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A flight attendant reports how a mandated company policy change that increases the temperature in the forward cargo compartment has affected flight crew rest periods on some of their B777-200 aircraft. The bunk room floor and walls were hot when touched; caused by heat radiating from the cargo area; even with the thermostat at full cold.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1192689 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201407 |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Cargo Pit Compartment |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Flight Attendant In Charge |
| Qualification | Flight Attendant Current |
| Experience | Flight Attendant Total 29 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
On this flight and on several B777 flights recently with the lower lobe crew rest (llcr); we have experienced extreme heat in the bunkroom radiating from the cargo area. On this flight and several other flights recently; the bunk room floor; and walls were hot to the touch and the radiant heat was too much for the crew rest area to be properly cooled even with the temperature set as cold as it would go. This affected 3rd break worse than the other breaks as the heat had radiated into the bunkroom more and more throughout the flight. The flight attendants on 3rd break; myself included; were unable to rest well due to the heat. I discussed the issue with the flight deck crew.it is my understanding that a procedural change may have occurred. At our air carrier X [prior to the merger] the cargo heat was not always set to 'high.' from what I understand this was the procedure [before the merger] at air carrier Y and has now been mandated for all flights [since the merger]. This may be well and good at air carrier Y; since they have the overhead area crew rest (oacr). But; as many planes in the air carrier X fleet have the llcr; this radiating heat can become a problem. As this has not been experienced on all flights I have been on; perhaps it may have something to do with the location and/or number of cargo pallets as well. However; the issue does need to be addressed. On five flights in the last two months; I have personally experienced this phenomenon.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A Flight Attendant reports how a mandated company policy change that increases the temperature in the Forward Cargo Compartment has affected flight crew rest periods on some of their B777-200 aircraft. The bunk room floor and walls were hot when touched; caused by heat radiating from the cargo area; even with the thermostat at full cold.
Narrative: On this flight and on several B777 flights recently with the Lower Lobe Crew Rest (LLCR); we have experienced extreme heat in the bunkroom radiating from the cargo area. On this flight and several other flights recently; the bunk room floor; and walls were hot to the touch and the radiant heat was too much for the crew rest area to be properly cooled even with the temperature set as cold as it would go. This affected 3rd break worse than the other breaks as the heat had radiated into the bunkroom more and more throughout the flight. The flight attendants on 3rd break; myself included; were unable to rest well due to the heat. I discussed the issue with the flight deck crew.It is my understanding that a procedural change may have occurred. At our Air Carrier X [prior to the merger] the Cargo Heat was not always set to 'High.' From what I understand this was the procedure [before the merger] at Air Carrier Y and has now been mandated for ALL flights [since the merger]. This may be well and good at Air Carrier Y; since they have the Overhead Area Crew Rest (OACR). But; as many planes in the Air Carrier X fleet have the LLCR; this radiating heat can become a problem. As this has not been experienced on all flights I have been on; perhaps it may have something to do with the location and/or number of cargo pallets as well. However; the issue does need to be addressed. On five flights in the last two months; I have personally experienced this phenomenon.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.