Originally Posted by 2StgTurbine

Turbulence injuries are the new metric to chase. I honestly can't blame them. No can of coke is worth an injury. Cabin service takes up to an hour and Flight Weather Viewer and PIREPS are never good enough to guarantee smooth air. Even if they were, there isn't much room for flexibility with the timing. On a 4-hour flight, it will take the FAs 30-40 minutes to prep the carts for service. What happens when that's when the turbulence starts? Delay the service for an hour and now you are half way through the flight. By the time they finish, it's time to prepare the cabin for landing. And what about the days when Flight Weather Viewer is just light green all over? That could mean smooth the light chop for 30 minutes, and then randomly a moderate bump.

I'm not in the cabin, so I can't really tell them how to do their job. I simply provide them with information and trust them to use their best judgment. "The flight looks smooth and I don't foresee any issues with the cabin service today." Or, "Well it's mostly smooth, but there are periods of light turbulence that can last up to 5 minutes. If you don't feel comfortable end the service." I will also call them when we reach the light stuff to let them know that this is what they should expect periodically throughout the flight.

Only one time did I "override" a FA. She was very senior but was working in the back. Her phone weather app showed radar but we just low-level showers. Perfectly smooth 4 hour flight and I called the lead to let her know the ride was good. Then I heard the aft FA call the lead FA and say, "We are going to hit those storms in 20 minutes, so we aren't doing a service." She then made a PA indicating it was not safe to do the service. I turned off the seatbelt sign and made PA about how smooth the entire flight would be.

Originally Posted by Viper25

The problem is that the FAs have now switched to a mindset where the standard is perfectly smooth air. That shouldn’t be happening. Bumpy air is still safe and allows for a service, with the understanding that it can get bad enough to not have a service. With this cultural standard of perfectly smooth air within IFS, service has fallen off a cliff compared to what it used to be, much moreso than the reduction in FA turbulence related injuries.

Originally Posted by Hubcapped

the problem is very simple….
1. There is light chop
2. FA call up and dont want to do service despite it being completely manageable
3. A FA moves at the perfect time to get injured
4. Who are they going to blame?

without top cover there is no way im putting my neck on the line as captain to “force” a service if the FAs verbalized that they “feel” its too dangerous.

They probably need to take out any subjectivity unfortunately

Originally Posted by DeltaboundRedux

“Serve with caution”.

It’s in the manual. You’re covered.

I’m looking forward to the re-constituted “in command” course offered to captains after a couple of years on the line. Get to talk to company lawyers with TMAATA and what-if scenarios.

Better remember to use the phrase though. Cockpit voice recorders are about to get a much longer tape length.

(Might just end every interphone convo with the FAs with the relevant phrase. Department of Redundancy Department rears it’s head again)

Originally Posted by 170Till5

why are we telling FA’s how to do their jobs lol.. just focus on you 😂 the god complex is strong with the pilot group

Originally Posted by 170Till5

why are we telling FA’s how to do their jobs lol.. just focus on you 😂 the god complex is strong with the pilot group

Originally Posted by DeltaboundRedux

Are you cognitively challenged? I mean, you’re here, so welcome aboard. [I guess.]

Push the buttons when ATC tells you to. I’m sure they’re always right.

In what world did I tell the flight attendants “how to do their job?” Do you have basic reading comprehension? Do you read your manuals?

“Serve with caution” is company policy. And a legal defense, should the need arise.

Originally Posted by notEnuf

Just the facts ma'am, just the facts. FWV is green indicating light turbulence, ATC says smooth reported ahead, FVW is black indicating smoothg but everyone going to ATL is reporting occasional light chop. I thought we standardized this so everyone knows what smooth, light and moderate mean.

Originally Posted by 170Till5

I think the gate agents or FA’s with their AirPod in 1 while working is a bigger issue. You can survive if a lazy FA doesn’t want to do their job. They should have mandatory retirements too. 75 year old is too frail for the job. I’ve noticed the older ones are most likely to not want to do service than the younger FA’s