Aer Lingus pax 'disembark' onto wings
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the Captain initiated the “Rapid Disembarkation” procedure which is an SOP in Aer Lingus which is, in effect, a halfway step between a full evacuation and normal disembarkation.
If the airline procedures allow for something in between, that should be properly explained to the pax in advance, and if the overwing exits are not to be used, that should be briefed to the exit row pax as well.
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That is an interesting question, why is there a procedure between "Normal" and "Emergency?" If the plane had in fact been filling up with toxic fumes the only question we would now be asking is "why did it take so long to evacuate?" This is an example of normalcy bias in my opinion. The problem is that there are a lot of people and little volume in an aircraft so you don't have the same time to ponder whether you have a real situation as you do with a house or ship. Fortunately these events are quite rare so I would think that a company could easily absorb the costs of non-essential evacuations, and it does provide good practice -- and each event gives the engineers something to ponder when designing new aircraft.
You don't want your last thought to be "it is probably nothing..."
You don't want your last thought to be "it is probably nothing..."
That is an interesting question, why is there a procedure between "Normal" and "Emergency?" If the plane had in fact been filling up with toxic fumes the only question we would now be asking is "why did it take so long to evacuate?" This is an example of normalcy bias in my opinion. The problem is that there are a lot of people and little volume in an aircraft so you don't have the same time to ponder whether you have a real situation as you do with a house or ship. Fortunately these events are quite rare so I would think that a company could easily absorb the costs of non-essential evacuations, and it does provide good practice -- and each event gives the engineers something to ponder when designing new aircraft.
Worth noting, too, that that AAIU investigation report did not see the need to make any Safety Recommendations in relaton to the event.
This may be one of the few occasions on this forum where a non professional's view might help
As an 'interested' passenger and private pilot who has followed airplane and airline progress for over fifty years I can tell you that the functional difference between 'Disembark' and 'Evacuate' had not really occurred to me until reading about this incident. (Of course I know the 'literal' difference.) Younger people who have no interest in airplanes other than how much it cost to 'get there' wouldn't have a clue, and certainly not in the heat of the moment of an apparent emergency.
As three of my kids went through armed forces officer training a few years ago I was struck by how much of that training was about communicating precise instructions. Basically if you have not told someone exactly how not to screw up they will inevitably make the screw up choices.
The question will be how to tell passengers that you want them to disembark quickly and without their possessions without them jumping to the conclusion that it is some kind of emergency.
As an 'interested' passenger and private pilot who has followed airplane and airline progress for over fifty years I can tell you that the functional difference between 'Disembark' and 'Evacuate' had not really occurred to me until reading about this incident. (Of course I know the 'literal' difference.) Younger people who have no interest in airplanes other than how much it cost to 'get there' wouldn't have a clue, and certainly not in the heat of the moment of an apparent emergency.
As three of my kids went through armed forces officer training a few years ago I was struck by how much of that training was about communicating precise instructions. Basically if you have not told someone exactly how not to screw up they will inevitably make the screw up choices.
The question will be how to tell passengers that you want them to disembark quickly and without their possessions without them jumping to the conclusion that it is some kind of emergency.
FWIW Are Lingus isn't the only operator with an "in between" procedure
Typically you might need such a procedure when you want people off rapidly during embarkation or disembarkation (e.g. perhaps due to a small fuelling spill) where it may be hazardous to use slides due to ground equipment around the aircraft, jetties and steps being in place at doors, etc.
Good question, especially in the context of what started this thread. We have a carefully scripted announcement for use in such circumstances (for example it avoids any use of the use of the words “Exit” and”Emergency” ) but by the sounds of it the Aer Linus crew had similar.
As an aside our announcement, amongst other things, does include an instruction to passengers to follow directions given by the crew, something that some on another thread running at the moment seem to find controversial.
The question will be how to tell passengers that you want them to disembark quickly and without their possessions without them jumping to the conclusion that it is some kind of emergency.
As an aside our announcement, amongst other things, does include an instruction to passengers to follow directions given by the crew, something that some on another thread running at the moment seem to find controversial.
Last edited by wiggy; 10th May 2019 at 09:12.
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I was on a SQ B777, on an airbridge stand at SIN. Mid-way through boarding, the Captain announced "please will everyone deplane immediately". Wasnt an evac and the cabin crew rushed pax to the 2 open doors (First and Business) avoiding any closed doors. Obviously SQ had a mid procedure.
Interestingly the Capt then came into the terminal and told us he had a fire warning in the hold, which was why he asked us to leave immediately, but he didn't deem that to be urgent enough to evac. Turned out to be an aerosole but he couldn't have known that. After we reboarded 2 hours later, we taxiied to the runway and returned to stand due to an issue with the flaps, unsurprisingly a couple of pax then decided they wanted to get off the flight!
Interestingly the Capt then came into the terminal and told us he had a fire warning in the hold, which was why he asked us to leave immediately, but he didn't deem that to be urgent enough to evac. Turned out to be an aerosole but he couldn't have known that. After we reboarded 2 hours later, we taxiied to the runway and returned to stand due to an issue with the flaps, unsurprisingly a couple of pax then decided they wanted to get off the flight!
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Even during a normal disembarkation, it's not uncommon for a PRM to get out of their seat and try to make their own way to the front of the aircraft, even when they have been instructed to wait until everyone else has disembarked. I can't imagine this scenario would be any different.
Even during a normal disembarkation, it's not uncommon for a PRM to get out of their seat and try to make their own way to the front of the aircraft, even when they have been instructed to wait until everyone else has disembarked. I can't imagine this scenario would be any different.
QF at the time I flew for them had "precautionary disembarkation"- basically, a need to disembark asap but where the risk of injury using slides is greatwer than the risk of the non normal/non standard event.
this was only ever to be done after a thorough PA to pax, outlining which doors were to be used (nominates by capt after briefing with cc) and whether steps or slides would be used. Usually the phrase was "due to an abnormal situation, as a PRECAUTION we require to disembark all passengers. At this time steps are/are not available (and slides will be used). Doors mentioned and demoed by crew. Leave all bags, proceed calmly, follow all crew instructions etc. CC would use downgraded version of commands in a normal "marshalling people" volume to the tune of "leave cabin baggage, walk quickly, take care on the stairs/sit down and slide"
at any time it could be upgraded to full evac if situation demanded it, by an announcement on the PA "evacuate evacuate evacuate" and corresponding commands by CC. E.g. "leave everything this way jump and slide/run and move away etc etc...
iirc they used this method in SIN with the wounded A380 once established that full evac was not necessary due presence of RFFS
this was only ever to be done after a thorough PA to pax, outlining which doors were to be used (nominates by capt after briefing with cc) and whether steps or slides would be used. Usually the phrase was "due to an abnormal situation, as a PRECAUTION we require to disembark all passengers. At this time steps are/are not available (and slides will be used). Doors mentioned and demoed by crew. Leave all bags, proceed calmly, follow all crew instructions etc. CC would use downgraded version of commands in a normal "marshalling people" volume to the tune of "leave cabin baggage, walk quickly, take care on the stairs/sit down and slide"
at any time it could be upgraded to full evac if situation demanded it, by an announcement on the PA "evacuate evacuate evacuate" and corresponding commands by CC. E.g. "leave everything this way jump and slide/run and move away etc etc...
iirc they used this method in SIN with the wounded A380 once established that full evac was not necessary due presence of RFFS
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Pax just can't win.
If they follow the little picture-diagrams in the safety card, they get criticized.
If they ignore the little picture-diagrams in the safety-card, they get criticized.
Passenger offloaded from Air NZ flight for ignoring safety briefing
"Everything not prohibited is compulsory."
If they follow the little picture-diagrams in the safety card, they get criticized.
If they ignore the little picture-diagrams in the safety-card, they get criticized.
Passenger offloaded from Air NZ flight for ignoring safety briefing
"Everything not prohibited is compulsory."
