jwp_145
GhostRider in the Sky
So when we all jumpseat around the country using CASS we are listed as an ACM on the manifest. Well today I actually had to step up an fulfill that role!
About halfway into a 3 hour flight on a regional jet I noticed that our flight attendant was not serving beverages and that she was in the last row of the cabin. A passenger had went to find her to see about warming up the front of the cabin and discovered that she had a suspected case of food poisoning that developed during our climb. The passenger then started going through the cabin with a trash bag collecting garbage and giving people sodas and such since the FA was not feeling well.
I guess I should say that she was technically "able" to do this, but she was really running the risk of getting ill all over everyone if she stood up for more than a few seconds. Well me being in uniform and the crew knowing I was jumpseating(they gave me a seat in the back), I asked the passenger to have a seat and said that I'd take care of it for her. I figured this owuld look better to the other pax.
So I go speak to the FA, who is white as a sheet (although I'm certain that if an emergency arose she would have been able to rise to the occasion with a boost from the adrenaline!)... so I go speak to her and tell her that I'd be more than happy to help her with her duties and ask her what I need to do. She gives me some directions and then asks me to get her a ginger-ale.
So I go up front and call the flight deck using the interphone and explain to them the situation. They already knew she was sick, but I asked if it was ok with the captain that I help the FA in getting everything buttoned up and taken care of, and also asked if they could make the PA announcements on the way into the airport. FO gives me some directions and says we are about 20min out, beginning descent, and to make sure all of the galley is buttoned up tight.
So I finish everything up that the FA and the flight deck asked me to do, and then go through the cabin asking everyone to turn their stuff off, buckle up, etc... go tell the FA that everything is done. She makes a pass through to confirm it all and then returns to the seat that the captain had directed her to remain in. We land, FO comes out, thanks me for the help, and opens the door.
I must say that it was quite an interesting experience! I've been an ACM many many times but I've never had to perform any duties as an ACM! I told my buddies back at the crashpad about it and their response was all "man that would suck to have to do", but in reality I truly didn't mind at all... in fact I was quite happy that I was there and able to lend a hand. I mean, I know that anybody with a brain could have done most of it, but I just felt that especially with the gally it was better that I was there to help out with everything, especially if we had a real emergency I could've assisted them in a more beneficial way.
Anyhoo, that was my exciting start to my 2 days off!
About halfway into a 3 hour flight on a regional jet I noticed that our flight attendant was not serving beverages and that she was in the last row of the cabin. A passenger had went to find her to see about warming up the front of the cabin and discovered that she had a suspected case of food poisoning that developed during our climb. The passenger then started going through the cabin with a trash bag collecting garbage and giving people sodas and such since the FA was not feeling well.
I guess I should say that she was technically "able" to do this, but she was really running the risk of getting ill all over everyone if she stood up for more than a few seconds. Well me being in uniform and the crew knowing I was jumpseating(they gave me a seat in the back), I asked the passenger to have a seat and said that I'd take care of it for her. I figured this owuld look better to the other pax.
So I go speak to the FA, who is white as a sheet (although I'm certain that if an emergency arose she would have been able to rise to the occasion with a boost from the adrenaline!)... so I go speak to her and tell her that I'd be more than happy to help her with her duties and ask her what I need to do. She gives me some directions and then asks me to get her a ginger-ale.
So I go up front and call the flight deck using the interphone and explain to them the situation. They already knew she was sick, but I asked if it was ok with the captain that I help the FA in getting everything buttoned up and taken care of, and also asked if they could make the PA announcements on the way into the airport. FO gives me some directions and says we are about 20min out, beginning descent, and to make sure all of the galley is buttoned up tight.
So I finish everything up that the FA and the flight deck asked me to do, and then go through the cabin asking everyone to turn their stuff off, buckle up, etc... go tell the FA that everything is done. She makes a pass through to confirm it all and then returns to the seat that the captain had directed her to remain in. We land, FO comes out, thanks me for the help, and opens the door.
I must say that it was quite an interesting experience! I've been an ACM many many times but I've never had to perform any duties as an ACM! I told my buddies back at the crashpad about it and their response was all "man that would suck to have to do", but in reality I truly didn't mind at all... in fact I was quite happy that I was there and able to lend a hand. I mean, I know that anybody with a brain could have done most of it, but I just felt that especially with the gally it was better that I was there to help out with everything, especially if we had a real emergency I could've assisted them in a more beneficial way.
Anyhoo, that was my exciting start to my 2 days off!
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