FLT ATTENDANTS REGULARLY OPEN CABIN DOORS TO COOL THE CABIN; BUT FAIL MONITOR THE OPEN DOORS WHEN PAX BOARD THE ACFT.
Synopsis
FLT ATTENDANTS REGULARLY OPEN CABIN DOORS TO COOL THE CABIN; BUT FAIL MONITOR THE OPEN DOORS WHEN PAX BOARD THE ACFT.
Narrative
THIS RPT HIGHLIGHTS A SAFETY PROB OF FLT ATTENDANTS OPENING THE FORWARD AND AFT SVC DOORS. OFTEN WHEN IT IS WARM IN THE CABIN; THE FLT ATTENDANTS HAVE AN UNSAFE HABIT OF OPENING THE SVC DOORS FOR FRESH AIR. IF SOMEONE INADVERTENTLY LEANS AGAINST THE DOOR THAT IS AJAR; SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD RESULT FROM THEIR FALL. THEY OPEN THE DOORS IRRESPECTIVE IF PAX ARE ON OR OFF THE ACFT. I REPEATEDLY ASK FLT ATTENDANTS WHY THEY OPENED THE DOORS; AND THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS THE SAME: 'IT'S HOT IN THE CABIN.' NEVER DO I SENSE THAT THEY THINK AN OPEN DOOR IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS SIMPLY NOT WORTH THE POTENTIAL RISK OF INJURY TO HAVE SOME FRESH AIR. I HAVE OBSERVED THE 'A' FLT ATTENDANT LEAVE THE FORWARD GALLEY TO ASSIST AN ELDERLY PAX IN ROW 2 WITH STOWAGE OF CARRY-ON LUGGAGE; ALL THE WHILE THE FORWARD R SVC DOOR IS OPEN; AND PAX STANDING IN LINE/BOARDING. ALL IT WOULD TAKE WOULD BE FOR A CURIOUS 2 YR OLD TO DART FROM THEIR MOTHER AND GO TOWARDS THE OPEN FORWARD R DOOR. THE CONSEQUENCES OF A FALL COULD BE TRAGIC. THIS ISSUE IS BECOMING COMMON PRACTICE AS OFTEN THE APU IS NOT STARTED UNTIL SEVERAL MINS PRIOR TO PUSHBACK (AS SOME PLTS SEEM TO BE SAVING A LITTLE TOO MUCH FUEL); WHEREAS A YR AGO IT WAS COMMON PRACTICE TO START THE APU AS SOON AS BOARDING BEGAN. AS I HEARD ONE CAPT TELL A FLT ATTENDANT WHO ASKED TO HAVE THE APU STARTED (IN ZZZ ON A FULL FLT). 'THEY'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO SUFFER -- IT'S NOT TIME TO GO YET.' BUT MORE COMMON; MANY CAPT SIMPLY WON'T START THE APU UNTIL THE LAST MIN; SUBSEQUENTLY; THE FLT ATTENDANTS WON'T SAY ANYTHING -- THEY'LL JUST OPEN THEIR SVC DOORS. YES; IT IS A PROB. WRITE A REVISION FOR THE FLT ATTENDANT MANUAL TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE: CAUTION: TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM FALLING FROM THE ACFT; NEVER OPEN A FORWARD OR AFT SVC DOOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF FRESH AIR VENTILATION. IF AN OPEN SVC DOOR IS OBSERVED (EXCEPT WHEN THE DOOR IS PROPERLY MATED WITH A CATERING TRUCK; OR FOR TRASH REMOVAL); IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FLT ATTENDANT WHO OBSERVED AN OPEN DOOR TO CLOSE IT. IF THE CABIN IS TOO WARM FOR BOARDING; ASK THE CAPT OR FO; 'COULD YOU PLEASE TURN ON THE APU FOR SOME COOL AIR IN THE CABIN.'
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.