Settle a bet...? - A quick question
 

Not that I hate to lose an argument or anything but would like to convince a friend of the following.

I seem to recall most pax aircraft on most operators such as your average B737 etc that the seatbelt sign would be on at the commencement of boarding. That is, right throughout the boarding process. The exception to this is if fuel is being put on or taken off during boarding.

I also know that pax are supposed to be briefed NOT to wear seatbelts and told not to use mobile phones etc if this is the case.

The discussion arose when I noticed we were not briefed as above during boarding on a VB flight last week although the seatbelt sign was not on.

Petty question I know.

When you say you were not briefed, do you mean refuelling WAS taking place? If so, yes, you should have been briefed. If not, then there's really no need as the crew will check seatbelts when securing after the sign eventually does come on... it's not often, sure, but sometimes it (the sign) gets forgotten or takes longer for some reason...

Maybe some DJ crew can give you more details, but as far as I can see you'd only need to be briefed if indeed fuelling was happening...

AJM

CAO 20.9, S 4.2.2 covers it in detail and you're correct, pax must be advised before fuel is loaded.

The only airline I've experienced that does this routinely is Jetstar, who in their boarding PA and Welcome to PA state something like, "As the aircraft may be being refuelled, passengers are reminded ....."

I've been on a B747 being refuelled at the gate after an air return where nothing was said, and a 737 which made a tech stop for fuel due to a U/S centre tank where nothing was said and every one still had belts on and the belt sign stayed on.