FA Vocab Flashcards
Ad Hoc
An unscheduled charter
Arm
Arming the slide or arming the door is the process of positioning, or attaching, a slide to be ready for emergency use. This is done when all doors are closed and the jetway is pushed back from the aircraft, or air stairs are removed
ABP
Able-Bodied Person. An ABP is one who can assist in an emergency
Belly
The cargo and baggage area beneath the passenger cabins
Bidding
The process by which Flight Attendants select flight schedules or vacation time. All Flight Attendants submit their bids for the following month and the flight schedule lines are awarded in seniority order. Bidding before all flights also refers to a process used on all aircraft to determine who will work which position. This bidding is also done in seniority order.
Block-to-block
When an aircraft parks at the termination of a flight, wooden or metal blocks are placed on each side of the wheels to keep the aircraft from rolling. These blocks are removed before the aircraft departs on another flight. Block-to-block time is that period of time beginning when an aircraft first moves from the ramp blocks for the purpose of flight and ending when the aircraft comes to a stop at the ramp at the next point of landing.
Boarding
The process in which passengers enter the aircraft
Buffeting
Shuddering of the aircraft in flight caused by aerodynamic disturbances
Bulkhead
An interior aircraft wall running across the aircraft to separate areas
Cabin
The interior of an aircraft where the passengers are seated
Cabin Altitude
A mechanically simulated altitude maintained in the cabin of the aircraft during flight
Captain
The person in command of the aircraft, crew members, and passengers on board. The captain is responsible for their safety and well-being. Used interchangeably with PIC (Pilot-in-Command).
Charter Flight
A revenue flight which may, or may not, be operated on a regular, published schedule. Charter flights may be operated on, or off, our regular routes and contracted for carriage of a large group of passengers or freight to meet a party’s special needs.
Commercialing
Positioning a crew on a commercial flight (i.e., American Airlines, Delta, US Airways, Southwest Airlines, etc.)
Center Aisle
An aisle that runs the length of the aircraft between the rows of seats
City/Airport Code
A 3 or 4 letter airport designator that often corresponds to the city where the airport is located
Concourse
A large hallway in an airport, which leads to an area where aircraft are parked. Tentacle-like walkways lead out in all directions from the main terminal.
Crew Call
A phone call to a Flight Attendant on the aircraft, via a telephone-like device, initiated by a pilot or another Flight Attendant.
Crew Resource Management (CRM)
Communicating with other crew members utilizing decision-making techniques, and effectively recognizing circumstances that can reduce job performance
Crew Scheduling
Office personnel who are responsible for assigning and keeping track of all flight crews and which flights they will staff
Deadheading
Positioning a crew member, either by commercial, ferry, or live flight. Deadheading can be either on an OAI or other airline’s aircraft
Decompression
The aircraft’s inability to maintain a designated cabin altitude.
Deplane
The procedure in which passengers leave the aircraft
Demo Equipment
Samples of passenger emergency equipment (i.e., life vest, seat belt, etc.) used for safety demonstration purposes
Deploy
The process in which an emergency slide is extended out of its container and positioned to be inflated
Ditching
Landing an aircraft on water
Disarm
The process of detaching or repositioning the slide (located in the door bustle) to its original normal, non-emergency, state. This is done once the aircraft is parked at the gate.
Doghouse
A totally enclosed storage area normally found behind the last row of seats in a cabin.
Domestic
Flying within the lower 48 states. This excludes Alaska and Hawaii.
Duty Time
Time computed from when you report to work until the time you are released from work; not necessarily flight times. Flight Attendants are responsible to the company during duty time.
ETA
Estimated Time of Arrival. The time at which a flight is expected to arrive at a particular station.
ETD
Estimated Time of Departure. The time at which a flight is expected to depart from a particular station.
Evacuation
The procedure by which passengers are deplaned in the quickest and most orderly manner for emergency purposes.
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration. The government agency that deals with airline and aircraft safety and emergency procedures.
Inboard
Nearest the center of the aircraft
Inbound
The aircraft, crew, freight, and anyone or anything arriving at an airport or coming in from a flight.
Inflight Operations
An office set up to serve Flight Attendants’ needs.
Inflight Service Report
Form used by the Purser/Lead Flight Attendant to have crew sign for/be assigned positions for a flight.
Intermediate Stop
A stop at a city or cities between the originating and terminating points of flight.
Interphone
A phone on the aircraft that is used for communication between crew members.
International Flights
All flights operated to, from, or outside of the United States of America.
IOE
Initial Operating Experience. A Flight Attendant’s first flight after classroom training. A FAA requirement (at least 5 hours in length) that tests onboard competency.
IRO
International Relief Officer
ISC
Inflight Support Coordinator
Jetway
Enclosed tunnel-like passageway between the aircraft and the terminal gate area, which is power–driven and controlled by an agent.
Jumpseat
Seat located in the cabin of the aircraft and used only by Flight Attendants for take offs and landings.
Lav
Lavatory. A restroom on an aircraft.
Layover
A period of rest time spent at a station other than the base station following the termination of a flight.
Leading Edge (of the wing
The forward edge of the wings.
Leg (of a flight)
The in-flight segment between stops.
Minimum Crew
The smallest number of crew members required on each aircraft by the FAA.
Non-Revenue Passenger
Passengers who have not paid for their tickets (usually airline personnel). Any person traveling on a pass is subject to space availability. Flight Attendants should be able to locate non-revs onboard in case of lack of space and/or meal shortage.
OAI
Omni Air International.
Operations
The office which serves as a combination of crew scheduling, cabin service, flight information, including weather data, etc.
Originating
The station where an aircraft begins and is assigned a new flight number. A crew originates at the station where they started their assignment for the day.
Outboard
Away from the fuselage, toward the wing tip.
Outbound
Anyone or anything (i.e., aircraft, crew baggage, etc.) leaving a station going out on a flight.
Overhead Bin
An enclosed area directly over a passenger’s seat that can be used for carry-on storage.
Pax
Passenger
P.A.
Public Address. Information given to passengers onboard the aircraft.
PCB
Purser’s Catering Brief. A briefing that explains all aspects and requirements of service onboard an aircraft for a flight or series of flights. Previously known as Leads Catering and Operations Brief (LCOB).
PCU
Passenger Control Unit. Controls in the armrest containing f/a call button, controls for lights and audio, and reading lights.
Per Diem
A meal expense. Paid from the time a crew member leaves his/her base until he/she returns to base, plus thirty (30) minutes.
Planned Emergency
A situation expected to happen, i.e., an anticipated emergency landing (an emergency landing in which an emergency is expected to occur upon landing and is known prior to that).
PIC
Pilot-in-Command
Pre-boarding
The act of boarding passengers that need to be boarded before other passengers, i.e., passengers with disabilities, families with small children, etc.
Pre-departure
Time before the aircraft leaves the gate.
Probation
9 month period of evaluation by the company immediately after employment.
Purser/Lead Flight Attendant
The Flight Attendant responsible to coordinate, lead, and direct the activities of the other Flight Attendants. Previously known as Lead Flight Attendant or LFA.
Pushback
Backward movement of an aircraft when it is leaving the gate.
Ramp
The area in front of the terminal where the aircraft is parked.
Ramp Agent
A person working the ground operations.
Reserve
The status of a Flight Attendant who does not have an assigned schedule. A Flight Attendant on reserve may be used to work a trip when someone is sick, on vacation, or late for his/her assigned flight.
Revenue (Tickets or Passengers)
Tickets that are paid for, or people who pay for airline tickets.
Safety Information Card
Cards located in each passenger seat explaining the location and operation of emergency equipment on the aircraft.
Scheduled Charter
A charter flown on a regular basis, i.e., daily, weekly, bi-weekly.
Seniority System
The system used involving all Omni Flight Attendants to determine their priority within the ranks of the Flight Attendants.
Stacking
Maintaining an altitude separation (usually 1,000 feet) between aircraft in the vicinity of an airport, waiting to land.
Station
An airport.
Stow
To place articles in a safe place for takeoff and landing.
Tailwinds
Winds that aid the progress of the aircraft through the air.
Taxiing
When the aircraft is moving into position for takeoff or moving toward the gate after landing.
Terminal
Airport
Trailing Edge (of the wing
The aft (rear) edge of the wing.
TSU
Tray Service Unit. A tray containing all side dishes of the passenger meal. The entrée is added to the TSU prior to serving.
Turbulence
Variations in air movements causing the aircraft to move up, down, or sideways in short, jerky motions caused by weather and air currents.
Unplanned Emergen
A situation that is not expected to happen, i.e., an unanticipated emergency landing is one that happens without warning.
Wide-Bodied Aircraft
An aircraft with 2 aisles.
Zulu Time
The primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). It is a world time standard used in aviation and military operations, as well as others.
