Effects of relative metabolic rate and heart rate variation on the performance of flight attendants.

The main work of the cabin attendants in an actual flight in service for passengers. The effects of flight attendant duties in flight differ from the effects of the same tasks performed on the ground. In this study, the relative metabolic rate (RMR) and heart rate (HR) of cabin attendants in a cruising aircraft galley and cabin are compared with those of a crew working in a mock-up apparatus on the ground. The types of work tested are: (a) oshibori (steamed towel) service, (b) soft drink service, (c) setting meal tray, (d) putting casserole on tray, (e) meal tray service, (f) walking on aisle. The RMR at each type of work during flight is as indicated: (a) 1.07-2.10, (b) 1.08-1.54, (c) 1.37-1.82, (d) 2.57-3.50, (e) 2.11-3.10 and (f) 1.84. The range of HR was: (a) 105-120, (b) 90-110, (c) 90-120, (d) 100-130 and 100-140 beats/min. In most cases, the RMR and HR levels of work done in the mock-up were lower than those recorded in flight. These results suggest that the oxygen intake of work done in flight is greater than that on a mock-up. One of the reasons might be that the cabin barometric pressure (ca. 660 torr or cabin altitude ca. 1,500 m) or an aisle inclination of about 3 degrees caused a decrease in the efficiency of oxygen intake during flight.