- Definition of ‘cabin crew’
- Medical fitness
- Practical ‘raft’ training
- Instructor and Examiner being the same person – conflict of interest
- Cabin Crew Attestation
- Fire and smoke training (Aircrew Regulation)
Definition of ‘cabin crew’
What is the definition of ‘cabin crew member’?
Reference: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew, Article 2 ‘Definitions’.
Article 2 ‘Definitions’ defines ‘cabin crew member’ as follows:
Reference: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew, Article 2 ‘Definitions’.
Article 2 ‘Definitions’ defines ‘cabin crew member’ as follows:
(11) “Cabin crew member” means an appropriately qualified crew member, other than a flight crew or technical crew member, who is assigned by an operator to perform duties related to the safety of passengers and flight during operations;
Does the definition of ‘aircrew’ include cabin crew members?
Reference: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew, Article 2 ‘Definitions’.
Yes, the definition of ‘aircrew’ includes a cabin crew member as well.
Article 2 ‘Definitions’ defines ‘aircrew’ as follows:
(12) “Aircrew” means flight crew and cabin crew;
Medical fitness
Is Cabin Crew Member required to carry his/her medical certificate when on duty?
Reference: Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew, Annex IV Part-MED and ED Decision 2011/015/R are available on EASA website.
EU legislation does not contain any provisions on the carriage of a medical report when on duty. MED.C.030(a)(2) requires cabin crew members to provide the related information of their medical report or the copy of their medical report to the operator(s) employing their services. MED.C.030(b) requires the cabin crew medical report to indicate the date of the aero-medical assessment, whether the cabin crew member has been assessed fit or unfit, the date of the next aero-medical assessment and, if applicable, any limitation(s). Any other elements shall be subject to medical confidentiality in accordance with MED.A.015.
Cabin crew members are encouraged to carry their medical report or a copy while on duty to attest their medical fitness and limitation(s). The operator may also have procedures in place through which a cabin crew member’s medical report can be readily available upon request by a competent authority.
Decrease of medical fitness and an ‘unfit’ medical report.
Reference: Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew, Annex IV Part-MED and ED Decision 2011/015/R are available on EASA website.
In case of a decrease in cabin crew member’s medical fitness, the cabin crew member shall, without undue delay, seek the advice of an aero-medical examiner or aero-medical centre or, where allowed by the Member State, an occupational health medical practitioner who will assess the medical fitness of the individual and decide if the cabin crew member is fit to resume his/her duties.
In case a cabin crew member has been assessed as ‘unfit’, the cabin crew member has the right of a secondary review. The cabin crew member shall not perform duties on an aircraft and shall not exercise the privileges of their cabin crew attestation until assessed as ‘fit’ again.
Where can I find the EU medical requirements for Cabin Crew?
References:
Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew, Annex IV Part-MED.
ED Decision 2011/015/R containing AMC and GM.
All the referenced regulations are available on EASA website.
NOTE: This FAQ only provides an overview of the area-content covered by the individual Subparts A, C and D of the Reg. 1178/2011. The medical requirements for cabin crew are extensive in text, therefore to find the exact aspect you are looking for, you need to look through the respective Subpart of the Reg. 1178/2011, Annex IV Part-MED and the related AMC and GM (ED Decision 2011/015/R).
Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 - Annex IV - Part-MED: https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/regulations/commission-regulation-eu-no-11782011
- Subpart A, Section 1: scope, definitions, decrease in medical fitness, obligations of doctors who conduct aero-medical assessments of cabin crew, etc.
- Subpart C (all): requirements for medical fitness of cabin crew
- Subpart D, Section 1: aero-medical examiners (AEM)
- Subpart D, Section 3: occupational health medical practitioners (OHMP); requirements for doctors who conduct aero-medical assessments of cabin crew
ED Decision 2011/015/R contains acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM) which complement the rules. The AMC and GM specify the detailed medical conditions and the related medical examinations or investigations: https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/agency-decisions/ed-decision-2011015r
Practical ‘raft’ training
Why does Initial training under Part-CC require practical ‘raft’ training even if the operator’s aircraft is not equipped with slide rafts or life rafts?
Reference: Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew as amended by Regulation (EU) No 290/2012 Part-CC available on EASA website.
Under EU-OPS, practical training on the use of rafts was required during Initial training. EU-OPS was a regulation directed, and applicable, to operators, therefore, an operator could provide raft training only when a cabin crew member was to actually operate on the operator’s aeroplane fitted with rafts or similar equipment. The training was conducted with that operator’s specific equipment/rafts.
The Initial training under Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Part CC is no longer ‘operator-related’, it is generic, therefore, the practical training on rafts or similar equipment and an actual practice in water are not specific to an operator’s equipment.
CCA holders, when recruited by an operator, are expected to have the ability to perform all types of cabin crew duties, including ditching related duties in water. Part-CC Cabin Crew Attestation (CCA) is issued for a life time and is recognised across all EU. Unlike the EU OPS Attestation, the CCA is subject to validity to attest the competence of the individual cabin crew member. This is foreseen in the Basic Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/1139) taking into account the increasing mobility of personnel in the aviation industry and the need to harmonise cabin crew qualifications.
An operator may be granted an approval to provide Part-CC Initial training and to issue the CCA (entitled to a mutual recognition as described above). That operator no longer acts as an operator training only its own cabin crew for its specific operations. That operator acts as a training organisation training future cabin crew who, in their life time, may also operate with other operators and in other Member States.
Instructor and Examiner being the same person – conflict of interest
Instructor who provided any topic of the Initial training should not act as Examiner to avoid conflict of interest. What about small operators / cabin crew training organisations employing only one ground Instructor, for example to cover dangerous goods or aero-medical aspects and first aid?
Reference: Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew and ED Decision 2012/006/R are available on EASA website.
For any element being examined for the issue of a cabin crew attestation as required in Part CC, the person who delivered the associated training or instruction should not also conduct the examination. However, if the organisation has appropriate procedures in place to avoid conflict of interest regarding the conduct of the examination and/or the results, this restriction need not apply.
Cabin Crew Attestation
My Cabin Crew Attestation was issued in EU Member State A. I would like to join an operator in EU Member State B. Is my Cabin Crew Attestation recognised in EU Member State B?
References:
Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 New Basic Regulation.
Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew.
Regulation (EU) No 290/2012 amended by Regulation (EU) No 2015/445 and Regulation (EU) No 245/2014.
All the referenced regulations are available on EASA website.
EU cabin crew member must hold a Cabin Crew Attestation compliant with the rules established by the Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 290/2012, Regulation (EU) No 2015/445 and Regulation (EU) No 245/2014:
https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/regulations/commission-regulation-eu-no-11782011
Cabin Crew Attestation issued in one EU Member State, or in EASA Member State, is valid and recognised in all EU Member States without further requirements or evaluation. Each cabin crew member can benefit from a free working movement amongst the EU operators/Member States.
The mutual recognition is established by Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 New Basic Regulation, in Article 67 and Article 3, paragraph (12) and (9).
My cabin crew qualification document was issued in a country that is not a member of the European Union and is not an EASA Member State either. Is my cabin crew qualification document recognised in the European Union?
References:
Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 New Basic Regulation.
Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew.
Regulation (EU) No 290/2012 amended by Regulation (EU) No 2015/445 and Regulation (EU) No 245/2014.
All the referenced regulations are available on EASA website.
No, the document is not recognised in the European Union. EU cabin crew member must hold a Cabin Crew Attestation compliant with the rules established by the Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 290/2012, Regulation (EU) No 2015/445 and Regulation (EU) No 245/2014:
https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/regulations/commission-regulation-eu-no-11782011
Fire and smoke training (Aircrew Regulation)
What is the content of fire and smoke training during the Initial training?
Reference: Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 Aircrew as amended by Regulation (EU) No 290/2012, see Annex V ‘Part-CC’ and Appendix I to Part-CC.
Each applicant for a Cabin Crew Attestation shall undergo the Initial training and examination specified in the above referenced regulation. Please, refer to the point 8. Fire and smoke training, which shall cover the following elements:
8. Fire and smoke training:
8.1. emphasis on the responsibility of cabin crew to deal promptly with emergencies involving fire and smoke and, in particular, emphasis on the importance of identifying the actual source of the fire;
8.2. the importance of informing the flight crew immediately, as well as the specific actions necessary for coordination and assistance, when fire or smoke is discovered;
8.3. the necessity for frequent checking of potential fire-risk areas including toilets, and the associated smoke detectors;
8.4. the classification of fires and the appropriate type of extinguishing agents and procedures for particular fire situations;
8.5. the techniques of application of extinguishing agents, the consequences of misapplication, and of use in a confined space including practical training in fire-fighting and in the donning and use of smoke protection equipment used in aviation; and
8.6. the general procedures of ground-based emergency services at aerodromes.