A plane crashed today...and you STILL won't watch the safety demo?

[JLRodgers]

I'm beginning to wonder.... am I the only person who half-way pays attention to the people because by the time they start their speil, I've already read any manuals, found the flotation device, found the excape windws/doors, and done a quick check of which people will be in my way if I need to escape, and know in approximate feet, steps and time how long it'll take me to the nearest exits?

(I hate flying -- expect there to be a problem, and I figure if I live through the main incident - I sure as hell don't want to die from being stuck in there if I could help it).

[AirHostess]

I'm beginning to wonder.... am I the only person who half-way pays attention to the people because by the time they start their speil, I've already read any manuals, found the flotation device, found the excape windws/doors, and done a quick check of which people will be in my way if I need to escape, and know in approximate feet, steps and time how long it'll take me to the nearest exits?

(I hate flying -- expect there to be a problem, and I figure if I live through the main incident - I sure as hell don't want to die from being stuck in there if I could help it).

You vastly increase your chance of survival if God forbid, the worst was to happen.

[smileyeagle1021]

One of my favorite's is the flight attendents on the commuter flights... they do it so often that they HAVE to change it up or THEY'LL stop paying attention to
Some of my favorites are
"in the event you hear screaming coming from the general direction of the flight deck, you will wish you had paid attention to everything I am about to tell you"
or
"in the unlikely event that we need to make a water landing be greatful it will be in the Great Salt Lake where it is extremely easy to float... we'd suggest however using the lifevest under your seat or seat cushion as a floatation device"
or my personal favorite
"and most important, in the event of an emergency landing remain calm, as long as I am calm everything will be alright... and if I'm not calm, then it's bad enough that nothing you do will help, so might as well relax" (gotta love honesty).

[Mr Yuck]

The odds of being involved in a plane crash are exceedingly small. The odds of being in a plane crash where everone isn't killed on impact are smaller yet. That's why this last one where people survived was such a big deal.

I'll risk not being able to get out of the plane in the event I am not instantly incinerated the second I smash into the ground from 30,000 feet up in order to finish my newspaper thank you very much.

[AirHostess]

The odds of being involved in a plane crash are exceedingly small. The odds of being in a plane crash where everone isn't killed on impact are smaller yet. That's why this last one where people survived was such a big deal.

I'll risk not being able to get out of the plane in the event I am not instantly incinerated the second I smash into the ground from 30,000 feet up in order to finish my newspaper thank you very much.

Around 90% of crashes are survivable. Many people survive initial impact and get killed in the fire/smoke, from negative panic or injury, such as interlocking your fingers when assuming the brace position, having the overhead lockers fall onto your hands, breaking them leaving you unable to unfasten your seatbelt. Happened in the Kegworth crash of '89.

[Mr Yuck]

Be interested to see where you got 90% from. If that figure were correct, it would be interesting to see what percentage of that is commercial airline crashes vs small single engine craft or likewise.
Regardless, like I said, I'll finish my newspaper and take my chances on whether or not I can correctly put on an oxygen mask, or figure out how to use my seat cushion as a floatation device.

[AirHostess]

Be interested to see where you got 90% from. If that figure were correct, it would be interesting to see what percentage of that is commercial airline crashes vs small single engine craft or likewise.
Regardless, like I said, I'll finish my newspaper and take my chances on whether or not I can correctly put on an oxygen mask, or figure out how to use my seat cushion as a floatation device.

Ok, well as long as no-one around you is killed so you don't endanger their escape I suppose that's alright then. We ask pax to put their seat upright, not only so that they can brace correctly but so that the person behind them can brace correctly and get out easier. In a burning plane, every second counts. Same with bags. You might not trip over it but someone else, trying to find the exit in the dark and smoke may trip over it.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/arti...,00.html?imw=Y

Most people don’t believe it, but accidents are survivable (this is perhaps because more emphasis is placed on fatal accidents). A National Transportation Safety Board study investigated 568 accidents involving U.S. air carriers from 1983 to 2000. Of the more than 53,000 people involved in the accidents, 51,207 survived, with 2,280 fatalities.

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.c...pagemode=print

Incredibly, passengers only have 90 seconds to escape from a burning jet. In that time, the temperature in the cabin can reach 2,000 degrees. When a plane ditches in the water, there may be a bit more time to evacuate — or even less. It all depends on the damage to the fuselage.

Knowing what to do in an emergency and how to do it is critical. When the F.A.A. studied 2,000 people going through simulated evacuation drills, they found “a failure of passengers to understand and properly execute emergency procedures.” Some people even try to take their hand luggage while trying to flee. Up to 30 percent of the deaths in airplane accidents could have been prevented if passengers knew what to do and were able to take action, some safety experts believe.

So the next time you get on a plane, listen up. Rehearse what you would do, especially during the first three minutes of flight and the last eight minutes when 80 percent of accidents occur. The pilot, crew and rescuers may perform miracles. But getting off the plane alive ultimately depends on you.

[wolfie]

In the passengers' defense.... I've seen that bloody safety demo probably about 30 times. I could give it myself at this point. I don't really feel the need to pay attention to it anymore.

That has killed people in the past. For example (can't recall when/where - at least 20 years ago) a plane ditched, and people took their seat cushions with them to use as flotation devices. Slight problem - that plane had life vests under the seats (probably a plane intended for significant overwater travel) rather than floating seat cushions (as would be used on a plane that's only occasionally used overwater, and for short distances). Needless to say, the seat cushions didn't work as flotation devices.

As for the humourous speeches, they can backfire. I flew Westjet on a round trip, and on both legs of the journey in the arrival announcement the attendants joked about marrying them to fly for free - but they wouldn't consider anything less than a 1 carat diamond. A few months later, I flew Westjet again, and when deplaning showed the attendant a sale flyer from a machine shop supply place, with single-point dressers being one of the items on sale, and pointed out that there was no mention of diamonds needing to be gem quality - the single-point dressers ranged from 1/4 carat to 5 carats, with the 5 carat being around $100. Note that I didn't "pop the question" - merely pointed out they were leaving a large loophole.

[Peppergirl]

As for the humourous speeches, they can backfire.

Not to mention the risk of offending people nowadays. Seems like as a society we've become so PC and humorless.

[Seshat]

I don't know that counting the seats is likely to be terribly useful: I know that I can't remember numbers that well, in that sort of situation.

However, everything else, I make a point of doing. I know which direction the exit row is in, I reach down to find the lifejacket, I practice brace, and I read the manual for this particular plane.

But I probably wouldn't make it out. I'm disabled, and I simply cannot move fast. If I tried to get out, I would probably slow everyone else down.

[iradney]

If I remember correctly, I have flown over 100 times in my life time. I have the safety lecture memorised, but I STILL pay attention each time. It's a sensible thing to do, and the FA isn't doing it for their health.

[Dips]

I do pay attention.

But even if I weren't I'd at least pretend to pay attention. It's good manners.

[prb]

I flew WestJet once. The flight attendant SANG part of the safety announcement! (She had a kickass voice, too!) They also pointed out that our smoking section was outside, on the left wing, and that purses left out in the aisles would be rifled through, if not stolen entirely. And then they "lowered the cabin lights to make everyone look more attractive" and started the movie. I was in hysterics! I can see how if you have to listen to that routine on a regular basis it might not seem as funny, but I was well and truly amused by it hearing it for the first time! I did also have to wonder if something like that would help someone who was scared of flying to relax, or if it would make them more nervous..

Okay, if I fly anywhere, ever, which I probably will, it'll be WestJet.