Are Flight Attendants Happy With the FAA Reauthorization Bill?

Are you wondering what flight attendants think about what’s inside the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018?

The Short Answer?

The Association of Flight Attendants–CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA) represents a total of 50,000 flight attendants employed by 20 airlines. That organization is cheering the passage of the bill.

The Long Answer

One of the big reasons why many flight attendants have been in favor of the bill is the fact that it calls for several provisions that improve safety for flight attendants. In addition, the bill takes into account factors that can help flight attendants to stay rested and healthy.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 is bringing some big changes to future flights. The bill officially bans all knives on planes on a permanent basis. This is a move that is giving many flight attendants peace of mind.

Phones Have A Lot to Do With It

In addition, the bill bans voice calls on planes. Flight attendants aren’t the ones only cheering this move. The banning of phone calls during flights will likely come as good news to passengers who don’t appreciate having to listen to other travelers conducting loud and lengthy phone conversations during flights.

The need to make phone calls is becoming less and less common now that many airlines are introducing better Wi-Fi and free messaging options on flights.

And Cigarettes

Anyone who has flown within the last decade already knows that cigarettes are strongly banned on flights. However, there has been controversy recently surrounding the question of whether or not e-cigarettes should also be banned. T

he growing popularity of e-cigarettes means that it was only a matter of time before the question was formally addressed on a legal basis. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 officially extends the smoking ban to cover e-cigarettes.

And Safety Measures In General

The new bill also has wording that is pointed at helping flight attendants to enjoy safer, healthier working experiences. One of the most exciting pieces of the bill for many in the airline industry is a provision that addresses fatigue among flight attendants.

A new provision will increase the minimum rest time for flight attendants to 10 hours. The minimum had previously been set at eight hours. However, many flight attendants had been pushing to achieve the same amount of minimum rest time as their counterparts working in the flight deck.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 that was passed recently can only be described as being comprehensive. The topics covered in the bill range from providing more support to flight attendants to assuring that every person on a plane enjoys increased safety. It features provisions that deal with oxygen masks, secondary cockpit barriers, sexual misconduct on planes, exit row safety, self-defense training for crew members, training for human trafficking and the safe transport of lithium batteries.