I know where your coming from, but we have NEVER been order to stay at those doors during boarding. If that were the case, the boarding would be chaos. Can't get you a pillow...cant leave my door. Can't help you to your seat, 85 yr old grandma...the door. The door, the door...blah...blah...on and flight attendants do not congregate in one area (such as the first class cabin) when passengers are on board,on. See where I'm going with this. Where we ALL seem to fail is staying in our j/s and fastened during taxi. Talk about breaking a FAR.
From the FAA website:Check at the aircraft cabin that flight attendants are uniformly distributed throughout the cabin during operation of the flight, including when the aircraft is parked at the gate and during movement on the surface, inaccordance with the certificate holder's design. Sources: 8400.10, volume 3, chapter 16, section 4, paragraph 22974.
Also:
"Part 121 stipulates that flight attendants must be uniformlydistributed throughout the operation of the flight. This includes when the aircraft is in-flight, parked at the gate,moving on the surface, taking off, and landing. The mostimportant part of this requirement pertains to placing flight attendants in locations that will provide the most effective egress of passengers in the event of an emergency evacuation."
Check at the aircraft cabin that flight attendants do not congregate in one area (such as the first class cabin) when passengers are on board, in accordance with the certificate holder's design.
From the FAA website also:
"This commenter also points out that the rule makes it virtually impossible to offer the passengers any form of refreshment service while on the ground. Requiring flight attendants to be seated during taxi may result in a reduction of refreshment service. The safety benefits of having the required flight attendants at their assigned stations and ready to execute an emergency evacuation far outweigh the customer service benefits derived from early refreshment service. Also, refreshment service is not allowed during takeoff and landing because of its possible impact on safe evacuation if an emergency occurs."
My comment:Hence, a rule change in 1980:
Sec. 121.391 Flight attendants
* * * * *
(d) * * * During taxi, flight attendants required by this section must remain at their duty stations with safety belts and shoulder harnesses fastened except to perform duties related to the safety of the airplane and its occupants.
And this is in the duties of a cabin safety inspection (from the FAA website):
NOTE: Ensure that the passenger-loading door is not closed until a required crewmember verifies that each piece of carry-on luggage is properly stowed. Proper stowage includes ensuring that the overhead bins are closed. Items that cannot be stowed must be processed as checked baggage.(4)
Ensure that items such as carry-on baggage and galley supplies do not cover or in any way interfere with aircraft emergency equipment in the overhead compartments.
My comment: USAirways creates an environment that makes it difficult to do our jobs by removing closets and eliminating overhead space for the passengers. :blink:
Anyway,in our day to day efforts to do our jobs, past practice, SOP etc, does not necessarily make it right.
An airline has the right to get approved through the FAA for a stricter procedure than the regulation requires. It appears that the West policy of not going beyond the wing is a stricter interpretation.
There's so much more but this is plenty! I apologize, like etops, I guess I'm a dork in my own way too! :blush: