Do the younger crewmembers (both FAs and pilots) realize that when these demonstrations are performed by the manufacturer, the "passengers" consist of MD or Boeing (even at Airbus?) employees and family members? It is a very "rigged" and unrealistic demonstration, and was normally conducted in a well-illuminated aircraft hangar. The so-called "passengers" are all well-briefed and prepared for playing this game for the FAA, and do it over and over until it is done within the required time limit: what a charade. Maybe with a serious situation in the real airplane with real passengers, the Rescue crew can be reached on Ground or Tower freq. If you have a tiny bit of smoke and flames contained within the exhaust pipe of a jet, you might nOT want to evacuate. A Delta crew coordinated with the Rescue crew years ago and kept everyone onboard in their seats and calmed down, instead of risking serious injury on evac slides from high in the air, as the fire truck sprayed the engine exhaust.
Don't let anyone fool you-I've watched these demo films on tv, either on the Discovery Wings channel, or on others.
There is only a general connection between this game and the real thing. Many actual passengers go forward to the main cabin door, no matter what instructions are given by crewmembers. Many have been seen to pull their bags etc from overhead bins before they consider leaving the plane, especially when no smoke or fire is noticed. It is fascinating just how may unwitting passengers are allowed (by the certification rules) to be seated/"crammed" into those many coach seats, far from aircraft exits, and on a very windy day, good luck to those going down evac chutes from a large aircraft, whether overwing or not. Let's just hope that the slides are fully inflated.
Even the floor lighting was not required in the US for many years (also triggered by loss of the DC Emer Bus).
Last edited by Ignition Override; 8th December 2002 at 03:11.