Expert: P. Paul - 9/4/2008

Question
Hi, you may or may not have heard of the latest emergency landing at LAX.http://www.ktla.com/pages/landing/?Plane-with-Blown-Tire-Makes-Emergency-La=1&blockID=46916&feedID=1198

Was just wondering what the procedures the flight crew would give to the passengers for this circumstance. Would the passengers be required to take crash positions? Do you call out brace? I'm also wondering if procedures varies between airline or is there a FAA standard?  I ask because as I watched on the Internet and listening to ATC streaming on the computer I wondered if the people on board were in crash positions at that time. Could not find a resource on the Internet about Emergency landing procedures.  Even checked FAA.


Thanks in advance. :)  

Answer
Good question and thanks for the link for review.

Basically, any emergency situation like this requires good communication between the Lead Flight Attendant and the Captain. (Lead F/A then relays the instructions to the other f/a's, who would, or would not, depending on the conversation, prepare the pax.)

It is up to the Captain to decide whether the crew prepares the passengers. 'Anticipated and UNanticipated' emergency is how we state it at the airlines. Flight attendants know how to do both and are trained as such. Airlines do not take preparing the passengers to evacuate lightly as it creates great stress, not always warranted.

Never in my 30 years as a flight attendant, have I had to 'prepare the cabin'. The FAA standard is to let the Captain make the call. He will tell the Lead F/A how much time they have to prepare, what my signal will be to take the brace position, the best exits to use, et al. Of course, if the pilots were too busy or whatever, every flight attendant I know would do what's best for the passengers and use their best judgment in deciding to prepare for evacuation.

I doubt they prepared the pax for an evacuation re: this situation at LAX, as it seems like a landing the pilots are well-trained for. (Simulator training, etc,) I imagine the Captain made an announcement in the cabin, spoke to the Lead F/A in the cockpit about the reality of the situation, she advised the other crew members, they may have rearranged some special need psgrs. (unaccompanied minors, elderly, disabled) or talked to the pax at the emergency exit rows about their responsibilities, and the Captain probably calmly let everyone know via P.A. that fire personnel would be present and not to be alarmed when they saw the trucks on landing. (They don't want a passenger-led evacuation!) Sometimes, I'm surprised that the pilots don't tell us to prep the passengers for evacuation. Deep down, I know it's because they know exactly what constitutes a real emergency and what doesn't. And they've always been right!