Confidential Human Factors
Incident Reporting Programme
The Charity
Aviation
Maritime
FC5322(C)
Initial Report
As a Commander, I have been told by the cabin crew numerous times that they skip their meals until reaching daily sales target limit. If not reached, they are being called by the company or management to explain why they haven’t sold as much as planned.
Constant fear is present among the crew as they think they will be fired. Same issue with the commander’s discretion. Most of the cabin crew will never report fatigue as they are scared for their job. One of the colleagues was called for a meeting after stating that she would not be able to continue her duty and threatened to be fired if it happens again. This is totally unacceptable, illegal and shows pure example of misuse of commander’s discretion.
I, find this practice by my operator extremely unsafe. Safety should always be top priority, and not the profit. I don’t even want to imagine an incident or accident happening with my crew not feeling 100% ready because they didn’t eat as sales target had to be reached first.
CAA Comment
An operator’s safety policy should encourage and ensure open reporting and promote the principles of just culture. The decision to exercise discretion to extend a flying duty period rests with the commander of the aircraft based on an assessment of all influencing factors, including the fitness of the crew members. Exercise of discretion is not an individual decision, however this does not preclude a crew member from advising that they feel unable to operate owing to fatigue. This should then be reported using the appropriate method of company reporting.
CHIRP Comment
Cabin crew are on board primarily for safety and if you have not had your meal break, then you must speak up and inform the SCCM, the SCCM is responsible for managing the breaks on board and adapting the service if these breaks have not been achieved.
ORO.FTL.240 Nutrition
(a) During the FDP there shall be the opportunity for a meal and drink in order to avoid any detriment to a crew member’s performance, especially when the FDP exceeds 6 hours.
(b) An operator shall specify in its operations manual how the crew member’s nutrition during FDP is ensured.
The nourishment required from these breaks includes hydration, and not eating and/or drinking properly throughout the day will exacerbate the symptoms and feelings of tiredness, possibly leading to fatigue. One of the most common key-issue safety concerns that people report to CHIRP is ‘pressure’. When targets are set, whether they are based on sales or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), pressure can be felt to meet them, particularly when they are financially connected. Nevertheless, whether the pressure is real or perceived, the crew should not be skipping nourishing meal breaks.
The reporter remarks that the crew ‘think they will be fired’, this practice, if true, goes against the principles of a just culture. All crew should feel empowered to report their safety concerns, be they the reason that they failed to meet a sales target or because they are fatigued.