Page 24 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE EVACUATION

to leave the aircraft and reach the ground mandating specific language to that effect
in that time. is, at best, spotty. U.S. Federal Aviation
Taking your luggage with you in the Administration regs “do not contain that,”
event of an emergency evacuation “is says an FAA spokeswoman.
really not a great idea,” says airline safety Former NTSB official Goelz says,
consultant and former U.S. National “There is no specific language” that’s
Transportation Safety Board member mandated during the pre-flight safety
John Goglia. “No life is worth a suitcase.” brief. “The FARs (Federal Aviation
What prompts some passengers to put Regulations) state simply that passengers
luggage before life and limb? “Sometimes have to be briefed on how to exit the
passengers think because they have a airplane in an emergency.” It’s up to the
second and are all bunched up they can grab individual airline to fill in the blanks.
their goods,” says the former NTSB official. Nor does the International Civil
Problem is aircraft aisles are narrow Aviation Organization have such a
and evacuation paths are beset with what standard requiring that pre-flight safety
Goglia calls “monuments,” “closets, briefings contain specific language
bulkheads, galleys and cabin separators.” that carry-on items be left behind in an
He says a carry-on could easily impede emergency evacuation—even though it’s
and effective evac. “You could drop it, recommended. ICAO’s Cabin Crew Safety
blocking passengers behind you who are Training Manual, however, does specify in
making their egress from the airplane.” the event of an “anticipated” emergency
“Baggage carried to the door of an landing that crew brief passengers to
aircraft will impede or delay evacuations leave carry-on behind.
and cause pile-ups at the bottom of Going a step further, ICAO guidelines
the evacuation slide,” adds Perry Flint, recommend that cabin crew be trained to
head of corporate communications for prevent passengers from taking carry-on along
The Americas at the International Air when they evacuate via emergency slides.
Transport Association. “Going down the slide,” says John
Such edgy evacuations aren’t isolated. Goglia, “you could rip it open, depending
“I can tell you from speaking with flight on what you have” with—or on—you.
attendants that virtually every time they “High-heel [shoes] are a danger to your
have had an emergency [evacuation]… ankle, and to puncturing the slide.”
they have always had troubles with people Goglia says the airlines he most
trying to take their stuff with them,” says frequents—American, Delta, United and
Peter Goelz, vice president of Boston- Southwest—“routinely” specify in their
based O’Neill and Associates, a major pre-flight safety briefs that bags and in many places in the rules they have a
consulting firm. Goelz is also former personal items should be left behind. catch-all phrase that says, “If you don’t do
managing director of the NTSB. A British Airways spokeswoman says, what we say…”
“It’s dangerous for a couple of “In the unlikely event of an emergency “Technically, there are penalties
reasons,” he says. “God forbid, you drop evacuation, customers are advised to exit for passengers failing to comply with
[your carry-on] of you trip” during an the aircraft as quickly as possible, taking crewmember instructions,” says a
evacuation. ‘Those aisles are not wide. nothing (author’s emphasis) with them.” spokeswoman for the Association of
That could contribute significantly to the What happens when the crew says, Flight Attendants.
danger of getting out of the aircraft.” And “Leave it,” and passengers don’t do as No matter how loud and clear flight
if circumstances dictate you abandon the they’re told? “Passengers are required attendants try to get the lesson across to
airplane via an overwing exit, “there’s to comply,” says an FAA spokeswoman. just leave it the real problem is that many
virtually no way somebody could get a “That said, we have never fined anybody people just don’t listen in time-sensitive,
suitcase out.” Even though the idea flies for taking a carry-on bag out [during an pressure-packed situations. That’s why
in the face of reason, “people [try] that all emergency evacuation].” reinforcement of the message before the
the time,” says Goelz. Nor does ICAO know of any member flight is important. When the crisis is at
Although many airlines tell passengers “State” (nation) “where this is addressed hand and adrenaline courses “People
in their pre-flight safety briefings not through specific penalties.” don’t think it through,” says Peter Goelz.
to bring along anything in the event of “I’m sure that the FAA could fine a “In those high-stress situations their
an emergency evacuation, regulation passenger,” contends Goglia. “Because priorities can get skewed.”
24 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM