Jan 31 2009
Airline Safety Briefing–Important and Funny?
The US Airways plane emergency landing into the Hudson River two weeks ago called attention to aviation safety—the pilot, crew, and air traffic controllers were all credited for remaining calm, thinking ahead, and keeping all 155 passengers safe.
The emergency landing made me think about the airline safety briefing that starts every flight. Most of us know the “emergency exits are here” with the double-finger-point (we all learn that in the hospitality industry—it’s considered unprofessional to point), but how often do you really pay attention? I always try to at least pretend to focus, because I feel it’s rude and I feel bad for the flight attendants, but I, too, often tune them out. An emergency landing on the water, however, is a good reminder that we really should pay attention once in awhile.
Even if you’re not interested in staying safe, you should listen just in case you get one of the funny safety briefings like those mentioned by Aviation Etc. (“”We do feature a smoking section on this flight; if you must smoke, contact a member of the flight crew and we will escort you to the wing of the airplane” is one of my favorites).
Or check out this funny (and real!) safety briefing from Southwest Airlines…
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I usually keep one ear on the safety briefing, but I don’t pay too much attention since I’ve heard it dozens of times before. I’m always hoping to hear them say something funny, which I think has happened to me maybe once…well, especially since my latest flights were all on Delta and RyanAir, and they both have pre-recorded safety messages, each of which are deeply annoying in their own ways.
I do always make sure I know where the nearest emergency exit is, though.
Virgin Blue does a similar thing in Australia - it really does make you actually listen! Thanks for the support you made my top 10 card droppers list for January