from the Irish Aviation Authority
Must be occupied for taxi, take off and landing.
Title: IAA Policy regarding: “The Occupancy of Passenger seats immediately adjacent to Type III, Self-Help, Emergency Exits and the Pre-flight Awareness Briefing of those passengers who occupy them”
1. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this advisory memorandum is to outline IAA policy, as applicable to aircraft type, with regard to the occupancy of passenger seats at emergency exits where there is no cabin crew presence (self help exits) and to highlight the importance of conducting an appropriate pre flight awareness briefing for those passengers who occupy these seats.
2. REFERENCES
EU OPS, TGL 44, ICAO Annex 6 Part 1, S.I. 61/2006.
3. DETAIL
3.1 Background
The aircraft certification process for emergency evacuation assumes that the seats adjacent to self- help emergency exits are occupied by passengers or in some cases by cabin crew. If these seats are unoccupied, the operation of the self help emergency exit and the subsequent evacuation could be delayed as passengers may not realise that they should open the exits. Passengers would also need to move from their assigned seats to the exits and then familiarise themselves with the operating instructions on the exit placard before opening the exits.
3.2 IAA Policy
3.2.1 It is IAA policy that passenger seats immediately adjacent to self help emergency exits are occupied
during taxi, take-off and landing. This will ensure a speedy and efficient response should a situation arise which warrants an emergency evacuation of the aeroplane. Operations Manual procedures shall take into account the suitability criteria and any restrictions for certain categories of passengers.
3.2.2 Prior to the commencement of taxi, an operator shall ensure that cabin crew conduct an appropriate awareness briefing for those passengers seated immediately adjacent to self help emergency exits. This abbreviated briefing shall determine the passengers’ suitability to occupy the seats and seek their consent to assist in an emergency evacuation should the need arise. The passengers shall be advised to read and understand the operating instructions for the self help emergency exits, which are located on the exit placards and the passenger safety briefing cards.
It shall be made clear to the passengers in the briefing that such exits are designated as “self help emergency exits” and there will be no cabin crewmember presence at them.