Seat Belt signs.

[sky9]

The following is a Silks opinion of the use of Seat Belt signs during flight obtained by a Flight Safety organisation in the UK.

"In the event of the seat belt sign being illuminated in flight the primary responsibility rests with the commander to ensure that the cabin is secure. In practice this responsibility is exercised through the In-Charge cabin crew member by procedures for communication between the flight deck and the cabin.



Once the flight crew has been made aware of turbulence, the normal course of action is to advise the In-Charge cabin crew member that the seat belt sign is being illuminated and when the signal has been illuminated, the cabin crew should check that all passengers are secured and that the galley equipment is stowed before getting strapped in themselves. This does mean that if the cabin service is underway it is suspended at that point and resumed when the seat belt sign is switched off. "

How does it compare with your company's policy?

[galleypower]

Thats exactly how it is handled in the airline I am flying for...
I would think this is true for most airlines I have been flying with.

The only difference I noticed during the years is that some cabin crews are really sticking to the rule and also wake up sleeping unfastened pax and others prety much ignore it....

[Rollingthunder]

And then there are some CC Pusers who delight in getting the sign illuminated so they can confine pax to their seats while they do a meal service. Nary a trace of turbulance followed - once after six hours of continual illumination. Guess they forgot to turn it off.

Wrote up the purser for that one. He didn't know I was staff and not taking any crap from him.

[Panama Jack]

At my airline, along with the seatbelt sign "on" we have different levels that it implies. Basically:

Level 1-- Continuation of normal service, just a precaution
Level 2-- Suspension of hot drinks service
Level 3-- Service to be suspended, cabin crew to be seated.

This is briefed with our cabin service manager (purser).

[BelArgUSA]

I am a 747 captain.
xxx
I try not to abuse of the seat belt sign.
And I try not to forget to turn it OFF...
xxx
Fully aware that passengers who are subject to a sign illuminated for 30 minutes or more, without any turbulence, will no longer observe the warning and will leave their seat (toilets etc.)...
xxx
With my airline, our flight attendants are very agressive in having the passengers keeping their belts at all times when in their seats, smooth flight or not. Our flight attendants make a PA briefing to that effect when we turn the seat belts sign OFF in climb, generally at 10,000 feet.
xxx
Legalities: A passenger is entitled to damages if hurt during flight, because of turbulence incurring when seat belt sign is OFF. Our airline policy, and our lawyers have obtained from the courts that NO damages will be paid if a passenger is not in his seat with a belt secured when the sign is ON.
xxx
We also have the call "flight attendants please be seated", when required.
xxx
:)
Happy contrails

[sky9]

Panama Jack, that is why I started the thread. Your company's instructions do not stand up to legal examination and need to be changed to reflect a very senior Silks views. There is no discretion, seat belt on; secure the cabin and sit down.
(This is UK Law, I accept that PPRuNe is an international forum)