Cabin crew brace positions
 

I'm doing a bit of research on crew brace positions.

Specifically, are you required to sit on your hands to prevent arms from flailing?

Yes we are, alternatively i place my palms securely on my knees with my feet flat on the ground. And chin to my chest is expected i think.

Yes. But if for some reason you can't do that, or it is really uncomfortable, then you may have your hands on your lap as Sebby says...

I found out the hard way, do not wear a ring with a big(ish) rock on it as you will have to (sort of) sit on it, or forever be turning it every time you sit down!!! :}

LOL SS, you just want to show off that you have a big ring :p

Whose the lucky guy?? :oh:

Any position where you an KISS your A@# goodbye will do.

:p :) ;) :O :E

What is better palms up or down under your thighs on the SemiBrace position? Ive worked for 2 airlines and they have both been different... does it make much difference?

When I first started flying we got told palms up under the thigh, as this would offer the most protect?!

Yer palms up for sure!

Palms down...?
 

Ouch..! I dunno, seems to me if you are sitting with your palms down then your elbows will be in an awkward/'locked' position... sounds like a (not) nice way to break an elbow if you ask me... well, I find it uncomfortable, anyway, would need to sit with my elbows bent and out a bit... which kind of defeats the purpose...

But, as you say, different airline, different procedure!!!

(Now if they were going to be REALLY pedantic about it, everyone would be facing backwards!!)

Palms should be up, so if your jump seat collapses you don`t break your wrists.

at my old airline the Emergency Brace was the same as the Semibrace but you'd put your head forward or back depending what way you were facing.. however at my new airline we have the semi brace and in an Emergency Landing you bring your arms up to protect your head the same as the passengers.

I know that different airlines have different procedures, but wouldnt it make more sence for the CAA to investigate the safest and have the same accross the board? I know that they tend to unfortunatley learn from mistakes, such as Kegworth and the Passenger Brace position, but if the Passengers all have to do the same brace at all UK airlines then why not us?

I suppose if the worst happens your survival instintcs would take over and you'd do what you think is best for yourself.

You should really address this question to the Quantas CC's..........is'nt "bracing" themselves part of their culture:E

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

Hi ya, just to add my ten penneth!

In both airlines I've worked for I've never had to sit on my hands, palm up or palm down...not as part of SOP anyway! Hehe! ;)

It was:

Airline 1: T/O and LDG: Arms folded against chest
Fwd facing feet slightly fwd and chin to chest
Rear facing feet slightly back and head to headrest
Pre-planned emergency: feet same as T/O or LDG but with head up and hands on back of head and elbows kind of in line with forehead, does that make sense? So you could still scream and holler at the SLF but would protect your head and face.

We were told to remember it as (which I hated but it works) 'bow to the captain' lol

Airline 2: T/O and LDG: Hands in lap (no rude comments please! lol) and head/feet the same as above

Emergency the same as above too.

Well theres my little piece of it, hope it helps!

Hoping you all only ever need the T/O and LDG ones...happy flying!

Xx

Research has indicated that bracing with hands secured under thighs can cause injury to hands and arms due to their awkward position.

In Australia most airlines instruct crew to brace with hands on knees.

When I was flying in Australia the hands on knees was only an alternative to palms up under thighs and heads to the cockpit in any normal operation.

On Qantas flights (domestic) the announcement says something along the lines of 'if you can't reach the seat in front of you bend forward and grab your ankles...' in ECONOMY - you are so packed in you would have to be a very small person or deformed not to be able to reach the seat in front.

This is for a passenger of course.

:p

At BA the crew brace position is with both hands behind your head, fingers NOT interlocked. Elbows together in front of your face. Your head and hands are against your seatback (you are sitting upright). Knees and feet together.

The above applies if you're in a crew seat with full harness. If you're in a passenger seat then you have your head touching your knees (if possible) and hands on top of your head, fingers NOT interlocked. Elbows to the side of your legs.

Yes im sure we are aware of what the pax should do, but crew are required to be in their brace position for regualr take off and landing aswell, one of the main reasons is that we dont have ergonomic seats or armrests to keep us in and in the event of an emergency we need to be in a position to be safe and act quickly if necessary.

I, myself am not able to reach the seat infront of me as a passenger so the latter option definitey applies to me. Its not uncommon...

Thank you for all of your replies! The variety of positions is very interesting...

What? Oh, ok. I've never heard of such a thing. At BA we don't do that.