Zard

There is actually a section in the FOM that covers pushing wheelchairs. I assume that if it’s in there, I’m covered. I push when I am trying to bum a ride or if I am trying to GTFO dodge on go home leg.

CA1900

If this new family boarding experiment goes system-wide, letting them pre-board, but requiring them to go behind the exit row, I'll be sitting as close to the front as I can.

DHC8DRV

I actually think it is going to spread the families out evenly through the whole cabin. They will be split in half, the ones that don’t listen and sit in front of the exit row anyways and the ones that do listen and go sit in the back where they used to be concentrated mostly. You won’t be able to get away from them at all

Pinchacabron

The pushing of the wheel chairs and the retrieval of strollers and such from the ramp are just another example of us covering up a failure of the company. I am guilty of running down to grab a car seat for an exasperated mother or pushing a chair to keep the ball moving. However, it just allows the company to not staff properly or hold the venders accountable for their failure. Having worked in a past life carrying the widget on an outsourced airplane, huge fines were levied by because of a failure to comply with the ADA for not having chair pushers.
As stated, we are properly trained in pushing chairs, we are trained in ergonomics of carrying baggage up the jet bridge stairs. When push comes to shove and a lawyer gets involved, you/we are putting ourselves at risk….. to cover a systemic issue caused by the Palace in Dallas.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for pitching in to get things done when needed. It’s just become an expectation not an exception.

pangolin

There’s always the jump seat.

rickair7777

I don't think they can simply deny OJI/disability for mundane tasks around the workplace even if it's not part of your job. If you were instructed/trained to avoid something inherently dangerous then they might have a leg to stand-on. I might be more concerned about accidentally dumping the wheelchair pax on the floor and getting in trouble if the pax has a liability claim.

Non-mundane tasks like fueling an airplane or operating a belt-loader might be different since you clearly need training for that, and you have no authorization to do it.

Of course if the company creates a climate where you're expected/encouraged to do tasks you're not trained for then they could be a world of liability hurt for NOT training you... that could apply if it's common for pilots to be helping out on the ramp. They have a duty to either train you or ensure that you don't do dangerous work.

I can assure you that Uber provides liability insurance for pax for all of their services, they could not possibly be so stupid as to rely on their pothead drivers for that. They may not insure the drivers for comprehensive, etc. So the driver might be screwed if he's doing uber on his regular private citizen insurance, but the pax will be fine.

All that said, if you hurt your back pushing a wheel chair or handling baggage, I'd probably just say it happened climbing out of your seat in the cockpit... nobody would argue that i your flying a 737

Not "no insurance", I doubt any state allows that. But many have comparative negligence, where the "victim" is responsible for some of the damages if his own actions aggravated the situation... such as not wearing seatbelts. I wear them always.

e6bpilot

I sit in row 5, push wheelchairs when it benefits me, don't clean cabins, and don't listen to a word the FAs say as not to be annoyed with them. I have commuted a long time, and commuting online is actually torture. Between the excessive PAs, the singing, the quirky not so funny humor, and some of the other just embarrassing stuff our airline does, I am way over it. I put a jacket over my uniform and don't wear my badge. I check in with the cockpit if I have the cockpit JS paperwork, otherwise, I don't identify myself in any way.
My new pet peeve is the 5am flight where they turn all the lights on full bright at 10k and make several loud PAs so they can get their drink service done despite everyone trying to sleep. Somehow OAL avoid this practice and no flight attendants die. It's like living with my college roommate who would wake up early and assume that everyone else should be awake too.
It's no wonder business travelers are hitting the bar early in the morning.

WHACKMASTER

Damn. You sound like me. I have the same gripes. It’s all ridiculous and so unprofessional and over the top. The only difference is I have never nor will I ever push wheelchairs.

DownAndDirty

I'll help clean the cabin if the FA can do my walk around or fly the ILS 13L for me.

Puckpilot78

FA DHers are required to help clean the cabin, it's in their manual. And yes, I was actually bored enough at one time to peruse the FA manual. So some might (incorrectly) assume it's the same for pilots. That being said there's a professional tactful way to bring it up, and there's other not so tactful ways. I wonder if the "Jurassic Park technique" would work in that situation?