SriLankan Airlines To Ground Overweight Cabin Crew
June 2, 2016
Overweight Cabin Crew of SriLankan Airlines is said to be grounded after a medical check up completed by the airline’s appointed Medical Clinic, revealed that their Body Mass Index was over the airline’s permitted standard.
The airline’s management ordered the entire 1300 plus cadre of Cabin Crew to have their body mass index (BMI) measured in February this year. It was then revealed that an alarming number of Cabin Crew who were measured weighed more on the lines of obesity.
Now over 40 Cabin Crew are said to be grounded in this first phase initiated by the airline.
Body Mass Index is made up of the weight against a person’s age, height and gender. The guidelines and measurement used for airlines is usually defined and set in accordance to aviation regulations that recommends an usual Body Mass Index range of 18-25 for men and 18-22 for women to be followed.
Along with the Cabin Crew it was revealed that most of the In Flight Services management and instructors who also fly as checkers on board were found to have had the weighing scales tilted against their favour.
However It is still to be established if the overweight management would now be permitted to take wing on flights in ill fitting uniforms, especially with Manager In Flight Services Rashmore Ferdinands also reported to be seven kilos overweight.
Ever since its inception the national carrier always took great pride in portraying its corporate image to the rest of the world by employing pretty Sri Lankan females to adorn the beautiful peacock mortif uniform saree.
A senior manager of the airline speaking on condition of anonymity as he is not permitted to speak to the media said “The aviation world has now taken note of the health implications that are related to excessive weight and body fat of Cabin Crew members that sometimes borders the lines of obesity. Many have fallen sick and have been out of flying due to long term illnesses. Some with even serious cardiac implications. As the management of the airline we care about our employees and we would wish to create a health conscious culture within our work force. Our intention is to further educate our Cabin Crew on how to maintain a healthy life style especially with the toll their bodies take due to the irregular hours of work and life style patterns they have to follow to do this job. They could lose weight and most certainly resume flying. It is up to them. This is not a punishment in anyway. If they fall sick it also hampers the business operation”.
