Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 11437; Flight Crew Type 2601
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Weather
[Enroute on our international transoceanic flight] we received a SIGMET from dispatch indicating a forecast for severe turbulence from FL300 to FL360; close to our proposed route of flight and approximately forty-five minutes ahead of the aircraft's position. I contacted [the] Purser; who; by the way; typified professionalism in every respect during the entire trip. I advised of the potential for severe turbulence and asked that she have the cabin prepared so that the crew could be seated before entering the SIGMET area. This gave the crew about thirty minutes. During this time I requested and received clearance to FL270; which was below the forecast severe turbulence area. I made a passenger announcement advising the passengers of the situation and that I'd be turning on the seatbelt sign in about thirty minutes. I further advised them that the flight attendants would also be seated at that time. Just before entering the SIGMET area; I called the Purser; and we coordinated for everyone to be seated. I made a reinforcing announcement to the passengers; explained that the flight attendants would be unable to get up for about thirty minutes; and I thanked them for their patience. Approximately ten minutes into the area of concern; I observed on the cockpit video monitoring system [a] flight attendant; who had been seated at door 1R; leave the jumpseat and begin a series of tasks in the first class galley; including going through carts looking for food and preparing the food and taking it to her jumpseat. I also observed her get up and do other tasks; which seemed to involve looking for reading materials and walking over to door 1L; where she spoke with the Purser; who was seated in the jumpseat. At no time did I observe her enter the lavatory. I was confused by her behavior and couldn't understand why she would so blatantly disregard measures enacted to protect her and others onboard the aircraft; despite all of the recent communications put out by Flight Operations and Inflight to reinforce knowledge about turbulence related injuries; Standard Operating Procedures; and Flight Deck Crew/Cabin Crew coordination. After about five to ten minutes; [the Flight Attendant] returned to her jumpseat.We passed the area of risk experiencing nothing more than some light to moderate turbulence. I called the Purser and advised that the crew could get up. A short time later [one of the] FOs left the flight deck to use the lavatory. When he returned he indicated that he needed to share some concerns. He said that when he left the flight deck; FA said to him that she had never witnessed 'anything like that before;' and made physical gestures indicative of her view that 'it' was ridiculous. She stated that she had never been asked to sit down for turbulence by any pilot and that my requesting that the flight attendants be seated was 'an exercise in authoritative management.' What was curious to me was what appeared to be a complete lack of recognition and understanding of Captain's Authority as it relates to the safe conduct of the aircraft; as well as the chain of command; both of which are clearly outlined in the Flight Operations Manual; and I assume the Flight Attendant Operations Manual. Beyond all of that; I couldn't understand how or why she would take her life into her hands and risk the wellbeing of her fellow flight crew members and the passengers whose safety is entrusted to her with absolutely no quantifiable or critical data or information about the flight conditions. Her behavior was reckless; unprofessional; and self-destructive.
B777 Captain reported he was concerned with the behavior of a Flight Attendant who disregarded his direction to be seated during an expected turbulence encounter.