CABIN ATTENDANT ADVISES THAT ROUTINE ASSIGNMENTS OF MAX DUTY DAYS COUPLED WITH MINIMUM REST PERIODS RESULTS IN UNACCEPTABLE DETERIORATION IN PERFORMANCE OF SAFETY RELATED DUTIES.

Date: 2004-04

Anomalies: flight-deck-cabin-aircraft-event-other-unknown

Synopsis

CABIN ATTENDANT ADVISES THAT ROUTINE ASSIGNMENTS OF MAX DUTY DAYS COUPLED WITH MINIMUM REST PERIODS RESULTS IN UNACCEPTABLE DETERIORATION IN PERFORMANCE OF SAFETY RELATED DUTIES.

Narrative

I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO EXPRESS MY AND MY CO-WORKER'S CONCERN REGARDING ACR XXX FOLLOWING CURRENT FAA LAYOVER MINIMUM GUIDELINES OF 8 HRS. AS IT STANDS NOW; WHEN FLYING CURRENT SEQUENCES BUILT WITH 8 HR LAYOVERS AND 10-13 HRS ON DUTY; I AND MY CO-WORKERS ARE NOT SAFE FLT ATTENDANTS. FATIGUE IMPAIRS MY ABILITY TO FUNCTION WITH A CLR TRAIN OF THOUGHT; COORD; CONCENTRATION; AND SOUND JUDGEMENT. I FIND MYSELF ACTING AS IF I WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL; ESSENTIALLY I AM WORKING DRUNK! IN THIS DAY AND AGE WHEN I AND MY CO-WORKERS ARE REQUIRED TO BE EVER VIGILANT; I FIND WE ARE NOT. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I FALL ASLEEP ON MY JUMPSEAT DURING TAXI IN AND OUT OF GATES. I FORGET THE EASIEST OF TASKS; INCLUDING ARMING MY DOORS FOR TKOF AND GIVING SAFETY BRIEFINGS TO PAX ON AN EXIT ROW. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AWARE OF SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR AND ACTIONS FROM PAX; BUT WE ARE NOT. WE ARE TOO FATIGUED TO STUDY AND LOOK AND SCRUTINIZE PAX. WHEN TIRED; MOST OF US ASSUME THAT ALL THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN THE ARPT; THUS LEAVING MORE HOLES IN THE 'SWISS CHEESE' THEORY ON SECURITY. I AM WRITING TO NASA TO TELL YOU THAT FATIGUE IS A HUGE PROB THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THE TRAVELING PUBLIC IS NOT SAFE IN OUR HANDS. WE ARE NOT SAFE IN OUR OWN HANDS. CREW FATIGUE IS SO WIDESPREAD; IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OR SERIOUS INJURY OCCURS BECAUSE OF TIRED FLT ATTENDANTS. I HOPE NASA UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT PROPER CREW REST IS; AND CAN/WILL PUT PRESSURE ON THE FAA TO INCREASE FAA MINIMUM CREW LAYOVER GUIDELINES.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.