Brace Position

[Pandora's Box]

Interested what brace position for crew other airlines adopt.
With my previous airline, your hands went on top of your head, tucking your elbows in, so your whole head was covered......resulting in your head being protected from flying object so to speak....:}
However, I have real concerns about the brace position my current airline uses. Our hands do NOT go on head, instead we cross our arms protecting our stomach with head back against the seat......in what way is that going to protect your head???? I have brought this up many a times but it just goes straight out of the window := :=
Another thing im concerned about though, if i ever have to adopt the brace position, then i WILL protect my head but then would i be insured by the company cause i havn't followed the company's brace position....."How would they Know" i hear you ask, what happens if something went into my stomach which should have been protected.
I would much rather protect my head then my stomach :(

[crew_lj]

It's your body and your life, so do what you think is best to keep yourself protected in an emergency.

[lowerlobe]

To be honest I think the brace position is academic.It depends on how severe the impact is and where you are sitting.

If the impact is as severe as the Sioux City DC-10 then I think you would be flung around like a rag doll.Your intial brace position would exist for a second or two then physics takes over.

[ShesGreatintheGalley]

i agree.. i would rather protect my head - especially as i am a rear facing seat in an open cabin (no bulkhead in front between me and pax)

[Dolley]

Have you asked somebody in your current company why they have this brace position that seems to be quite different from most other carriers? Maybe your company can actually shed some light on things for you.

Maybe it has to do with your aircraft type and there have been tests? Just for example...

Must admit, it does sound odd!
May I ask which airline we are talking about?

[CD]

There is some discussion on various positions and rationale at the following links:
Advisory Circular 0155 - Brace Positions for Impact (http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/commerce/circulars/AC0155.htm)
Passenger and Flight Attendant Brace Positions (http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/commerce/circulars/AC0155_att.htm)
UK Studies Find That "Legs-back" Brace Position Is Optimal for Forward Facing Passengers (http://www.flightsafety.org/ccs/ccs_nov_dec95.pdf)
Studies Reveal Passenger Misconceptions About Brace Commands and Brace Positions (http://www.flightsafety.org/ccs/ccs_may_june98.pdf)

[Pandora's Box]

CD, Interesting links thanks for that.

Dolley, I fly on the 737 with a rear facing crew seat with no bulkhead....thats why i find that brace position very strange to say the least. I also flew on the 737 with my previous airline, again rear facing crew seat with no bulkhead but we protected our heads....so nothing to do with a/c type!!

Not sure if that has always been the brace position they use, or if they changed it after the bad crash they had years ago as it was proven to be more effective, but i cant see how!!

Have tried asking, but never get an answer :{

[marydoll]

In my airline we are told to put our hands under our legs, palms up to prevent your elbows locking. Again we are in rear facing seats with no bulkhead in front of us. No mention of protecting heads or stomachs...:confused:

[flaviafan]

I was wondering if there's any specific brace position to be used on board for mother with hand held infant

[FA1]

The world 'Brace' means to fix firmly; make steady; secure against pressure or impact. In the event of a crash landing, we brace so that we are secure against the impact, so that we aren't flung out of our seats which would cause serve injuring to ourselves. I don't think that by placing your hands on your head would really be protecting it in a crash. You are best to make sure that your head is secure.

[vodkaholic]

I was wondering if there's any specific brace position to be used on board for mother with hand held infant
of course, however in my airline it is pretty much the same as the normal brace position, but the mother (or any passenger carrying a baby on lap) has to cover the baby with her upper body as much as possible.

[1 WSOp Wokka]

In the Chinook, we orientate one arm towards our nearest exit and place it on our opposite shoulder resting our head in the 'v' created by the elbow.
Our other hand goes underneath the thighs and grips the front of the seat. This brace position is very good for heavy emergency landings and vertical g-loading to protect the spine and neck.
The orientation arm means that if the lights fail or we roll, we only need extend the arm which then points us toward our exit and helps alleviate disorientation.
If we find ourselves out of a seat, the idea would be to lie prone on the floor. Just a bit of gen from the RAF :ok:

[ContractFlyGal]

I am an instructor in the US and everywhere I have taught we use the same brace positons as shown on the Transport Canada site.