Date: 201405
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Aircraft component: Cabin Address System
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Second reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: Pre-flight
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Procedure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: The plane had an inoperative PA system. The interphone and associated chimes worked; but that's it. No demo video sound; no seatbelt sign chime; no cockpit to cabin PA; no Flight Attendant to cabin PA; no smoking sign chime; nothing. We understood that the system had been deferred and that this was somehow legal; but we needed to know from the Captain exactly how we were to accomplish the safety demonstration; how to protect ourselves in case of turbulence; how to inform the passengers of safety issues; etc. He really didn't have any specific answers for us and the MEL and FAOM are not very helpful especially when dealing with a widebody international operation. We used the two megaphones we had available to us. They are not very loud over a long distance and passengers really don't like being yelled at. They think something is very wrong. As a crew we decided to play the safety video and inform the passengers that the video has English and Portuguese subtitles and captions. I was the Portuguese translator on that segment so I went through the cabin and informed the passengers in Portuguese using the megaphone that we would play the safety video and that it had Portuguese subtitles. If they had any questions regarding safety please let us know. We couldn't narrate the safety demonstration effectively using the tools we had at our disposal and it would have taken forever causing unnecessary delay and concern if we were to use megaphones for that many people and that large of an area. The company and the FAA need to tell us exactly what was expected of us in that situation. We were very concerned for our safety and the safety of the customers. Even preparing the cabin for departure and arrival was difficult and there was no way to say welcome to America; please remain seated; etc. without one or more of us being out of our jumpseat to do so. In conclusion; this should not have been allowed to be dispatched. It is not safe nor is it a positive customer experience.


Second narrative: Flight attendants got on aircraft did safety checks before [passenger] boarding and became aware of Inop PA system. Pilots not onboard yet. Spoke with Maintenance and they said they did not have part on hand; but could do nothing until had written orders from pilot/company. This plane sat on ground all day and nothing was done about it. Maintenance could have looked elsewhere for the part. When pilots did arrive; we had a briefing with the Captain. The FAs let him know all of our concerns going without a working pa system. Some; not all; were briefing 200 plus passengers the safety demo with the megaphone; what to do for turbulence; notifying passengers and us; what/how to prepare for evacuation; all scenarios you take that are done making announcements are now at a different heightened level. Captain told us we were going with a/c. Well; the megaphones that used to be on the airplanes; now they were megaphones; (bullhorns). These so called megaphones on the a/c's now are good for nothing. You can only hear them for 6 or 7 rows at best. (Understanding what the person is saying) Purser said she had to squeeze the button so hard and even with that; you would get a squeak on feedback. On top of that; there are only two onboard; one fwd; [and] one aft. Here was the cockpit solution for our seatbelt concern...they had the sign on for the entire flight. At one point I decided to go and just recheck the cabin as you can imagine passengers have gotten up to use the restroom. Found approximately 20 passengers with seatbelts undone and had to wake them as it is a late night flight. Less than 5 min after that we hit rough turbulence. What if it happened while I was in the aisle? What if it was worse? Another concern was passengers' health. I do this flight regularly and many a time a passengers will have medical needs like oxygen. Since passengers could not ring for us; I would walk thru the cabin looking at the passengers and if awake also saying; 'everything okay?' Again; what if turbulence hits while out there in the aisle and no communication from pilots; very unsettling flight for us.


Synopsis: Flight attendants lament being dispatched in a wide body aircraft with an inoperative PA system. Some chimes do not function and megaphones are required to communicate with the passengers enmass.