I am sure many BT readers have watched numerous safety videos; sometimes even more than a couple per day.

I always make an effort to put down my newspaper and focus on the crew giving the safety briefing, or watch the video, out of respect to them but also because I would hope that my fellow passengers would do the same.

I might have to rely on one of them helping out to an exit if I was ever injured in a crash and so it's in everyone's interest to make a point of putting distractions aside and focussing for five minutes.

I think Virgin's Safety video is about the best in the business, over its several iterations in the past few decades.

But I really like this Air New Zealand video I recently saw; certainly it keeps one's attention and I like the down-to-earth language used:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f1awn9vBZE

Do make sure Mrs Tarrant's eyes are averted for the last few seconds of the clip...!

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Fabuloussafety briefiing. The only issue about having something as interesting on this side of the globe would be which team to employ. I think having Rooney, Terry and co on a similar safety brieifing would give passengers enough reason to jump out!

On a serious note, the nature of the safety briefing is important enough to listen to - when the part about the lifejacket is mentioned, I always make a point of searching for mine to make sure its there and if my fellow passenger is reading a paper I always ensure that he/she notices and I give them the thumbs up. Cabin crew always give me a smile for this.

Passengers reading papers is one thing, but I take great exception to both adults and children who insist on talking over the safety briefing, which is just rude, infact very rude.

Unlike VintageKrug who makes an effort to put his paper down, I will always put my paper down and listen for both safety reasons and because thats the way I was bought up, to be polite and to listen.

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Just once, on an Easyjet Nice/Stansted flight, one female FA standing at the front and doing the safety briefing stopped, confidently walked a few paces down the aisle and told one passenger who was still talking how by shutting up and listening for a couple of minutes they may save their life. Brought a muted round of applause from the surrounding rows.

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I listen every time and look very carefully for things like how the lifevest fastens, tied, plastic clip or metal hook and loop. Like Martyn Sinclair, I always check under the seat for the vest, too.

The worst example of over talking I ever saw was from a dead heading captain and FO of a major European airline, who subsequently proceeded to unbuckle and make themselves a cup of coffee in the galley with the belt sign on over the alps, in turbulence.

Not a great example.

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I always watch the crew or the video, it is for all our saftey and with respect to the crew. There is nothing worse than the arrogance of some people who because the travel often feel they know it all.

ANZ have some good video's, the one they used on domestic services last year was quite good, but the one in the link is a really good way of attracting attention. They were talking about having the crew naked last year. Don't know if it happened.

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By which, I believe you are talking about this little gem from ANZ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Mq9HAE62Y

On the subject of inflight videos, VK may be able to help: the "ba.com" video that's often played at the beginning of LH flights, who's the lovely lady who does that one?

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Again (and worryingly) I agree with VK. I always watch the video or demonstration, probably for the mostly same reasons as others have stated.

It's interesting that it seems to be passenger who do the "i travel all the time, so I don't need to look" pretence (although they obviously don't travel that often by evidence of their other behaviour) that ignore it. I'm actually surprised (and pleased) by how many obviously genuine frequent flyers do pay attention.

The points about "this may actually save your life, numbskull" is extremely valid. Equally, it might actually prevent you inadvertantly taking someone else's too.

I work on the principle that every time I've watched the demo, I've not needed the advice and got to my destination safely and it has therefore become a bit of a superstition with me. So hey, if it works.....

Cheers, Simon

PS The 25th anniversary of the Manchester fire brought a point home. A former colleague of mine and his family were booked on that flight but missed it due to traffic delays driving up from Birmingham. There but for the grace....

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I once read advice from a pilot to count the number of seat rows to the nearest exit, bearing in mind it might be behind you, as you take your seat. Extra fumbling guide to the floor lighting. Very topical on the anniversary of the Manchester disaster.

For the pilots amongst you, any comment on the recent trend, albeit anecdotal, for landing accidents taking place in what would appear to be unacceptable weather conditions? Lightning in the Caribbean one, heavy rain in others including the AF A340 at YYZ & a long landing. For all the attention understandably paid to weather conditions at flight planning, seems rather obvious that diversions should be made. Miaow!

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I always check behind me to count the number of seats/suites between me and the exit; the Manchester accident anniversary was indeed the prompt for this thread.

Here is the report into that 1985 disaster:

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/8_1988_g_bgjl.cfm

52 people died on this routine flight to Corfu.

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VK

With the very greatest of respect, no flight is routine.

That's why the various safety briefs are in place, to top up everyone's awareness.

Even flying oneself, in a single engined light aircraft, one should review the abnormal procedures, think about your options if the engine croaks 'low n slow' after departure etc.

If one reviews the safety stats since 1945, the improvement has been phenomenal.

That is due to carriers developing proven SOPs and following them.

But no flight is routine :-)

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Indeed no flight is routine, and to illustrate the point just look at these three clips. (Not for those nervous of flying!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6inTCBEFY4Q&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z2o0acIlm4

And a 747 take-off!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXkSQW3xul8&feature=related

Have a look on YouTube using the term "Extreme Landings". Then I'm sure every safety briefing will be listened to intently, and if you're like me, you'll give that belt just a little extra tug when the plane is on final approach!

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LP - nice vids, here are some of my favs

We paid the whole landing fee, so we will use all the runway to take off http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWtdtuspnoM

Swiss showcasing superior British aircraft construction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5prz1Ae5QM&p=6CAA376D017D3EB5&playnext=1&index=13

Lufthansa demonstrating the responsive controls of the A320 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z42fchrzhHY&p=6CAA376D017D3EB5&index=16&playnext=3

Rejected take off http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogb69OBceRI&feature=related

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We published a piece on flight safety back in 2005, although I notice that for some reason it isn't included in the archive of the magazine for that year, so I've scanned a copy which you can view here

http://www.businesstraveller.com/files/Air-Safety-main.jpg

Not ideal, but still...

All of it was interesting (the day's course, not necessarily my piece on it), and you’ll see tips of How to Stay Safe in the Sky (No.2 is Listen to the Pre-Flight Safety Demonstration).

The most instructive part was the explanation of The Brace Position, and what we said about it was this....

“Often misunderstood, the brace position is by far the safest position to adopt in the event of either a planned or unplanned emergency. Put simply, if you do it right, your chances of surviving a sudden deceleration are greatly increased.

Lean forward and get your head as low and as far forward as possible to avoid whiplash.

Don’t be afraid of bracing your head against the back of the seat in front. If you don’t, during deceleration it will hit the seat anyway. But at least it’s a head friendly: the table is a honeycomb structure that will break on impact rather than breaking your head.

Don’t interlock your fingers behind your head. If the contents of the locker; or the locker itself, fall, your fingers would break and you wouldn’t be able to release your seat belt. Instead, protect your strong hand (right or left) by putting it underneath the weaker one. That way, both head and strong hand is protected.

Tuck your legs behind you so that your heels touch the baggage restraint bar. Inclined towards the rear, the floor acts as a stop to prevent them flying forward and under the seat in front. Don’t hook your toes behind the bar in case the seat collapses.

Make sure that your seatbelt buckle is low down over the hipbones and the buckle is in the centre where it won’t cause discomfort.

Lastly, stay down until told to look up.”

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The psychology of these briefings is perhaps a good deal more interesting than many find the briefings themselves. The advice above is absolutely spot-on; I too have attended an excellent flight safety course at the World-class BAFT:

www.ebaft.com

The problem with these novelty safety briefings, according to anecdotal reports, is that although they're much more engaging on first viewing, they're actually less compelling than a subjectively 'duller' presentation on subsequent flights.

Apparently, passengers find the jokes more memorable than the message, and therefore when they see that it's the novelty announcement again, and if they've tired of the jokes, then they're even more likely to 'switch off'.

You'll also note that, in this NZ briefing, some of the visual demonstrations don't conform to the best practice described by SiteAdministrator above.

Personally, I think Delta's strikes a better balance for a scheduled airline with many frequent flyers on board:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgpzUo_kbFY

- as at the end of the day, it is all about safety, not a pantomime.

Of course, different airlines have different passenger profiles, with different frequencies of travel and familiarity with the aircraft environment. Thomson's 2009 video reflected its charter operation's family and infrequent-flyer customer base:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjHCc6TZhaM

Virgin's 'cartoon' announcement is strait-laced in its content, though the visuals and recognisable voice-overs attract attention:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR4dxPISegY

(apologies for poor audio)

Virgin America's is clear and memorable too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyygn8HFTCo

All very interesting, anyhow, and the most important thing to remember is that your chances in a take-off/landing accident are statistically very good - as long as you're aware and prepared.

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Whilst accepting all the above and emphasizing that safety is paramount, I still wonder why airlines do not arrange seats to face backwards. Look at the seats of the FA's, they face backwards and this is not just to keep an eye on the Pax, but also because it has been proven it is the safer way to sit.

It won't make a difference if the plane breaks up midair but since most accidents occur at takeoff or landing this seating arrangement could make a big difference in saving lives.

Airlines say customers prefer to sit forward, but then we would also prefer more leg-room, more hand baggage allowance etc. Fact is we are accustomed and put up with what we get or are allowed, and for over half the plane who do not have a window seat, or have to sit in the middle rows, or those flying night legs it would not really make a big difference.

I wonder what the real reason is?

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I honestly think it's the one that has been stated - passengers don't like it.

It's not easy to read on the link above to the 2005 article, but Sir Michael Bishop, who was always outspoken, and of course had terrible first hand managerial experience of dealing with the aftermath of a crash said just that.

In the piece, after a brief discussion of where the safest place to sit on an aircraft might be, the conclusion was…

“… the answer is anywhere on the plane as long as your seat is facing backwards.

Many armed forces personnel carriers have backward-facing seats, but, as chairman or British Midland Airways, Sir Michael Bishop has pointed out previously,

“There is no doubt that research has shown it is safer to fly backwards. However, the public doesn’t want it – they don’t want to fly backwards. Somehow they feel more frightened if they face backwards than forwards.”

The proof of this is that despite being one of the only airlines to have some backward facing seats in ClubWorld, British Airways won’t be promoting them for this feature. Passengers still want to fly for comfort rather than safety because flying is largely perceived to be safe. It would be commercially unviable for any airline to attempt that sort of seating configuration so, instead, we have the brace position.

(Of course it would also be pretty strange is BA were to promote half their seats as being safer than the other half)

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