Question on use of seat belt lights

[USFlyer]

One problem is the F/As lose credibility when they're up and around with the seatbelt sign on. Turbulence could just as easily throw you onto a passenger, with both of you getting hurt. It's one thing to get up to do a seatbelt check walkthrough, but many stand in galleys and elsewhere talking even when the light is on. When passengers see that, they're more inclined to think it's ok to get up too.

 

[nycbusdriver]

Facing every passenger, on the back of the seat in front of him/her, is an FAA required placard that reads: "Fasten Seat Belt While Seated."

At the start of every flight, the flight attendant announces that, (paraphrase), "Even in the event the captain turns off the 'Fasten Seat Belt' sign... ...when you are in your seat, please keep you seat belt securely fastened as turbulence can be unexpected."

Passengers (except for experienced fliers) ignore these requirements all the time.

And then there is the occasional call from the galley to "Please turn on the seat belt sign so I can get these people out of the galley and aisles." (I usually oblige, then lie through my teeth telling people that we have reports of turbulence ahead.)

And, very often, we just flat out forget to turn it off. Once, in over thirty years, has a flight attendant called and asked if I forgot to turn it off! And that was decades ago when folks nearly peed in their shorts rather than go to the lavatory while the sign was on. Now, why bother. Passengers get up pretty much whenever they have need of any sort. Like to open the overhead nearing the gate to retrieve their luggage thinking that somehow, seated in row 29, they will get to the door quicker.

 

[AstroLounge]

And this is the problem. People need to be educated about clear air turbulence, and recognize that it's a legitimate concern about their safety. The only way to fix this though is education, and the flying public is not receptive to this.

People NOT listening IS NOT the Issue. Because nowadays, they are going to do whatever the hell they want to do, whenever they feel like it doing and "IF" they want to do it. It's a Societal Problem. What amazes me is when EVERYONE sees that the airplane is going thru a patch a turbulence and being tossed around like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, you get some Jack* that is bouncing down the aisle like they are the Bionic Woman (and usually it is a woman) informing you "I know....I'll be careful....." I so much want to see the ignorant fool be S-p-l-a-t-t-e-r-e-d like an oppossum on a dark country road". I have absolutely NO Tolerance for Stupidity............and I will not hesitate to point it out To YOU.

 

[jimntx]

One problem is the F/As lose credibility when they're up and around with the seatbelt sign on. Turbulence could just as easily throw you onto a passenger, with both of you getting hurt. It's one thing to get up to do a seatbelt check walkthrough, but many stand in galleys and elsewhere talking even when the light is on. When passengers see that, they're more inclined to think it's ok to get up too.

There are times when we are supposed to be up when the seatbelt sign is on. If there is severe turbulence, yes, we should be seated and belted in. But, for instance, (and I'm speaking for AA policy, I don't know about US or other airlines) as soon as the captain signals the end of sterile cockpit at 10,000 feet, we are supposed to get up and begin preparation for our service. The seatbelt sign usually stays on until we reach cruising altitude; so, passengers are supposed to stay seated. There is no FAR that says flight attendants have to be seated if the seatbelt sign is on. There is, for another instance, an FAR that says once the captain tells us to prepare for landing, as soon as we get the cabin picked up and do our safety checks we are supposed to take our jumpseats, belt in, and stay there until after landing. Granted not all f/as do this, but it's one of the few instances where there are specific FAR instructions about us being seated or not.

I once asked an FAA inspector what we were supposed to do about passengers ignoring the seatbelt sign. He told me that "whatever you do, do NOT give them even implied permission to be up." He specifically said that such statements as "You are up at your own risk" or "Just be careful" have been interpreted by the courts as implied permission to violate the FAR. He suggested that when they get up (or if they ask you, "Can I go to the restroom?") just say, "The seatbelt sign is on." If they have asked you if they can get up, just say, "the seatbelt sign is on." If they ask you again, just say "The seatbelt sign is on." If they persist, say "Sir/Ma'am, what I can legally tell you is the seatbelt sign is on." If they then choose to ignore the sign, you and the airline are free of liability.

The Continental Express case last year is a perfect example. A woman got up during severe turbulence despite a PA from the captain for the flight attendant to take her jumpseat, and a PA from both the captain and the flight attendant for all passengers to remain seated. The woman insisted on her right to go the lav. While she was in the lav, they hit an air pocket. She flew up, broke her neck on the lav ceiling, then broke her back on the toilet when she came down. She tried to sue CoEx, and the court threw it out saying she was out of her seat in violation of Federal law after clear warning from the crew.

 

[AstroLounge]

There are times when we are supposed to be up when the seatbelt sign is on. If there is severe turbulence, yes, we should be seated and belted in. But, for instance, (and I'm speaking for AA policy, I don't know about US or other airlines) as soon as the captain signals the end of sterile cockpit at 10,000 feet, we are supposed to get up and begin preparation for our service. The seatbelt sign usually stays on until we reach cruising altitude; so, passengers are supposed to stay seated. There is no FAR that says flight attendants have to be seated if the seatbelt sign is on. There is, for another instance, an FAR that says once the captain tells us to prepare for landing, as soon as we get the cabin picked up and do our safety checks we are supposed to take our jumpseats, belt in, and stay there until after landing. Granted not all f/as do this, but it's one of the few instances where there are specific FAR instructions about us being seated or not.

I once asked an FAA inspector what we were supposed to do about passengers ignoring the seatbelt sign. He told me that "whatever you do, do NOT give them even implied permission to be up." He specifically said that such statements as "You are up at your own risk" or "Just be careful" have been interpreted by the courts as implied permission to violate the FAR. He suggested that when they get up (or if they ask you, "Can I go to the restroom?") just say, "The seatbelt sign is on." If they have asked you if they can get up, just say, "the seatbelt sign is on." If they ask you again, just say "The seatbelt sign is on." If they persist, say "Sir/Ma'am, what I can legally tell you is the seatbelt sign is on." If they then choose to ignore the sign, you and the airline are free of liability.

The Continental Express case last year is a perfect example. A woman got up during severe turbulence despite a PA from the captain for the flight attendant to take her jumpseat, and a PA from both the captain and the flight attendant for all passengers to remain seated. The woman insisted on her right to go the lav. While she was in the lav, they hit an air pocket. She flew up, broke her neck on the lav ceiling, then broke her back on the toilet when she came down. She tried to sue CoEx, and the court threw it out saying she was out of her seat in violation of Federal law after clear warning from the crew.

Well, so much for being 'splattered'! It is situations like THIS that really makes You NOT feel sorry for the individual at all. Bimbo refuses to heed the warning, Bimbo proceeds on her way to lavatory, Bimbo Goes Up (splat) Bimbo comes Down (crunch)." And I am supposed to feel ANY sympathy towards her?" N-O-T! There are many cases of turbulence related injuries EVERY year and YET these same people think 'it will not be them'. Yea, right.