Instead, US flight attendants are typically taught to sit on their hands, palms facing the ceiling, underneath their upper legs. Other variations include clasping the hands on the knees or using one arm to “hug” the opposing arm.
They’re expected to be on their feet for most of the trip, helping passengers with their seats, bags, meals, and carryons. They get down on their hands and knees to access hard-to-reach drawers, they lift bags of ice and containers of food and drinks, and lug bulky items throughout the cabin.
And even though airlines have come a long way since the revealing hot pants and go-go dresses flight attendants sported back in the 1970s, most flight attendants agree that today’s uniforms still aren’t where they need to be. Here’s why. (Note: All of the flight attendants in this story spoke to us under the condition of anonymity.)
Even when flight attendants are on their break, sometimes passengers scope them out and ask for assistance. For the flight attendants who don’t want to be bothered, the bathroom is the perfect hideaway to keep the annoyances out of their hair. While the quarters are cramped, at least they have a moment to themselves.
What is the position of a flight attendant?
For forward-facing jumpseats, the position is the same but with the feet behind the knees.
In rear-facing seats, the attendant should be sitting with their back and head firmly against the back of the jumpseat, their knees and feet together and slightly in front of or behind the knee (depending on the individual airlines procedures)—commonly referred to as “toes to tail”. In European carriers, the hands can be placed behind the head and hands one on top of the other and the elbows brought in to meet, taking care that the forearm does not cover the ear and restrict hearing. This position provides the flight attendant protection to the face from any flying debris (as it will impact their elbows) yet still provides them with the ability to view the cabin and not muffle their commands. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not recommend placing the hands behind the neck as their research suggests such actions can cause unnecessary loading on the neck and spine during an impact. Instead, US flight attendants are typically taught to sit on their hands, palms facing the ceiling, underneath their upper legs. Other variations include clasping the hands on the knees or using one arm to “hug” the opposing arm.
Flight attendant brace positions are somewhat different due to the design of aircraft jumpseats. So far, there has been little research into the best brace position for flight attendants, though airlines have adopted positions that are very similar to one another.
The brace position as set out to airlines in the UK for passengers in forward-facing seats is based on extensive analytical work arising from Kegworth. It is subtly different from that in the United States and some other countries.
Forward-facing seat. For a forward seated passenger wearing only a lap belt, common recommendations for the brace position include: Place your head on, or as close as possible to, the surface it is most likely to strike. (For example, the bulkhead or seat in front.) Bend forward at the waist to some degree to avoid jackknifing or submarining …
Some airlines also require flight attendants to tuck their chin in to their chest (“bow to the captain”) to reduce the likelihood of whiplash injuries.
One is that adopting the brace posture is only useful for preserving dental integrity for identification after a crash; another myth is that the position is designed to increase the chance of death to reduce insurance-paid medical cost.
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