Jumpseat problem on Skybus

[EMB170Pilot]

This is from republicpilots.org.

I'll keep the name out who posted this but what would you do in a situation like this if you were jumpseating on skybus.

Here is what was posted:

Yesterday, I jump seated on Skybus from CMH to BUR. And there was a lady who just got drunk and started cursing and harassing Skybus flight attendants. The captain called me and asked me to handle that customer. So I had to talk to the lady to calm down. But she continued cursing and harassing to crews now including me. She was yelling with 'f'words and giving me the middle finger during the entire 4 hours flight. That's clearly ********** according to TSA definition. I know Skybus is new airline and they want to make good impression to the customers. But the way the crews' handling this situation was so unprofessional. The captain didn't do anything and when the plane arrived at BUR she unbuckled and stood up while taxing. And she just deplaned, walked away with continuing cursing to me. I was expecting airport police would take her in custody and fine her. But nothing happened. I couldnt believe it. I was really upset about it. I felt like I was dumb ****. Why I have to hear f words and get middle finger during entire flight? I'll probably not take Skybus again. I wonder what jumpseaters duty limit is.

MOD EDIT: Security Information and creative spelling removed.

 

[se1776]

just sit and watch the whole thing develope.
if becomes a treath to you then do something about it.
Remember That is the captain responsabilities not yours.

 

[Princedietrich]

I think the point he's trying to make is that, while it certainly is the captain's responsibility, the captain wasn't fulfilling his/her responsibility. Rather than putting this abusive and disruptive passenger in her place, he passed it off on a jumpseater and said "you deal with it."

 

[Quack]

Well, when you only get paid 65k a year, you get what you pay for. But seriously, why didn't the captain do anything? i can see in flight not being able to do much by leaving flight deck, but on the ground that lady should've had police all over her ass like stink on $hit once they got to the gate. Just another example of how bad this industry is getting!

 

[~~~^~~~]

Wow... I'd be temped, since the authority was delegated to me, to have the cops meet the aircraft. Sounds like public disorder, a local ordinance violation if no one wanted the Feds involved. With the intelligence of this lady, she'd probably assault the investigating officer. Then you just pick up your bags, thank everyone for the ride and go home.

But in reality we probably would all do what that DH pilot did, try to smooth things over.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Well, when you only get paid 65k a year, you get what you pay for.

Same thing for a $20 ticket. Looks like Skybus is getting what they pay for, so to speak.

 

[Flooder305]

Not like they could divert anywhere and expect to get service/help... Skycuss will be issuing tasers to the FA's now so they can subdue the harassing passengers so they don't have to divert and disrupt their operations in the name of SAFETY..... Seriously though that jumpseater shouldn't have gotten involved. He has no power... You have to think semi-stable things through to their logical conclusion before you jump in to something. Any drunk idiot is going to call your bluff immediately, so you better be prepared to go the distance. DIVERT and cuff that fool. One so you can retain the respect of your fellow employees, for not allowing them to be treated in this manner, and two for the passengers so that they are confident you are willing to take the definitive action necessary to resolve a situation like that. WEAK Skycuss!

 

[nethan]

I've got a bigger issue with the captain delegating responsibility to an offline jumpseater to deal with a customer issue. If I am riding offline I am happy to help out, but it seems to me that I have zero authority in that situation, even when "given" it by the captain. It might be a somewhat unpopular sentiment, but I really think I would have refused to try to defuse the situation and had the captain or the FO do it. Also, if it was one of their "transcons" (the OP said 4 hours) wasn't there a deadheading crew in the back that could deal with it?

 

[Captain Morgan]

Hmm... she must be going through BUR to get back home to Victorville and tend to her meth-labs... that's Wiskey Tango for you!

CM

 

[PBRstreetgang]

I've got a bigger issue with the captain delegating responsibility to an offline jumpseater to deal with a customer issue. If I am riding offline I am happy to help out, but it seems to me that I have zero authority in that situation, even when "given" it by the captain. It might be a somewhat unpopular sentiment, but I really think I would have refused to try to defuse the situation and had the captain or the FO do it. Also, if it was one of their "transcons" (the OP said 4 hours) wasn't there a deadheading crew in the back that could deal with it?

As a qualified jumpseater you are listed as an additional crewmember, your authority comes directly from the Captains command status. Granted your ability to do anything is limited to the Captains instructions/direction. This is the reason you must posses a company ID, pilots license, and medical. You are truly an additional crewmember, I do not know the hierarchy as far as to where in the chain of command the jumpseater lies. That is the reason that drinking is prohibited for jumpseaters.
PBR
P.S. I had a 747 Capt ask me, as a uniformed jumpseater stand by with the Purser who was having a problem with a pax who was demanding to sit in 1st class. He said to be a witness and assist her if the pax became physically abusive. BTW he was a UAL Capt., quite a bit different Capt. than a Skankbus driver.

 

[wscrj]

As an ACM, you are OBLIGATED to perform the duties assigned to you by the PIC. That duty is clearly spelled out in the FAR's. God clause stuff, remember?

When it's all said and done, the PIC will have to answer the tough questions. But "failing to comply with crewmember instructions" is as much a rule for the ACM as for the PAX.

 

[AV1ATRX]

I can't get on the republicpilots website. Anyone else having this problem? I know they were doing some maintenance ealier, but thought they had finished...