Document
March 2014
Seattle, WA
Linda Connell
Program Director, NASA ASRS
Cabin Safety Issues Related to Pre-Departure and Inflight Issues
InfoShare - Cabin
March 2014
General and Cabin Attendant Intake Cabin Attendant Related Events - General Overview
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ASRS Reporting Cabin Safety Issues Related to Pre- Departure and Inflight Issues
Aviation Safety Reporting System
Topics of Discussion
March 2014
ASRS Reporting
March 2014 Airline Safety Action Program (ASAP) and Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP) reports Aviation Safety Reporting System
Report Processing Flow
March 2014 Monthly Intake January 1981 – December 2013 Aviation Safety Reporting System 37 years of confidential safety reporting Over 1,150,000 reports received Over 5,800 alert messages issued Over 6,700 reports per month, or 323 per working day Total report intake for 2013 was 80,840 Current rate estimate for 2014 is over 90,000
ASRS Report Volume Profile
March 2014 added continuously More airline programs being Methodology compatible with numerous software platforms ASRS Electronic Transmission 5 Ground Crew 76 Air Carriers 181 Total Programs 74 Pilot 44 Mechanic 39 Dispatch 19 Flight Attendant 179 Programs 75 Airlines 26% of all reports are matched to unique events in 2013 • • • • • • • • • Overall ASAP Intake Reporting Groups Secure Electronic Data connection protocols between airline and ASRS
ASAP Reporting to ASRS
March 2014 Aviation Safety Reporting System These products and services fulfill the program’s mission to disseminate safety data
ASRS Products
March 2014 n = 80,840 Source: 100% ASRS Report Data
Incident Reporter Distribution January – December 2013
March 2014 n = 17,610 Source: 100% ASRS Report Data
Flight Attendant Intake 2008 – 2013
n = 3,923 March 2014 Source: 100% ASRS Report Data Aviation Safety Reporting System Categories are not mutually exclusive. Therefore, a single incident may be coded by ASRS analysts as involving more than one anomaly.
Flight Attendant Intake – Top Ten Anomalies January – December 2013
March 2014
January 2012 – Present
General Overview of
Primary Analysis Records
ASRS Cabin Incident Records
March 2014 n = 146 Categories are not mutually exclusive. Therefore, a single incident may be coded by ASRS analysts as involving more than one anomaly. Source: NASA ASRS Database
Cabin Incidents Event Anomaly
March 2014 9 9 4 2 1 1 8 4 2 n = 146 37 25 20 14 10 Count Aircraft Type B737 B757 A319/320/321 B767 B777 B747 MD80 Series Dash 8 -200,-400, Q400 EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR Candair Regional Jet (200, 500, 700, 900) Commercial Fixed W ing W idebody Transport Embraer 145 A330 Source: NASA ASRS Database
Cabin Incidents Aircraft Type
March 2014
Inflight Safety Issues
Cabin Incident Reports
Related to Pre-Departure and
March 2014
• FAR related issues • Required crew for boarding • Jet bridge concerns
Pre-Departure Issues
Pre-Departure Issues
March 2014 The aircraft The aircraft The FAR for overhead bin The FAR for overhead bin As soon as I left the immediate area, the As soon as I left the immediate area, the The FAR for stacked luggage in the closet was The FAR for stacked luggage in the closet was Contrary to policy and Flight Attendant direction, a gate agent closed the cabin door before the cabin was fully prepared.
Aviation Safety Reporting System ACN 1122923 Excerpt) ACN 1122923 Excerpt) “I told her we may have additional bags to check. I also told her not to close the aircraft entry door until I could get the overhead bins closed. agent Supervisor told [another Flight Attendant] that they had to go and proceeded to close the entry door. was violated. violated since additional oversized bags were on the plane and the only option was to stack them in the forward closet. entry door was closed 5 minutes before scheduled departure time.” ( “I told her we may have additional bags to check. I also told her not to close the aircraft entry door until I could get the overhead bins closed. agent Supervisor told [another Flight Attendant] that they had to go and proceeded to close the entry door. was violated. violated since additional oversized bags were on the plane and the only option was to stack them in the forward closet. entry door was closed 5 minutes before scheduled departure time.” (
Pre-Departure Issues
March 2014 they had they had One Agent ran down the One Agent ran down the . Unknown to us, . Unknown to us, the agents asked who we were, the agents asked who we were, The pilots were with us. The The pilots were with us. The Two flight attendants report how agents began to board passengers before the flight crew had arrived. They were surprised to discover that neither pilots or flight attendants were on board.
“[When we] arrived at the gate so we stated the working crew. agents looked surprised about this already started boarding the aircraft. jetbridge to stop boarding. We stated that all passengers needed to deplane so we could do our emergency equipment checks, etc. The passengers deplaned aircraft and the Agent stated that a bag was still onboard. We asked that the bag be removed by the Agent before we board ourselves.” (ACN 1122661 Excerpt) “[When we] arrived at the gate so we stated the working crew. agents looked surprised about this already started boarding the aircraft. jetbridge to stop boarding. We stated that all passengers needed to deplane so we could do our emergency equipment checks, etc. The passengers deplaned aircraft and the Agent stated that a bag was still onboard. We asked that the bag be removed by the Agent before we board ourselves.” (ACN 1122661 Excerpt) Aviation Safety Reporting System Aviation Safety Reporting System
Pre-Departure Issues
March 2014 Agent stated that Agent stated that the jet bridge was unable the jet bridge was unable A B757-200 Flight Attendant reported a jetway which would park no closer than 4 inches from the aircraft leaving a gap wide enough for an inattentive passenger leg or child to fall through.
“While deplaning at this specific gate, to completely butt up against aircraft. There was a gap of at least 4 inches between the aircraft and bridge. at this gate that was the closest the bridge would go, no ramp to bridge gap. Agent stated this is an on going problem with this gate. Totally unsafe, I was able to put my leg past my knee through the gap. A child could easily fall and be seriously hurt.” (ACN 1083321 Excerpt) “While deplaning at this specific gate, to completely butt up against aircraft. There was a gap of at least 4 inches between the aircraft and bridge. at this gate that was the closest the bridge would go, no ramp to bridge gap. Agent stated this is an on going problem with this gate. Totally unsafe, I was able to put my leg past my knee through the gap. A child could easily fall and be seriously hurt.” (ACN 1083321 Excerpt) Aviation Safety Reporting System Aviation Safety Reporting System
Pre-Departure Issues
March 2014 • Passenger Misconduct • Smoke in the Cabin
Reported In-flight Issues
In-Flight Issues
” ” March 2014 he he When he was told When he was told He was reseated to 20J and He was reseated to 20J and He kicked a hole in the fuselage [sidewall].
He kicked a hole in the fuselage [sidewall].
B777 Flight Attendant describes a violent passenger that is eventually subdued by passengers and crew and cuffed.
Aviation Safety Reporting System Aviation Safety Reporting System “Passenger became irate over his seat and wanted to move from 44C near the bathroom, to B/C or F/C. by another flight attendant that he had to stay in his cabin, became violent and hit the Number 6. It took 5 men to subdue him and put the flex cuffs on him. when I got off of break, about 30 min. later (or more. don't know the time), he was still thrashing around. He managed to get his arms forward by slipping them under his butt and through his legs. His hands were now in front. He was biting crew and passengers, as well as kicking. (ACN 1125956 Excerpt) “Passenger became irate over his seat and wanted to move from 44C near the bathroom, to B/C or F/C. by another flight attendant that he had to stay in his cabin, became violent and hit the Number 6. It took 5 men to subdue him and put the flex cuffs on him. when I got off of break, about 30 min. later (or more. don't know the time), he was still thrashing around. He managed to get his arms forward by slipping them under his butt and through his legs. His hands were now in front. He was biting crew and passengers, as well as kicking. (ACN 1125956 Excerpt)
In-Flight Issues – Passenger Misconduct
March 2014 I asked passengers to put on I asked passengers to put on saw a thick cloud of smoke quickly saw a thick cloud of smoke quickly …I decided to look for the Emergency …I decided to look for the Emergency Passengers began to ring call lights and to Passengers began to ring call lights and to B757 cabin crew describe a cabin smoke event caused by an engine malfunction and diversion to the nearest suitable airport.
Aviation Safety Reporting System Aviation Safety Reporting System “…looked into the cabin and taking over the cabin. complain. I quickly called the Captain…. He responded and told me he was aware of the emergency and his plan to land ASAP. I gathered the Halon, and walked around [with] oxygen and PBE. I walked over to [another Flight Attendant] who was checking…for possible sources of fire. checklist and were able to read up to 9. It was very difficult to read and make sense of this chart, in part do to the low visibility and the oxygen mask over my face. the life vest…as precaution. After a safe landing…I continued to stay on the PA and kept them informed of the situation. (ACN 1124569 Excerpt) “…looked into the cabin and taking over the cabin. complain. I quickly called the Captain…. He responded and told me he was aware of the emergency and his plan to land ASAP. I gathered the Halon, and walked around [with] oxygen and PBE. I walked over to [another Flight Attendant] who was checking…for possible sources of fire. checklist and were able to read up to 9. It was very difficult to read and make sense of this chart, in part do to the low visibility and the oxygen mask over my face. the life vest…as precaution. After a safe landing…I continued to stay on the PA and kept them informed of the situation. (ACN 1124569 Excerpt)
In-Flight Issues
March 2014
QUESTIONS?
Aviation Safety Reporting System March 2014 (408) 541-2827
CONTACT INFO
Linda.J.Connell@nasa.gov Linda Connell, NASA ASRS Program Director Aviation Safety Reporting System