Unit 10

• Cabin crew must ensure they are medically fit to fly at all times when reporting for duty
• Initial medical assessment for cabin crew includes checks on the digestive system, eyesight, hearing, heart, lung functions, and ear, nose, and throat to ensure pressure changes won't cause problems
• After passing the initial medical assessment, the responsibility for maintaining physical fitness and strength lies with the cabin crew member
• Some regulators require ongoing medical checks at regular intervals to prove that crew members remain physically fit for duty
• Cabin crew must prepare to work for the maximum permitted number of hours when reporting for a flight, regardless of the assigned flight, as operations can change with short notice
• Fatigue in aviation refers to a reduction in performance due to lack of sleep, which can lead to incidents like inadvertent slide deployment
• Training in managing fatigue is being introduced among IATA member airlines, with key principles including ensuring enough and good quality sleep, taking short naps, recognizing natural body clock cycles, managing home life and responsibilities, social activities, and eating properly
• Key principles of managing fatigue for cabin crew:

  • Ensure they get enough sleep, ideally around 8 hours per night
  • Ensure good quality sleep by creating a conducive environment for rest
  • Take short naps when possible
  • Recognize their natural body clock cycle (circadian rhythm) and rest accordingly
  • Manage home life and responsibilities to avoid interruptions in rest
  • Manage social activities to allow sufficient rest and recovery time
  • Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet at regular intervals
• Cabin crew must comply with strict rules regarding alcohol, drugs, and psychoactive substances, as these negatively affect their ability to perform their work properly

  
• Alcohol consumption regulations for cabin crew:

  • Alcohol must not be consumed within 8 hours prior to starting a duty or while on duty
  • Blood alcohol level must not exceed 0.2 ml/0.007oz per liter/35oz, or 0.2 for every thousand units of measurement when starting a duty
• Psychoactive drugs, including illegal substances, are strictly forbidden for cabin crew as they affect their ability to perform safety duties and manage emergencies
• Random testing may be carried out to check that cabin and flight crew are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs while at work
• Cabin crew should avoid taking antihistamines, anti-sickness, or other medications that could make them drowsy or sleepy while on a flying duty
• Cabin crew can encounter stress due to factors like time constraints, working at night, passenger demands, and technical problems
• Cabin crew should manage the effects of stress on every flight to prevent long-term negative effects, recognizing symptoms in themselves and colleagues and offering help
• Stress management tips for cabin crew:

  • Maintain an active lifestyle
  • Take control of problems
  • Connect with people for support
  • Avoid using substances like alcohol or caffeine to cope
• Initial medical assessment for cabin crew includes checks on the digestive system, eyesight, hearing, heart, lung functions, as well as the ear, nose, and throat to ensure pressure changes won't cause additional problems
• Some regulators require ongoing medical checks at regular intervals to prove that crew members remain physically fit for duty
• Cabin crew have to prepare themselves to work for the maximum permitted number of hours when reporting for a flight, regardless of the assigned flight, as operations can change with short notice
• Fatigue in aviation describes a reduction in performance due to lack of sleep, which can lead to incidents like inadvertent slide deployment
• Training in managing fatigue is being introduced among IATA member airlines, with principles applicable across airlines
• Key principles of managing fatigue for cabin crew include ensuring they get enough sleep, good quality sleep, taking short naps, recognizing their natural body clock cycle, managing home life and responsibilities, managing social activities, and eating properly
• Controlled rest procedures can help increase alertness during later flight phases and should be used with other fatigue management measures like physical exercise, bright cockpit illumination, balanced eating and drinking, and intellectual activity
• Cabin crew should recognize their natural body clock cycle and rest appropriately to ensure better quality sleep
• Cabin crew should manage personal responsibilities and home life, informing others at home when they need rest to avoid interruptions
• Social activities should be managed to allow sufficient rest and recovery time before work duties
• Cabin crew should ensure they eat a healthy, well-balanced diet to aid recovery, sleep, and energy levels for flying duties
• Fatigue management for cabin crew involves getting enough sleep, understanding the effects of fatigue on performance, and implementing strategies for managing fatigue

  
• Cabin crew can manage their circadian rhythms by following controlled rest procedures, managing social activities, and maintaining a healthy diet

  
• All staff involved in aircraft safety, including cabin crew, must comply with strict rules regarding the consumption of alcohol, drugs, or other psychoactive substances
• Regulations state that alcohol must not be consumed within eight hours prior to starting a duty or while on duty, and cabin crew's blood alcohol level must not exceed specific limits
• Psychoactive drugs, including illegal substances, are strictly forbidden for cabin crew as they can affect their ability to perform safety duties and manage emergencies
• Random testing may be conducted to ensure cabin crew are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs while at work, with serious consequences for individuals and negative publicity for the airline
• Recognizing stress is crucial for cabin crew as excessive stress can impact communication and customer service; stress can arise from time constraints, working at night, passenger demands, and technical problems
• Cabin crew should manage the effects of stress on every flight to prevent long-term negative effects, recognizing symptoms in themselves and colleagues and utilizing stress coping strategies
• Long-term exposure to stress can lead to mental and physical health problems, including anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, and digestive issues
• To manage stress effectively, cabin crew are advised to maintain an active lifestyle, take control of problems, connect with others for support, avoid relying on substances like alcohol or caffeine, and adopt a positive attitude
• Cabin crew role encompasses a variety of skills: firefighters, nurses, doctors, carers, waiters, waitresses, security agents, baggage handlers, and ticket sales staff

  
• Motivations for becoming cabin crew vary: younger crew seek variety and a non-office job, while older crew may join after their children have grown up
• Cabin crew develop a variety of skills due to the varied nature of their job, making them desirable in the wider job market