Comm options with flight attendants

[bjratchf]

I find a big part of the flight is communication with the flight attendants. I know we have a "start service, suspend service" option within the MCDU however...

This could be expanded to include a "long taxi, short taxi, bumpy on climbout..." Or in flight "looks like there will be turbulence ahead, you better be seated" . You could gain reputation points or lose them, by how well you run your inflight team and bring them "into the picture"

[Travis]

I like this - I've long wanted to have more interaction with the FAs, or just some variety in the FO's "the captain feels we'll be on time today" audios.

Just spitballing some ideas here... once the Captain knows the taxi-out route (and current traffic level), a guess could be made and entered into the FCDU... then the FO could call that out to the PAX.

And we could have a screen for "expected flight conditions" which could also be used to guide the FO and/or FA in their various announcements. If you announce clear sailing and then fly through a thunderstorm, there's likely to be an annoyed PAX.

One thing that I really want to have happen on larger aircraft is the ability to randomly have the FA crew show up one short (illness... missed the bus... etc.) to throw a kink in your preflight service plans.

Regards,