ORO.CC.205 Reduction of the number of cabin crew members during ground operations and in unforeseen circumstances

CABIN CREW PRESENT AND READY TO ACT ‘Present and ready to act’ means that cabin crew members should be awake and in a state of alertness that enables them to fulfil their responsibilities and perform their duties as required by any situation in accordance with all applicable normal and emergency procedures established in the operations manual.

UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES Unforeseen circumstances in this context refer to incapacitation and unavailability of a senior cabin crew member or a cabin crew member as follows:

(a)‘Incapacitation’ means a sudden degradation of medical fitness that occurs during flight duty period either in-flight or during a flight transit of the same flight duty period away from operator’s base and that precludes the senior cabin crew member or cabin crew member from performing his/her duties. Incapacitation prior to dispatch of the aircraft from a base of the operator does not substantiate a reduction of the cabin crew complement below the minimum required.

(b)‘Unavailability’ means circumstances at a stopover (layover) destination that preclude the senior cabin crew member or cabin crew member from reporting for the flight duty period, such as traffic jams that prevent the senior cabin crew member or cabin crew member from presenting himself/herself at the crew pick-up point in time, difficulties with local authorities, health problems, death, etc. Unavailability does not refer to insufficient number or absence of cabin crew members on standby, or absence from work due to pregnancy, maternity/paternity leave, parental leave, medical leave, sick leave, or any other absence from work.

PROCEDURES WITH REDUCED NUMBER OF CABIN CREW

(a)During ground operations, if reducing the applicable minimum required number of cabin crew, the operator should ensure that the procedures required by ORO.CC.205(c)(1) specify that:

(1)electrical power is available on the aircraft;

(2)a means of initiating an evacuation is available to the senior cabin crew member or at least one member of the flight crew is in the flight crew compartment;

(3)cabin crew stations and associated duties are specified in the operations manual; and

(4)cabin crew remain aware of the position of servicing and loading vehicles at and near the exits. Additionally, in the case of passengers’ embarkation:

(5)the senior cabin crew member should have performed the pre-boarding safety briefing to the cabin crew; and

(6)the pre-boarding cabin checks should have been completed.

(b)If, in unforeseen circumstances, the number of cabin crew members is reduced below the applicable minimum required number, for example in the event of incapacitation or unavailability of cabin crew, the procedures established for this purpose in the operations manual should take into consideration at least the following:

(1)reduction of passenger numbers;

(2)reseating of passengers with due regard to doors/exits and other applicable limitations; and

(3)relocation of cabin crew taking into account the factors specified in AMC1 ORO.CC.100 and any change of procedures.

RISK ASSESSMENT FOR CRUISE PHASE OPERATION WITH A LOWER NUMBER OF CABIN CREW MEMBERS When conducting the risk assessment required under ORO.CC.205(d), the operator should:

(a)assess the risks as relevant to the type and duration of the flight to be operated, aeroplane type, cabin configuration, passenger seating capacity, the number and qualification of the operating cabin crew members, and the particular flight duty period (FDP);

(b)determine how many cabin crew members should be present and ready to act at any time to realistically manage the normal and emergency procedures to be applied during cruise; and

(c)evaluate the time and conditions necessary for the cabin crew members taking in-flight rest to reach their assigned cabin crew stations in case of an emergency.

SPECIFIC PROCEDURES FOR CRUISE PHASE OPERATION WITH A LOWER NUMBER OF CABIN CREW MEMBERS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT

(a)When establishing the specific procedures for cruise phase operation with a lower number of cabin crew members in the passenger compartment, the operator should at least consider the following:

(1)Normal procedures including at least:

(i)surveillance of the passenger compartment, including the lavatories and the galleys;

(ii)management of, and assistance to, passengers;

(iii)crew communication and coordination, including the necessary contact with and support to the flight crew as specified by the operator.

(2)Emergency procedures including at least those to be applied in case of:

(i)medical emergency;

(ii)unruly behaviour;

(iii)unlawful interference or bomb threat;

(iv)slow depressurisation;

(v)decompression;

(vi)fire or smoke event;

(vii)emergency descent, taking into account that the procedure to be applied may vary depending on the causing event (e.g. depressurisation or fire).

(c)Specific procedures for cruise phase operation with a lower number of cabin crew should describe:

(1)how to re-assign duties and responsibilities of cabin crew members or senior crew members who take in-flight rest to another cabin crew member considering the experience and qualification of the cabin crew member or senior cabin crew member; and

(2)how cabin crew members taking in-flight rest can be again ready to act and reach their assigned cabin crew stations in case of an emergency.