CABIN CREW TRAINING, GENERAL POINTS FOR KNOWLEDGE

Definitions

Cabin Crew Nodal Officer

A person responsible for cabin crew training and cabin crew operations nominated by the airline and accepted by the Directorate General Civil Aviation.

Cabin Crew

A crew member other than a flight crew member detailed to carry out such duties as may be assigned, in the interests of safety of the passengers, by the operator or the pilot in command of the aircraft.

Cabin Crew Incharge(CCIC)

An operator shall nominate a CCIC whenever more than one cabin crew is assigned, who is entrusted with the responsibility of leading the team of cabin crew on board the aircraft. However, if a single flight sector is of duration more than 6 hours the CCIC shall be in addition to the minimum cabin crew required for the aircraft type operated. The Cabin Crew Incharge shall be responsible to the commander of the aircraft for the conduct and coordination of normal and emergency procedures as specified in the Training Manual/Operations Manual. 

Check Cabin Crew

A cabin crew with relevant experience identified and trained by the airline to carry out periodic checks on the online cabin crew, surveillance of cabin. 

Type of Aircraft / Aircraft Variant

For the purpose of cabin crew training and operations, variants of an aircraft type are considered to be different types if they are not similar in all of the following aspects:

1. Emergency exits operations.
2. Location and type of safety equipments.
3. Emergency Procedures. 

CABIN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRAINING

Introduction

Crew Resource Management (CRM) should be the effective utilization of all available resources (e.g. crew members, aircraft systems, and supporting facilities) to achieve safe and efficient operation.

1. The objective of CRM should be to enhance the communication and management skills of the crew member, as well as the importance of effective co-ordination and two-way communication between all crew members.
2. CRM training should reflect the culture of the operator, the scale and scope of the operation together with associated operating procedures and areas of operation which produce particular difficulties. 

General Principles for CRM Training for Cabin Crew

1. Cabin crew CRM training should focus on issues related to cabin crew duties. The co-ordination of the tasks and functions of flight crew and cabin crew shall also be addressed.
2. Operators shall provide combined training for flight crew and cabin crew at the earliest but not later than 2 years after the completion of Initial Training. This training shall be carried out by cabin crew CRM instructor and flight crew CRM instructor. This is of particular importance for experienced cabin crew members.
3. CRM principles shall be integrated into relevant parts of cabin crew training.
4. CRM training should include group discussions and the review of accidents and incidents (case based studies).
5. Whenever it is practicable to do so, relevant parts of CRM training should form part of the training conducted in cabin mock-ups or aircraft.
6. Introductory CRM Course and Operator’s CRM Training may be combined.

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications for Cabin Safety Personnel

Cabin Crew

The following requirements, applicable to cabin crew, are indicative of the minimum qualifications:

Medical Standards

A cabin crew shall undergo Medical Examination for aircrew at the time of induction. Repeat medical examination shall be carried out at the interval of two years up to the age of forty years and subsequently medical examination shall be carried out at an interval of one year. Cabin crew is required to be physically active, mentally alert and comfortable in aircraft environment/emergencies. These shall be the guiding principle for medical assessment of the cabin crew. Medical assessment requirement will be published by DGCA. 

Experience Requirements

Cabin Crew Incharge

Any cabin crew who has a minimum of one year as a cabin crew with a total flying experience of 1000 hours, attained the age of 21 years and demonstrates good leadership qualities shall be designated as Cabin Crew Incharge after successful completion of the training programme and the assessment prescribed. A minimum of 50 hours of flying experience shall be required on new aircraft type before exercising privileges as cabin crew incharge on the new type. For new aircraft type, the pass percentage shall be 90% for cabin crew incharge and line cabin crew. 

Check Cabin Crew

A Cabin Crew Incharge with an operating experience of 1 year in this capacity shall be designated as check cabin crew after undergoing one day orientation course on auditing principles/line checks. The privilege of check cabin crew includes conduct of check flights for other line cabin crewmembers/cabin crew incharge, conduct surveillance flights on aircrafts. These privileges shall be exercised only during the currency of their qualification on the respective aircraft type. 

Safety and Emergency Procedures (SEP) Instructor

1. Engineering Graduate; or
2. 02 year of experience as Check Cabin Crew/ 03 years of experience as Cabin Crew Incharge.
3. For aircrafts with seating capacity up to 20 seats, a cabin crew with continuous ten years experience on commercial aircraft. 

Cabin Crew CRM (Crew Resource Management) Instructor

DGCA approved SEP Instructor with a minimum of 02 years of teaching experience or a pilot CRM instructor; successfully undergone an approved CRM facilitator course may be approved to act as CRM facilitator for cabin crew after assessment by the Training Organization/DGCA.

First Aid Instructor

Shall be a doctor holding MBBS degree and familiar with the aircraft environment; preferably Post Graduate in Aviation Medicine. 

Various Types of Cabin Crew Manuals

All operators shall prepare a Training Manual. The manual shall detail the training programme for Cabin Safety Personnel. This manual shall be approved by DGCA. 

The operator shall prepare a Cabin Crew SEP Manual. This manual should be based on the Training Manual/ procedures prescribed by the manufacturer, DGCA, procedures evolved by the organization. 

The operator shall prepare Quick Reference Handbook outlining various SEP procedures for quick reference by the Cabin Crew. Each cabin crew shall carry an updated copy of the QRH during conduct of each flight.

Three controlled Copies of Cabin Crew SEP Manual shall be submitted along with the Training Manual to the DGCA. Two cabin crew SEP manuals shall be available on board; one in the cockpit and the other shall be placed at a designated place in the cabin for easy access.