Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circulars

Seat Belt Use & Seat Belt Discipline

INTRODUCTION

This Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circular encourages air operators to take initiatives promoting passenger use of seat belts at all times during flight.

It is also intended to deter unproductive and misleading seat belt use policies that may be in effect.

BACKGROUND

In non-fatal accidents, in-flight turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to passengers and flight attendants.

Several recent incidents involving clear air turbulence highlight the importance of keeping seat belts fastened throughout flight.

• In December 1997, a Boeing 747 encountered severe turbulence enroute from Tokyo to Honolulu. Most passengers were not wearing seat belts, despite the fact that the seat belt sign was illuminated. Several passengers were thrown upward, their heads jamming into the aircraft ceiling. Those standing in the aisle were thrown several metres. One female passenger sustained fatal injuries and 74 other passengers were injured.
   
• In April 1998, a Boeing 747 encountered clear air turbulence injuring 20 unsecured passengers.
   
• In June 1998, a BAe 146 encountered unanticipated turbulence. One flight attendant sustained a strained neck injury and another flight attendant sustained a fractured finger as a result of being thrown in the cabin.
   
• In July 1998, an HS 748 encountered severe turbulence. The flight attendant, who had just completed the final cabin check, was thrown upward into the ceiling. She sustained a bruised neck and chest, and cuts to her leg and chin.
   
• From August 8 to 10, 1998, three separate turbulence incidents, involving different air operators, resulted in injuries to 19 people.

Given the high profile nature of these and other related incidents, some air operators are adopting a mandatory seat belt use policy.

Operators who have adopted a mandatory seat belt use policy require passengers to remain seated with seat belts fastened, even when the seat belt sign is not illuminated. Passengers who use the lavatory facilities when the seat belt sign is not illuminated are asked to fasten their seat belts upon returning to their seats.

Transport Canada views this approach as a positive method of promoting passenger safety.

Another approach taken by some operators in an attempt to keep passengers in their seats is through the use of the seat belt sign at all times during the flight.

Transport Canada views this approach as having a negative effect on passenger safety. This practice causes passengers to ignore the seat belt sign when it is illuminated for a valid reason.

POLICY

The Canadian Aviation Regulations require passengers and crew members to be seated with restraint systems/seat belts fastened:

• during aircraft movement on the ground, during take-off/landing and during turbulence;
• when directed to do so by the pilot-in-command; and
• when an In-Charge flight attendant is carried, and he/she directs the use of seat belts when turbulence is encountered.

Transport Canada is of the opinion that the current regulations pertaining to passenger and crew member seat belt use do not require revising but that initiative is necessary to encourage passenger use of seat belts throughout flight.

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

The Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council examined the issue of mandatory use of seat belts during all phases of flight. It concluded that, due to the impracticability of enforcing such a regulation, it would be more productive to enhance efforts aimed at encouraging passengers to remain belted at all times.

The message must be conveyed to passengers that the best protection against unanticipated turbulence related injuries is through the constant use of seat belts.

This message must be conveyed in a manner that creates a spirit of co-operation on behalf of passengers in preventing such injuries from occurring.

The following are recommendations by Transport Canada for encouraging passenger use of seat belts:

1. An announcement should be made from the flight deck when the seat belt sign is first turned off during flight explaining the hazards associated with turbulence and the importance of keeping seat belts fastened at all times during flight.

   Passengers should also be advised of what they must do if the seat belt sign should be turned on. It educates passengers that the illumination of the seat belt sign is not "accidental" and that the seat belt sign is not merely a cabin ornament.

2. Air operators should discourage the practice of unnecessary illumination of the seat belt sign. The seat belt sign should be illuminated only when required - during take-off, landing, turbulence or when the pilot-in-command considers it necessary to do so for safety reasons.

   When the seat belt sign is illuminated and flight attendants are still providing service, an explanation should be given periodically to passengers explaining why the passengers need to be seated with seat belts fastened, even though the flight attendants are not.

   Once the threat of turbulence has expired, the seat belt sign should be turned off. An announcement should be made to passengers informing them that although the threat of turbulence has passed, they should keep their seat belts fastened to prevent injuries from unexpected turbulence.

3. Air operators should encourage crew members to be pro-active in promoting passenger use of seat belts. This includes establishing procedures or guidance for flight attendants to use in promoting seat belt use.
    
4. Flight attendants and flight crew should be encouraged to lead by example and keep their restraint devices fastened at all times while seated or at rest during periods of flight when the seat belt sign is not illuminated. (REFERENCE Air Carrier Advisory Circular 0070R.)

CONCLUSION

Transport Canada supports the initiative of any air operator who promotes the use of seat belts throughout flight.

M.R. Preuss
Director
Commercial & Business Aviation