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Pre-flight safety demonstration

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A Lufthansa flight attendant performing an in-flight safety demonstration

The pre-flight safety demonstration (also known as a pre-flight briefing, in-flight safety demonstration, safety instructions, or simply the safety video) is a detailed explanation given before takeoff to airline passengers about the safety features of a commercial aircraft.

On smaller aircraft this may take place in the form of a live briefing performed by flight attendants standing up in the aisles, while another flight attendant narrates over the public address system. On many larger aircraft equipped with in-flight entertainment, safety demonstrations may take place in the form of a video, which typically lasts 2 to 6 minutes. In consideration for travelers not speaking the airline's official language and for the passengers with hearing problems, the video may feature subtitles, an on-screen signer, or may be repeated in another language. Some safety videos are made using three dimensional graphics.[1]

By 2009 several airlines have striven to make distinctive safety videos. Many safety videos were uploaded to YouTube.[2][3]Cebu Pacific choreographed the entire demonstration to Lady Gaga's Just Dance and Katy Perry's California Gurls as an experiment during one of their flights.[4]

Safety demonstrations are required by the basic international air safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

A safety demonstration typically covers all these aspects, not necessarily in this order:

  • a reminder to review the aircraft safety card
  • remind the passengers about the brace position when they hear the instruction "brace brace!" (not required by the FAA(US) and Transport Canada)
  • the use of the seat belt. Some airlines recommend or require that they keep their seatbelt fastened at all times in case of unexpected turbulence.
  • the requirement that passengers must comply with lighted signs, posted placards, and crew members instructions (Generally only included in safety demonstrations on US and New Zealand carriers as the FAA (US) and CAA (NZ) require it to be stated)
  • the location and use of the emergency exits, evacuation slides and emergency floor lighting
  • the use of the oxygen mask
  • the location and use of the life vests, life rafts and flotation devices (not typically included if the flight does not overfly or fly near vast masses of water)
  • the use of passenger seat cushions as flotation devices (typically only included on aircraft that do not provide life vests)
  • generally, a reminder not to smoke on board, including the toilets
  • reminder that tampering with, disabling or destroying the toilet smoke detectors is prohibited or illegal (required on United States and some Mexican Flights)
  • the precautions to take before take-off and landing:
    • to stow luggage under a seat or in an overhead compartment
    • to return folding trays and seat backs to the upright and locked position
    • to turn off most electronic devices (laptops, mobile phones, etc.)

Many Middle Eastern carriers[who?] (such as Etihad Airways, Gulf Air and Wataniya Airways) also include a prayer for travelers out of the Koran at the beginning of their safety demonstration videos[citation needed]

If an emergency happens once airborne, flight attendants are trained to calmly brief passengers with emergency procedures quickly.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "TAM." Pixel Labs. Retrieved on February 25, 2009.
  2. ^ Montgomery, Bill. "Who needs clothes in an airline safety video?." Houston Chronicle. June 30, 2009. Retrieved on July 21, 2009.
  3. ^ "Nudity, cartoons grab air travelers' attention." CNN. Friday July 31, 2009. Retrieved on August 26, 2009.
  4. ^ "This will keep the seat backs in an upright position: Cabin crew perform in-flight safety demo... while dancing to Lady Gaga." Daily Mail. October 3, 2010. Retrieved on December 3, 2010.

Airline safety videos

Live demonstrations

Other

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