NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Evaluation of Flight Attendant Technical KnowledgeAccident and incident reports have indicated that flight attendants have numerous opportunities to provide the flight-deck crew with operational information that may prevent or lessen the severity of a potential problem. Additionally, as carrier fleets transition from three person to two person flight-deck crews, the reliance upon the cabin crew for the transfer of this information may increase further. Recent research indicates that flight attendants do not feel confident in their ability to describe mechanical parts or malfunctions of the aircraft, and the lack of flight attendant technical training has been referenced in a number of recent reports. Chute and Wiener describe five factors which may produce communication barriers between cockpit and cabin crews: the historical background of aviation, the physical separation of the two crews, psychosocial issues, regulatory factors, and organizational factors. By examining these areas of division we can identify possible bridges and address the implications of deficient cockpit/cabin communication on flight safety. Flight attendant operational knowledge may provide some mitigation of these barriers. The present study explored both flight attendant technical knowledge and flight attendant and pilot expectations of flight attendant technical knowledge. To assess the technical knowledge of cabin crewmembers, 177 current flight attendants from two U.S. carriers voluntarily completed a 13-item technical quiz. To investigate expectations of flight attendant technical knowledge, 181 pilots and a second sample of 96 flight attendants, from the same two airlines, completed surveys designed to capture each group's expectations of operational knowledge required of flight attendants. Analyses revealed several discrepancies between the present level of flight attendant operational knowledge and pilots' and flight attendants' expected and desired levels of technical knowledge. Implications for training will be discussed.
Document ID
20020041190
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Dunbar, Melisa G.
(San Jose State Univ. Moffett Field, CA United States)
Chute, Rebecca D.
(Sterling Software, Inc. Moffett Field, CA United States)
Rosekind, Mark
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1997
Subject Category
Air Transportation And Safety
Meeting Information
Meeting: Ninth International Symposium on Aviation Psychology
Location: Columbus, OH
Country: United States
Start Date: April 27, 1997
End Date: May 1, 1997
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC2-232
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available