How to Brief Passengers for a Safe Flight

Congratulations, you’re now a licensed pilot!

 You have friends and family lining up to experience life in the air with you, and you can’t wait to show them what it’s all about.

 Before you take off, it is vital that you correctly brief your passengers on the important things, like safety, and how you expect them to behave during flight – to ensure a safe, fun and comfortable flight for everyone!

 Thankfully, there is an easy way to remember everything that should be involved in a safety briefing: using the acronym S.A.F.E.T.Y.

Let’s explore the essential details of a good S.A.F.E.T.Y briefing:

Seatbelts – Seatbelt briefings are required and always a good place to start when you begin briefing your passengers. Seatbelts can differ depending on the type of aircraft you fly, so you want to be sure your passengers know how to operate their seatbelts properly. Demonstrate the seatbelt on yourself and ensure your passengers are comfortable in their use. Have them practice to ensure they can quickly remove their seatbelts in an emergency.

Air – The comfort of your passengers largely depends on how air enters the cabin and the ability to operate environmental controls. Show them how to use any air vents and/or air-conditioning controls to ensure they can receive cool air when needed. If oxygen is installed in your aircraft, this step would be where you want to show how to wear and use oxygen masks, as well as when they should use them.

Fire Extinguisher – Fires can occur, and informing your passengers helps to raise awareness and allows them to give you a hand if needed while you are flying the plane. Show them where the fire extinguisher is and ensure they feel comfortable using it in the event of a fire.

Exits, Emergencies, and Equipment – For every flight, you want to make sure you include the location of the exits and how to operate the doors. In an emergency, you want to have an evacuation plan to brief your passengers on if they need to exit the aircraft rapidly. The plan should include a strategy for evacuation, designating a meeting place, and where to find any survival equipment.

Traffic and Talking – As a pilot, it is your responsibility to scan for aircraft as you fly, but it never hurts to have another pair of eyes scanning the skyline. If they see an aircraft, they can simply let you know by stating that they see an aircraft, and where it is located. This is also a great step to help them understand the term “sterile cockpit.” Essentially it means that as a pilot, you will need to focus primarily on flying the aircraft, and therefore conversation needs to be minimised to reduce distractions.

Your Questions – At the end of every safety briefing, you want to make sure you check for understanding. Give your passengers time to ask questions if needed. If your passengers feel comfortable with their duties in ensuring the safety of the flight, they will be much happier and more comfortable to proceed.

Every flight is different, and you may want to include extra communication with your passengers. A good pilot ensures every passenger understands their role in their safety and feels comfortable acting in an emergency.

TEAM Aviation is a flying school based in SEQ specialising in private aviation using modern, safe and advanced Cirrus Aircraft and Simulators. If you are interested in learning to fly, contact TEAM Aviation to learn more.