I am sorry to hear your briefings are boring you guys. Unfortunately, there are good and bad No1`s and the same with airlines. I was a No1 for over 11 years and was also SEP/Security trainer. I am now junior crew again. As you may of read in my earlier posting regarding briefings I would not say my briefing were boring and when training new No1`s I would tell them to always include yourself. It is not easy as it looks to conduct a good brief; also there is the peer pressure of not giving a "mean" briefing as word gets out that they are ****** etc.... and everyone on this world wants to be liked- hence the BCF check, paxs faints.
I started flying with a UK airline which you learnt Drills for this and that and they had to be word perfect, as was learning the emergency PA. The only thing is great- learn these drills and PA`s parrot fashion like at school with times tables 1x2=2, 2x2=4, Acknowledge, Brief, Collect, but you have to know what it means.
The airline changed it training methods, although still drilled and PA ed they explain it, although I don`t agree with word for word answers.
When I joined a new airline I ended up training SEP. I got the trainee crew to tell me what they would in an emergency situation type story I was telling them, therefore they creating the drill by telling me. OK it was not word prefect and we needed to tweak it here and there; but hey did it sink in.
I also used this in briefings.
The problem with learn by manual is that it is a GUIDE and most probably have to be re- aranged some of the fomular to get you though that day. Manuals are written from passed emergencies. Look what happen to that United DC-10 when the tail engine had a fan blade failure it broke all THREE hydraulic systems. The manual for the f/d probably was not much good to them, but past experiences.
The most important thing to remember is that an unplanned emergency is more likely to happen than a planned, and you have to bloodly quick in that instance.
My 3rd airline training was excellent, not 1 drill or PA learning parrot fashion, but practial drill training in mock ups, which was then tested both written in multi-choice, and practically. BRILLIANT.
[This message has been edited by euroboy (edited 19 February 2001).]
[This message has been edited by euroboy (edited 19 February 2001).]