Captain of a DH8 complains about the fact that this aircraft can be operated with an alternate seat ...

Attributes
ACN	316443
Time
Date	199509
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tpa
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : den
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	316443
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

MEL -- flight attendant seat assembly -- received (aircraft) in tampa with MEL item -- late swap -- so I assumed no problem with this particular MEL. En route to mia, reread MEL remarks/exceptions especially, 'alternate procedures are established for displaced flight attendant.' it didn't occur to me until later that I could not find any established procedures, especially in regards to communication. From the passenger seat reserved for flight attendant use, the flight attendant is unable to reach the telephone to communicate with the crew, nor is the flight attendant able to select or de- select the PA button for announcement. I have never liked this MEL because in turbulence, we are unable to discuss anything with the flight attendant without her/him unbuckling their seat belt (that's safe). Also, in the event of an accident, the flight attendant, in our case, the only flight attendant, is not as well protected (no shoulder harness, forward facing seat), and they are not able to easily monitor the cabin while seated. I feel that at the very least it should be only a 3 day item (it is a 10 day item now), and in aircraft with only 1 flight attendant it should not be allowed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A DH8 COMPLAINS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS ACFT CAN BE OPERATED WITH AN ALTERNATE SEAT FOR THE CABIN ATTENDANT UNDER THE ATTENDANT'S SEAT MEL PROVISION.

Narrative: MEL -- FLT ATTENDANT SEAT ASSEMBLY -- RECEIVED (ACFT) IN TAMPA WITH MEL ITEM -- LATE SWAP -- SO I ASSUMED NO PROB WITH THIS PARTICULAR MEL. ENRTE TO MIA, REREAD MEL REMARKS/EXCEPTIONS ESPECIALLY, 'ALTERNATE PROCS ARE ESTABLISHED FOR DISPLACED FLT ATTENDANT.' IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME UNTIL LATER THAT I COULD NOT FIND ANY ESTABLISHED PROCS, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO COM. FROM THE PAX SEAT RESERVED FOR FLT ATTENDANT USE, THE FLT ATTENDANT IS UNABLE TO REACH THE TELEPHONE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CREW, NOR IS THE FLT ATTENDANT ABLE TO SELECT OR DE- SELECT THE PA BUTTON FOR ANNOUNCEMENT. I HAVE NEVER LIKED THIS MEL BECAUSE IN TURB, WE ARE UNABLE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH THE FLT ATTENDANT WITHOUT HER/HIM UNBUCKLING THEIR SEAT BELT (THAT'S SAFE). ALSO, IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE FLT ATTENDANT, IN OUR CASE, THE ONLY FLT ATTENDANT, IS NOT AS WELL PROTECTED (NO SHOULDER HARNESS, FORWARD FACING SEAT), AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO EASILY MONITOR THE CABIN WHILE SEATED. I FEEL THAT AT THE VERY LEAST IT SHOULD BE ONLY A 3 DAY ITEM (IT IS A 10 DAY ITEM NOW), AND IN ACFT WITH ONLY 1 FLT ATTENDANT IT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

Captain of a DH8 complains about the fact that this aircraft can be operated with an alternate seat for the cabin attendant under the attendant's seat MEL provision.