Before an aircraft takes off and during flight, airlines are required by law to provide passenger safety briefings. An audio-visual or oral briefing, with demonstration, is given so that it can be easily seen and heard by each passenger.
Standard Safety Briefings
Safety briefings are conducted at strategic periods of the flight to increase passengers’ awareness of the safety features of the aircraft and available emergency equipment. Safety briefings shall be given during the following phases of flight:
Before take off
- When, where, why and how carry-on baggage is required to be stowed;
- The fastening, adjusting and unfastening of seatbelts;
- When seatbacks and chair-tables must be secured in the upright position;
- The location of emergency exits (Passengers seated beside the exit must be told how to operate the exit);
- The purpose of emergency lights on the floor/side of seats (to be used at nights and if the cabin is full of smoke);
- The purpose and advisability of reading the safety briefing card located in each passenger seat pocket;
- The regulatory requirement to obey crew instructions regarding seatbelts, “no smoking” or “fasten seatbelts” signs, as well as the location of these;
- The use of passenger-operated electronic devices;
- The location and operation of passenger oxygen systems; and
- The location and operation of life vests.
After take off
- Smoking and lavatory smoke detector tampering prohibitions;
- Advisability of using seatbelts during flight;
- When the fasten seatbelt sign has been illuminated for reasons of turbulence; and
- The requirement to stow carry-on baggage.
- Carry-on baggage stowage requirements;
- Correct seatback and chair-table positioning;
- The location of emergency exits, on flights scheduled for four hours duration or more; and
- Seatbelt requirements.
- “No smoking” requirement until passengers are in an airport “smoking” area;
- The safest and most hazard-free route for passengers to move from the aircraft to the terminal building; and
- Restrictions on passengers use of headphones/tape players until they are in the terminal building.