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