What to include in safety brief

[Viggen]

Apologies if this has been discussed already - when taking my skills test, I know I will be expected to talk through a safety brief for my "passenger" i.e. the examiner.

Is there a standard list of items to cover in the briefing? Should I give the briefing as if the examiner is a first-time passenger ?

Anything extra you'd include post-PPL when briefing friends / family who are flying with you?

[FlyingCesspit]

The CAA Safety Sense Leaflet 2 "Care of Passengers" would be your best bet. You can download it from http://www.caa.co.uk/srg/general_aviation/document.asp?groupid=231.

And yes, I would treat your examiner as a newecomer to flying!

[Evo7]

I remember someone posting a very good example briefing here once, but now I need it I cannot find it anywhere. If anyone can make search find it then I'd be grateful ... and sorry to hijack the thread :)

[dublinpilot]

Well here's what I use.

Examiner seemed very happy with mine. Just remember to show them where to step and where not to step before entering the cockpit.

________________________________________________
Passenger Briefing


Seat-belts

Please remove any sharp articles from your pockets.

Your seat back may be adjusted by pulling the top of the seat back forward, and then moving the whole seat back forward or back. Then push the top back to lock into position. Please ensure that it is locked in position so that it can’t move.

Please fasten your seat belt, and leave it fastened until we land again and the engine is shut off. Lengthen the strap if necessary, insert the belt link into the belt buckle and tighten the belt by pulling the free end until you have a snug fit.

To release your seat belt, pull outward on the front of the buckle.

Talking

I would ask you to remain quite during the landing and takeoff, as my workload is increased during these phases of flight.

Please also remain quite when ever I am speaking or whenever ATC or another aircraft is speaking on the radio.

Rudder pedals

Rudder pedals are at your feet, in the front of the cabin. Please ensure that your feet are not resting on them at any stage of the flight.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed onboard or around the aircraft.

Emergency Landing

In the unlikely event of having to make an emergency landing, I will inform you that we are about make an emergency landing. In such an event please ensure that your seat belt is tight. As I will have a lot of checks to do at this point, please remain quite, and ensure that your feet are not on the rudder pedals.

Having completed an emergency landing, I will open the cabin. Please evacuate as quickly as possible, move away from the aircraft, and be careful to avoid the propeller area.

Should I not be fit to open the cabin, it may be opened as follows.

Should the need arise, we are carrying a fire extinguisher which is located here, and a basic first aid medical kit, which is located here.


Comfort

If you are feeling unwell or uncomfortable at any stage during the flight, please advise me as early as possible, so that I can take appropriate action.

If you fell you may get sick, there is a sick bag located here.

Questions

If you have any questions, you can ask me now.

[Fokker-Jock]

If you give your examiner the above excellent pax briefing he will definately not flunk you on that issue.

Good luck!

[Evo7]

Thanks dublinpilot - that's probably better than the one I was looking for :)

[Genghis the Engineer]

A fair question, well asked, and well answered by dublinpilot in particular.

It irritates me how few pilots, PPLs particularly don't do a decent brief, which is after-all an ANO requirement - I'm glad some people take it seriously.


Mine is a little different to dublinpilots, and it might be useful to you to see a different version in determining what approach works for you (I don't include seat adjustment, etc. since I'd normally do that less formally beforehand).

- This is the pre take-off briefing

- This will be my take-off, on rwy XXX, the wind is about YYY headwind, and ZZZ crosswind from the L/R. That means I'll be using slight L/R stick to counteract it. We should be airborne by about___, if we're not airborne by about ___, I'll retard the throttle and stop on the runway.

- I'll be taking off with __ flaps, starting my retraction at___. We will then (turn onto heading / enter a * hand circuit / climb straight out / etc.)

- In the event of an engine failure after take-off, up to 500ft I'll pick a field, turning no more than 30°, and land ahead. Above 500ft I'll execute a tight glide circuit to the *** and land back-on.

- Subsequently, the main emergencies that we might meet are ????, and the actions I'll take if that occurs will be.

- If we do have to force land, we should exit the aircraft as soon as possible after the engine and aircraft have both stopped, as follows....

- If at any point in the flight you see anything that worries you, please tell me. However, I'd appreciate it if you'd avoid chatting when we're departing or arriving the airfield, and also if you hear me say "transmitting", I'd appreciate it if you'd belt up for a moment whilst I make a radio transmission.

- Did you get all that okay, and do you have any questions before I proceed?


I should say that personally most of my "pax" are either people who know me well, or pilots / aviation professionals of some description, and hence my brief is punchy and formal. If, say, I'm flying with a child (or my mother), the brief contains the same basic information, but probably takes 3 times along and is presented as a chat before take-off.

G

[Viggen]

All

Thanks for your responses. This is all very useful stuff - both for the test itself and for later trips when I want my friends to feel comfortable with the idea of being in a "small" aircraft with me in command!

[logie_bear]

Viggen,

For what it's worth, I tailor the pre-flight brief to each passenger's interest/experience with a longer version for first-timers but everyone gets the following 'safety' brief whether it's flight no 1 or 1001.

--
No Smoking
Emergency Exits - location and use
Survival Equipment - location and use
(Supplementary) Oxygen - location and use
Belts and Doors - location and use
Controls - don't touch 'em
Communications - when to shutup etc
Lookout - let me know if you see another aircraft
Emergencies - follow my advice
Flight Plan - general gist of what we're about to do
Comfort - are you comfortable?
Questions - speak up now or forever hold you peace etc
--

Works for passengers and testing officers alike..

l_b

[Carlito]

The one use includes, " In the event of an emergency landing I will open the door before landing in case it is damaged and cannot be opened".
Very important in a Cherokee with only the one door!
Carlito

[Miss Bigglesworth]

I always tell them where to find the sickbags. That way, if they are feeling a bit peaky, I don't have to worry about digging out bags in a hurry to beat the inevitable. It also reduces the passenger's panic.

[Pedal_Turn]

Saw this on usenet in a similar topic:

Welcome aboard [insert pilot's name] Airlines flight 0069 departing [insert airfield] en route, with any luck at all, to [insert destination].

Please make sure your seatbelt is on and that your seat is securely fastened to the fuselage.

At this time, any personal items should be stowed securely in the trunk of your car, since there is no overhead compartment or space beneath your seat, to speak of.

Please turn off all portable electronic devices, and keep them off until we have landed safely, or for the duration of the flight, whichever comes first.

Smoking is not permitted inside the cabin; smoking outside the cabin should be reported to the captain immediately.

There is no beverage service during the flight, however, heavy drinking prior to takeoff is encouraged.

In-flight entertainment will consist of watching my desperate struggle to control the plane.

We'll be flying at an altitude of __[insert altitude]___ feet today, in theory. Should the plane's altitude drop precipitously, please check to ensure that I am awake and in the upright position.

Lavatories are located at either end of the flight.

As we prepare for takeoff, please take this opportunity to locate the exit nearest you and, if you have any sense at all, avail yourself of it before it's too late.

Be assured that in all my time aloft, I HAVE NEVER lost a passenger; however, your results may vary.

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight.
:)

[sennadog]

The only thing that I would add to these excellent briefs concerns the Skills Test.

At some point the Examiner is going to take control of the aircraft so I asked him during the taxiying if he could reach the pedals alright and to test the brakes on his side. It just shows that you are thinking outside the box and can earn you extra brownie points.

But only on the skills test, never again after you've passed. I take it you are doing your test soon, so good luck.

[FNG]

You might add in a reference to and demonstration of the bracing position.

After the pre-takeoff checks, and before lining up, I usually say something like:-

"In the event of an engine failure or other emergency during or after the take off, I will land the aircraft. Your actions should be to brace, brace [demonstrating the position as I say this]. After the aircraft has come to a complete stop, evacuate to the rear of the aircraft, keeping well clear of the propeller".

Another thing which you might sort out, perhaps before climbing on board or starting up is the "I have, you have" routine if the passenger is likely to want a go at the controls.

Of course the safety briefing isn't just relevant for the test, and I think that it's a pity that the original poster's instructor didn't instil the briefing into him/her from an early stage. Even the stuff about pedal position and right-seat brake efficacy may be important if you have another pilot sitting next to you (instructor or not), or even an intelligent passenger. When I fly a nosewheel aircraft I usually ask the right seater to test their brake controls. I tend not to in a tailwheel aircraft where the brakes are more for directional control than for stopping.

[Viggen]

FNG

My instructor has covered this subject just fine - he had also included the very relevant point from sennadog and yourself about asking if the examiner would like to test his/her brakes. I just wanted to seek further input from you guys in case there was anything else I could include.

Thanks for the input and I hope I'll be posting some positive news of the test on here soon...!