The Hindu Business Line : Tightening the belt on cabin safety standards

ENGINES roaring, the aircraft is hurtling down the runway for take-off. But the chief flight purser, is still seen walking around in the aisle. A couple of seconds before lift-off, he settles into his seat and — almost reluctantly, it seems — straps himself in. He should have been belted up before the aircraft started its take-off run.

On another flight, the passenger sitting in the seat next to the emergency exit calls the air hostess to say that his cabin baggage is blocking the passage. He requests her to find some alternative space to stow the bag. Ten minutes later, the aircraft is airborne and the baggage is still blocking the emergency exit.

On yet another flight, a passenger's mobile phone starts beeping even as the aircraft is making the final approach for touch-down. While Airbus Industrie may be still be working on technology that would allow passengers to use their phones in-flight, this passenger is convinced that an incoming SMS is more important than the safety of the very aircraft he is flying in.

While all the above incidents did occur, fortunately there was no accident.

Disregard for safety norms laid down by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is something that needs to be taken very seriously by the airlines as the country's aviation sector witnesses an unprecedented boom.

Airlines, on their part, claim that there is absolutely no compromise ever on flight safety norms. "The primary function of the cabin crew is safety. Service is only secondary. We do not compromise at all on safety standards of our cabin crew. We have continuous training for our cabin crew and we even call in experts from leading international airlines like Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines," says a Jet Airways spokesperson.

Ms Anu Handa of Sahara Airlines, another full-service carrier in the country, agrees. "As per DGCA guidelines, all cabin crew has to qualify a couple of exams and undergo safety courses. Our crew undergoes training in safety and service for nearly eight months before they are put on flights," Ms Handa told Business Line.

As per DGCA guidelines, there has to be one cabin crew per 25 passengers. The crew has to undergo intensive training in emergency procedures and is the vital link between the flight commander and the passengers. In case of an emergency, the cabin crew can make a life or death difference to the passengers.

The reasons why cabin crew may not strictly adhere to safety norms can range from fatigue to attitude. "As humans, all of us are bound to make some mistakes. Most of the passenger complaints against cabin crew relate to service standards. While slip-ups relating to service can be overlooked, most airlines are very particular about safety issues," says Divya, an air-hostess with a leading airline.

Often, the passengers do not cooperate with cabin crew and even the politest reminder to fasten seat belts or switch off mobile phones is taken as a personal affront, she says. "How many passengers pay attention to the pre-flight safety drill that is carried out by the cabin crew? There have been instances where passengers sitting on emergency exits do not even bother to look up when they are being instructed on safety procedures and their role in the event of an accident," says Divya.

The crew has to work under tremendous stress and far from being glamorous, the job of an air-hostess is rather taxing, both physically and emotionally, she says.

But none of that can be taken as an excuse for a job not done properly, says Ms Handa. "In aviation, even small mistakes can prove very costly. We keep a close watch on our crew and if any instances of not adhering to safety norms come up, the individuals concerned are promptly sent for refresher courses in flight safety," she says.

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