MD-83
Flight Attendant Current
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Procedure; Human Factors
The first flight we did with the flight crew; we (the cabin crew) never received any announcements to prepare for departure or landing. I spoke with the First Officer when we landed and he told me that they got busy with ATC and forgot to prepare us for landing. Then next flight we were on a ground stop with a 'wheels up' time. Pilots let the passengers use their cell phone during this time. I heard the engines start and did another announcement to make sure seatbelts were fasten; tray tables and seat-backs were up; and all cell phones were off. We (the cabin crew) then did a compliance check. As I was coming back up the aisle; we were taking off. There was a federal air marshal. He stopped me and had me sit next to him because he didn't think I'd make it to my jumpseat. I buckled the seatbelt and sat there until it was safe to get to my jumpseat.Again; at landing we never received a 'FA prepare for landing.' I heard the 2500 aural from the cockpit and did the announcement and compliance check. When we landed; I asked the CA about this; and he said he made all his announcements to us. I talked to the other 2 flight attendants and they agreed; he never made any prepare for take off or prepare for landing announcements. I feel this could have been avoided if he would have communicated with us on all levels. I never knew we had a new 'wheels up time'; we never got any prepare announcements; and he insisted he did them when I asked about it.I feel this could have been avoided if he would have communicated with us on all levels. I never knew we had a new 'wheels up time'; we never got any prepare announcements; and he insisted he did them when I asked about it. The communication between the pilots and flight attendants was very minimal.
A flight attendant crew did not hear any pre-takeoff or pre-landing cockpit announcements but apparently the PA was operable because a flight crew PA announcement allowed cell phone usage on the ground.