Originally Posted by
Timbo
I agree, and don't forget about AGE. I did fly with the Number 1 F/A a while back, MSP-NRT he's about 88 or 89 (by now) and still flying. Even the other F/A's said they hate flying with him because he's just in their way, and they are one short, since he can't really do the job!
BUT...it's not ALPA's job to fight for F/A appearance standards. Perhaps under the banner of "Safety" but that's about it. It IS the Company's responsibility to make sure their F/A's can do the job they are there for, ie. evacuate an airplane in a timely manner.
The FAA and DOT could help, all they need to do is implement some type of physical performance test into their F/A recurrent training, like pulling a 200lb. dummy out the over-wing exit, then jumping into the pool and then climbing into a life raft, and then pulling that 200lb. dummy into the raft.
Most of our International F/A's are well into their 60's, 70's and 80's, many are obese. There is no way they would be able to evacuate an airplane after a hard landing on land, let alone in the water.
Just think how many more passengers (and F/A's!) would have died in that Asiana SFO crash, if they had our International F/S's??
Good luck getting the company to do anything regarding inflight. They are their own company. They have their own budget, give out cash rewards to their own employees, get free uniforms, get paid for 'special assignments' like going to a baseball game... get holiday pay, holding pay, and overtime PPY4 or PPY6 (that's 4 to 6 hours on top of regular pay, for one or two day trips) is offered in most bases to straight pick up trips. 10 hour turns mean it's the best and highest paying part time job there is. There are FA's I know personally who take 6 months of leave, still earn full vacation for the year, then call in sick for all the summer trips. No carpet dance, phone calls or doctors notes required. Don't even get me started on the Breast Cancer Mafia... sorry if you survived any other type of cancer... no tie (or plane ride) for you!
You think Ron Allen retired? He tried to clean house at Inflight, and was never seen nor heard from again! Rumor has it they cooked him up in a nice gumbo in the FA lounge in MSY.