Date: 201411
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Night
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
Aircraft component: Emergency Floor Lighting
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: Taxi
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Manuals; Human Factors; Company Policy; Aircraft
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: During the safety demonstration; the aircraft pushed back a few feet and stopped. After the safety demonstration; the cabin lighting was set to Aisle OFF and Windows DIM-2; per procedure. Shortly after; the Captain announced over the PA stating; 'We were going to be delayed and would stay put on the ramp due to a malfunction with ATC PDC Clearance Delivery computers. We don't know how long it would last.' Approximately 20 minutes after this announcement; I noticed the photo-luminescent floor path lightning was starting to go dim (due to the cabin lighting setting); and suggested to the Lead Flight Attendant that we set the cabin lighting to FULL BRIGHT in order to recharge them. She interphoned Flight Attendant 'C'; who had been with the company for several years; and discussed the matter. They both looked into their Manuals and concluded it did not say anything about charging the floor path light strips after a delay. They had also never ran into this issue in their several years with the company. The Lead Flight Attendant decided to leave the cabin lighting on Aisle OFF and Windows DIM2. In training; I was told that floor path lightning should be charged for 15 minutes [with cabin lights] on 'FULL BRIGHT' and [charge] would last approximately 30 minutes after being charged. The flight did not leave the ramp until approximately 40-45 minutes after its initial pushback. At this point the photo-luminescent lighting was extremely dim and ineffective. When the flight finally took off; the floor path lighting was nearly unnoticeable. Should an evacuation have been necessary during taxi-out or after an aborted takeoff; there would have been no floor path lighting available. The Safety Department and Training Department should discuss the correct use of photo-Luminescent lighting and cabin lighting and issue a required reading internal alert. Flight Attendants should be briefed to use BEST JUDGMENT in safety-related matters; such as this one. Although it is not stated in the Manual; flight attendants should be aware of how long floor path lightning needs to charge for; how long it is effective after charging; what to do in cases where there is a ground delay; and how to assess whether recharging the photo-luminescent lightning is necessary. Eventually; a Bulletin and Manual Revision regarding floor path lighting should be issued.

Callback: Reporter stated Emergency Floor Path lighting on their A320 aircraft are not charged electrically and do not have battery packs. Two Photo-luminescent floor strips; one on each side of the aisle; run the entire length of the cabin. The strips also break and turn 90 degrees at the Overwing Exits. The Photo-luminescent strips require 15 minutes of cabin lighting on the 'FULL BRIGHT' selection at the Forward Attendant Panel (FAP) to be fully charged and give approximately 30 minutes of luminescence lighting along the cabin aisle floor path.Reporter stated their Manuals do not give them any relief to bring the cabin lighting up to 'FULL BRIGHT' after pushback while holding off of the gate; during a delay. Flight attendants are told to use the DIM-2 light selection at the FAP panel which is about 10 % lighting so they don't to wake up passengers who want to sleep. He has not received a response to his concerns or suggestions.



Synopsis: A Flight Attendant reports that photo-luminescent emergency floor path lighting strips on their Airbus aircraft were almost unnoticeable after a gate pushback and extended hold delay by ATC. Should an evacuation have been necessary during taxi-out or after an aborted takeoff; there would have been no floor path lighting available to direct passengers during an emergency egress.