Three flight attendants report high cabin heat during boarding due to high outside air temperatures and malfunctioning ground equipment.
Synopsis
Three flight attendants report high cabin heat during boarding due to high outside air temperatures and malfunctioning ground equipment.
Narrative
The air wasn't working well enough to keep up with the outside temperature. Boarding a hot plane with warm ground service air and returning on the same warm plane caused the B Flight Attendant to become ill from the heat. We had a change of pilot crew in (city) and our Captain tried to do everything possible to get us cool air or a change of aircraft. The back in particular was excessively hot. The B was unable to continue flying and was visibly ill from the heat. I landed for her in the back so she could get some cooler air up front; but she had to call in sick. We were told by Maintenance that we were getting the required minimum air and the aircraft swap was canceled.Stop flying around planes with broken APU's and air blowing at only 'required minimums'. Turn the gaspers back on for the whole flight to cool these planes. Fix the ground air at ALL gates where it isn't working. Stop blowing in warm air on the ground into an already hot plane. This is creating an unsafe environment for the crew and paying passengers.
Second reporter narrative
Our gate was not provided with cool air ground service. We had warm-hot air blowing out of the gaspers. Passengers were complaining; and one was throwing up from being over-heated. We asked the pilots if there was anything they could do and the Captain stated that the ground service was hooked up. It doesn't help cool the plane if ground is only blowing in warm air. Shades were closed; and all vents were open blowing warm air on an already over-heated cabin.Fix the air on the ground. Blowing the triple digit outside air into the cabin to give the illusion that there is ground service only aggravates the situation. This is creating an unsafe environment for the crew and passengers due to excessive heat. In the meantime; pilots should start the APU (if it works!) and get the cabin some air.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.