Emergency exit seats
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On our aircraft, any pax by any emergency exits have to be "suitable" pax to be sat there. They will only be briefed pre-takeoff if it is a self-help exit, ie no cabin crew sat there for takeoff..
A few years ago in the US, a friend of ours, given such seats, was asked if she understood and would be prepared to open it if need be. Her response was "can I practice first??"....
A few years ago in the US, a friend of ours, given such seats, was asked if she understood and would be prepared to open it if need be. Her response was "can I practice first??"....
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Quote
"Is speaking English a legal requirement? I very much doubt it."
On a recent internal US flight (Atlanta-PC Florida) the safety card stated that to occupy the emergency exit seats the pax had to know enough English to understand the briefing on the opening of the exits
s37
"Is speaking English a legal requirement? I very much doubt it."
On a recent internal US flight (Atlanta-PC Florida) the safety card stated that to occupy the emergency exit seats the pax had to know enough English to understand the briefing on the opening of the exits
s37
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SD, were there cabin crew stationed at the exits for take-off and landing? Long-haul aircraft (B777/A340 etc) usually have crew seated at the over wing exits, as they tend to be doors, not hatches. I imagine there is no requirement to brief pax if crew are stationed at the door.
SD..
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TKR,
If you flew with BA long haul, it would have been on a 777 or 747. These aircraft do not have self-help exits (overwing or otherwise). That's why you didn't get a briefing. A crew member is allocated to sit at each door/exit and will open the door. Also, there are instructions on how to open the door during the safety demonstration as well as instructions on each door. In the case of a pre-planned emergency where evacuation might be needed, able-bodied passengers would be briefed on door operation and other instructions.
Hope this helps and clarifies
Gg
If you flew with BA long haul, it would have been on a 777 or 747. These aircraft do not have self-help exits (overwing or otherwise). That's why you didn't get a briefing. A crew member is allocated to sit at each door/exit and will open the door. Also, there are instructions on how to open the door during the safety demonstration as well as instructions on each door. In the case of a pre-planned emergency where evacuation might be needed, able-bodied passengers would be briefed on door operation and other instructions.
Hope this helps and clarifies
Gg
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skydriller
certainly in UK you won't have to wait for CC to open an exit, it will be done before you're ready. Generally crew are superb and in an incident training kicks in and they perform.
(not saying anywhere else is better or worse, just that I have not worked for non UK)
certainly in UK you won't have to wait for CC to open an exit, it will be done before you're ready. Generally crew are superb and in an incident training kicks in and they perform.
(not saying anywhere else is better or worse, just that I have not worked for non UK)
Supercalifragilistic
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expialidocious
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Pre-booked?
Terry K Rumble
Obviously I was not there so did not hear what was said, but, the pre booked may not relate to online check in / seat selection. It may be that the passengers have had a connecting flight and been checked in hours before on another leg of their journey - something I have benefited from before.
However that still does not explain why unsuitable passengers were in the seats.
On a lo-co, into STN a couple of years ago I was shocked to see one of two middle age ladies in the exit row, across the aisle from me, use a walking stick to help her down the aisle after we landed.
I do look out for this sort of thing now, I'm glad to say I have not seen it since however.
Obviously I was not there so did not hear what was said, but, the pre booked may not relate to online check in / seat selection. It may be that the passengers have had a connecting flight and been checked in hours before on another leg of their journey - something I have benefited from before.
However that still does not explain why unsuitable passengers were in the seats.
On a lo-co, into STN a couple of years ago I was shocked to see one of two middle age ladies in the exit row, across the aisle from me, use a walking stick to help her down the aisle after we landed.
I do look out for this sort of thing now, I'm glad to say I have not seen it since however.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Flew Monarch last week, A320 IIRC. The seats were all at standard spacing with no extra for the emergency exit.
The emergency exit seat immediately in front on me (over wing) was occupied by a blue rinse lady. Next to her was her husband of similar ancient vintage.
I resolved to seek a different exit as I doubted not only that they could not operate the hatch release but would probably block the exit anyway.
The emergency exit seat immediately in front on me (over wing) was occupied by a blue rinse lady. Next to her was her husband of similar ancient vintage.
I resolved to seek a different exit as I doubted not only that they could not operate the hatch release but would probably block the exit anyway.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
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Just flown EZY from Gatwick (Ex GB air flight and aircraft), on boarding in both directions a CC member was stood in the overwing exit area to positively confirm that pax knew before sitting down what was required and questioned carefully that theyy were capable of dealing with the exit
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is it a requirement or not?
Seems like my question has been going through other people's minds as well...
But I still do not have an answer to the following:
Is it a requirement or not to have passengers sitting at the emergency exits? Besides being able bodied or not?
Is the manning of the exits a requirement of the FAA/JAR or of each individual airline?
But I still do not have an answer to the following:
Is it a requirement or not to have passengers sitting at the emergency exits? Besides being able bodied or not?
Is the manning of the exits a requirement of the FAA/JAR or of each individual airline?
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It depends on the loads, basically.
If you have 30 pax on a 737 and they're all seated at the back for trim and balance, you do not need anyone at the overwings. The reasoning behind this is that it's more important to keep the aircraft in trim than the minute chance that you'll need to use the overwing exits.
If you have fairly high loads, then you need an able bodied person at each over wing exit.
That said, if you're on a flight and seats are blocked off for trim, you can sit in the empty seats during the cruise. The blocking off of seats is for take off and landing.
Hope this clarifies things somewhat.
Gg
If you have 30 pax on a 737 and they're all seated at the back for trim and balance, you do not need anyone at the overwings. The reasoning behind this is that it's more important to keep the aircraft in trim than the minute chance that you'll need to use the overwing exits.
If you have fairly high loads, then you need an able bodied person at each over wing exit.
That said, if you're on a flight and seats are blocked off for trim, you can sit in the empty seats during the cruise. The blocking off of seats is for take off and landing.
Hope this clarifies things somewhat.
Gg
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I was on Flybe flight that was only about 10% full but I got moved to an emergency exit. I asked if I'd get the money from my pre-booked seat back. We all had a good laugh....
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I flew SAS Trondheim to Oslo yesterday on a 737-400. The emergency exit was row 9 but did not have the usual extra legroom found at exit rows. It looked as if the normal gap between what were now rows 8 and 10 had row 9 slotted in between them for extra seating. This impression was added to by the fact that both row 8 and row 9 seatbacks had the exit opening instuctions on them and the row 9 seatback was directly in line with the emergency hatch opening handle. The only apparent mitigation was that row 9 had no window seats but pax would still have needed to squeeze between row 8 seatbacks and row 9 armrests in an emergency.
s37
s37
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Hmmm
A Saudi Arabian Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30, flight SV-1905 from Riyadh to Taif (Saudi Arabia), had just touched down at Taif's Airport, when one of the overwing exit doors opened and fell into the cabin missing a child and the child's mother sitting in that exit row. No injuries occured.
A Saudi Arabian Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30, flight SV-1905 from Riyadh to Taif (Saudi Arabia), had just touched down at Taif's Airport, when one of the overwing exit doors opened and fell into the cabin missing a child and the child's mother sitting in that exit row. No injuries occured.
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Slightly at a tanget but...
I was travelling with BMI Baby some time ago - sitting on the front row as I generally do. Having flown on their aircraft umpteen times I quietly got on with reading my book whilst the safety demo was in progress. At the end the cabin manager (chap in late 40s - looked like he was more regularly ground based - trainer perhaps?) sat next to me and pointed out that I hadn't watched him during the demo. I gave the genuine reason which was that I'd travelled on this aircraft type with this airline approximately 100 times in the last year, so felt well aquainted with the demo. He replied that it was a legal requirement for me to listen/watch the demo regardless (is it really?) and so he proceeded to repeat the whole thing whilst seated next to me as the aircraft taxied. I quietly watched, listened and nodded at the right moments - but I did wonder when he started to tell me how to disengage the airslide and open the main door. Couldn't remember those points forming part of any airline safety demo I've seen ever!
Anyway, we ended up chatting amiably for most the flight and wished each other well as I disembarked and shook hands. Happy days....
Anyway, we ended up chatting amiably for most the flight and wished each other well as I disembarked and shook hands. Happy days....
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I cannot comment on the legality of you being required to listen, only that the aircraft commander is legally required to make sure that the passengers receive a safety briefing. Sounds like BS to me though.
The additional brief you received would not normally form part of a pre-flight briefing (at least not at my employer), but it is exactly the kind of information you would receive in the event of an in-flight emergency occurring where there is time to prepare the cabin for the expected emergency. Part of this preparation would be the identification of Able Bodies Passengers (ABPs); passengers both willing and able to assist in the event of an evacuation being required.
In most circumstances, as an ABP you would be expected to hold other passengers back long enough for the crew to open the doors (and deploy the escape slides if the aircraft type has them) and then be the first passengers to evacuate, in order to assist the following passengers with their evacuation. The brief on door operation would be required in the event of crew incapacitation, along with how to operate the crew harness should you need to move the crew member away from the door area in order to evacuate.
The additional brief you received would not normally form part of a pre-flight briefing (at least not at my employer), but it is exactly the kind of information you would receive in the event of an in-flight emergency occurring where there is time to prepare the cabin for the expected emergency. Part of this preparation would be the identification of Able Bodies Passengers (ABPs); passengers both willing and able to assist in the event of an evacuation being required.
In most circumstances, as an ABP you would be expected to hold other passengers back long enough for the crew to open the doors (and deploy the escape slides if the aircraft type has them) and then be the first passengers to evacuate, in order to assist the following passengers with their evacuation. The brief on door operation would be required in the event of crew incapacitation, along with how to operate the crew harness should you need to move the crew member away from the door area in order to evacuate.
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Slightly at a tangent, but on only one occasion have I seen cabin crew check whether emergency exit row passengers spoke the language of the airline's staff. This was on a US Airways' flight between Philadelphia and Montreal. I agreed to swop seats with French-speakers who did not have good English after a PA request for English speakers who were willing to occupy seats in the emergency exit row.
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Dipsy call centre advisor...
Quick question guys to add around extra leg room seating....
My father who has previously suffered from DVT called to pre-book an extra leg room seat with TOM this morning, only to be told by the call centre advisor that he was not eligible and would not be able to open the exit if there was an emergency. WHAT, with DVT?!?!?!?!??
However, in the past he has flown on TOM flights, booked seats at check in, informed them of the previous DVT and granted the seats! Even TOM cabin crew have moved him into an exit seat if spare and he has been seated in economy.
It has absolutely baffled me as to why this call centre advisor has not allowed him to book the seat when he informed her that he is absolutely physically fit to operate the door and has sat in exit rows on numerous previous flights.
One to follow up myself I think.....
My father who has previously suffered from DVT called to pre-book an extra leg room seat with TOM this morning, only to be told by the call centre advisor that he was not eligible and would not be able to open the exit if there was an emergency. WHAT, with DVT?!?!?!?!??
However, in the past he has flown on TOM flights, booked seats at check in, informed them of the previous DVT and granted the seats! Even TOM cabin crew have moved him into an exit seat if spare and he has been seated in economy.
It has absolutely baffled me as to why this call centre advisor has not allowed him to book the seat when he informed her that he is absolutely physically fit to operate the door and has sat in exit rows on numerous previous flights.
One to follow up myself I think.....
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On my return from an FAA conference recently I was in a F100 with a Embraer 145 emergency card in front of me. I had to laugh, my fourth flight with T(ake) A(nother) P(lane) having had so many ridiculous dramas on the previous 3 flights and having to pay for one cancelled flight on the trip. I did point out to the cabin crew it wasn't really legal!!! They then managed to pour coffee over me!
Last flew them 20 years ago, swore I'd never fly them again ... this time I'm sticking to it!
Last flew them 20 years ago, swore I'd never fly them again ... this time I'm sticking to it!