Cockpit and Cabin Crew Coordination

Cockpit and cabin crew coordination is crucial not only in emergencies, but also during normal operations. The purposes of this study were to determine the status of crew coordination in the industry and to identify the implications for flight safety. This examination of crew coordination included an examination of accidents and incidents in which cockpit and cabin crew coordination was a factor, an analysis of the results of surveys of pilot and flight attendant safety representatives, a survey of manuals and training programs for flight attendants and pilots, interviews with training administrators from seven Part 121 carriers, and interviews with Principal Operations Inspectors and their managers. Problem areas identified in this study included inadequate crew communication in emergencies, confusion over the sterile cockpit FAR 121.542 concept, inadequate instruction on the duties of the other crew in training, failure to properly secure the cabin for takeoff and landing, and inadequate support for and staffing of the FAA inspector workforce. Recommendations for improving the status of cockpit and cabin crew coordination include changes in training and operational procedures. Keywords Crew coordination, Emergency procedures, Air safety, Flight training, Flight attendant training.