THE SILENT REVIEW_SPRING EDITION 2021_WEB

Q: Does watching ‘Aircraft Investigations’ count as study?
‘It’s sensationalised but it denotes the role as not just
‘chicken or beef’. Human Factors was introduced in
1995. The raft drill was performed with cabin crew being
pre-allocated roles (you had the navy rescuer, a raft
commander, some passengers eg couples). Turning on
the rain and using the hose made it more real. ‘Aircraft
Investigations’ highlights the fact that it was important
that the cabin crew spoke out; they are the pilots’ eyes
and ears. We are all one team, the whole package.’
Q: Any memorable hiccups during EPs:
‘People have actually come to EPs exams and during the
day gone home’. ‘Once a hostie doing the computer exam
pulled me over and said ‘what about the helicopter’. The
answer was ‘pull the sea anchor in to prevent damage’ [to
the rescue ship] but she was fixated on the presence of a
helicopter. I had to say to her ‘turn around and look at me –
read the question out loud – there IS NO helicopter!’. Arthur
still remembers this mind blip due to helicopter… obsession.
Q: Speaking of obsessions… the rite of passage that is
the Mascot Hong Ha bakery. Arthur has a hot tip for
eating the crusty bread rolls: ‘you gotta crush them with
your hand, but it depends where you’re eating them’.
Q: What do you wish passengers knew about you?
‘I hope they trust me, their safety is our paramount thing…
to look after them and not just through hospitality. I’m
not a servant but I am offering a service.’ [The cheekier/
personal content I have redacted for our innocent ears.]
Q: How many times have you watched the Pristine
Manual Handling aka Davey’s Jam Donut video?
‘I don’t always take that component of the course but…
heaps – and I still use it in St Johns when teaching CPR.
Lean directly over the patient, turn don’t twist when
you give the breaths.’
Q: What’s the biggest sacrifice you made as crew?
‘Missing out I guess. Being at EPs hence on the ground,
according to a comparison of group certificates meant
‘losing’ up to $5000/10000 a year in allowances. But
working in EPs for 26 years pretty much means I could
take the good with the bad, and working on the ground is
good for your body. Later, the skill allowance was upped.
The job is mentally stimulating. When family and friends
plan events in the future, they can say ‘you’ll be here’
versus you saying ‘will I be around?’.
Q: What are the changes you’ve noted over your time?
It was just different before. ‘Once, the CSM was on the PA,
pointing out local beauties that we were flying over. Kerry
Packer said if he doesn’t shut up I’ll shove that phone up
his ass’.
‘People were not fixated with screens, it was more social
– less engrossed in screens. But you need to go with the
times. Change is here, it’s going to happen. What you can’t
change, you work with. If you’ve got a better way let’s do
it. The ‘better way’ does not always work. It’s not rocket
science, it only makes sense.’
Q: Have you had any memorable
onboard emergencies?
‘Despite having 33 years of service in
July 2021, I have had a non-eventful
flying career. To me it’s just doing my
job, have situational awareness.’
Arthur has never used restraints
but has offloaded a woman ex LAX
swearing. She was in her late 30s,
gave the option: behave and get you
home. Seats are meant to withstand
6Gs of force – she kicked and broke
the seat. The passenger was escorted
off the aircraft in a ‘restraint manner’.
Actually, ‘years ago in the EPs trainer,
we used to teach crew to run over the
top of the seats, used to fill the cabin
with smoke and drag out a colleague
by the collar.
14 SPRING EDITION 2021