS FLT ATTENDANT ALSO DOES NOT COORD WELL WITH THE CREW AND HAS LOW LISTENING SKILLS. SHE IS FORGETFUL AND INSISTS OTHER FLT ATTENDANTS SHOULD BACK HER UP WHEN SHE CONSISTENTLY MISSES HER REQUIRED SAFETY DUTIES. IT IS FRUSTRATING AND UNSAFE WHEN AIRLINES AND UNIONS NOT ONLY CONTINUE TO ALLOW PEOPLE LIKE THIS NOT ONLY TO WORK THE LINE; BUT ARE PUT INTO LEADERSHIP POS. APPARENTLY; THIS PERSON THREATENED TO SUE COMPANY X SHOULD THEY NOT LET HER PASS PURSER TRAINING. CLRLY SHE DOES NOT BELONG IN THIS ROLE. (I WOULD HATE TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A CRISIS.) IT IS CASES LIKE THIS THAT EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF FLT ATTENDANT LICENSING AND SECOND CLASS PHYSICALS. THE PROB IS ALSO CREATED IN THAT AIRLINES (AT LEAST COMPANY X) HAVE SUCH INADEQUATE RETIREMENT PROGRAMS THAT IT FORCES AN AGING WORK FORCE TO CONTINUE ON. (ALSO REQUIREMENTS TO LIVE IN EXPENSIVE COST-OF-LIVING CITIES; SUCH AS SFO; LAX; OR JFK/LGA CONTRIBUTE TO A FLT ATTENDANT'S INABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR PERSONAL REQUIREMENT FUNDS.)