Comments on: The beauty of brevity

By: richard caso

richard caso — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:24:12 +0000

I particularly liked Larry Diamond’s ABCs. This is about as succinct and elegant a briefing as I’ve ever heard. Could I humbly add another C for comfort (air vents, lights, seat adjustments, etc)

By: Larry M. Diamond

Larry M. Diamond — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 19:23:45 +0000

I have used ABCCDE for 30 years and almost 4 years as a CFI.
A – Look for Aircraft
B – Belts(seat belts) how to get in and out
C – Controls (Do not touch unless I tell you)
C – Communications (Sterile cockpit during takeoff and landing)
D – Doors (How to get in and out and how to open and close)
E – Emergency
I have never had anyone feel more anxious or say no thanks yet. Last I will ask for thumbs up if feeling good and thumbs down if sickness is coming(sicksacs are supplied).

By: Rob H.

Rob H. — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:34:00 +0000

1. This is your seatbelt, it latches and unlatches like this. You must wear it for taxi, takeoff, and landing, however I recommend that you wear it at all times.

2. This is how you open and close the doors and windows, in an emergency I may ask you to open it before we land, this is normal in an emergency.

3. These are my flight controls, do not touch them for any reason unless I ask you to.

4. Please do not touch any of the switches in front of you, unless I ask you to.

5. This is where the fire extinguisher is located, incase of an emergency, this is how you detatch if from its holder, pull the pin, and spray at any flames, avoid spraying into either of our eyes or mouths.

6. More importantly, this is where the SICSACs are. If you feel like you are getting motion sick, tell me right away, and get a SICSAC ready just in case.

7. Finally, please do not talk to me during takeoff or landing, as I will be busy keeping us safe, also if you hear me talk on the radio, please do not interrupt, it is important that I hear what ATC is telling me.

LETS FLY

By: Dan Valiga

Dan Valiga — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:47:32 +0000

Good short list. The one I always add relates to sterile cockpit procedures. “When I raise my hand, I’m going to talk on the radio and you (passengers) should not be talking at that point.” People get excited when they ride in planes and like to talk about what they are seeing – it just doesn’t need to be broadcast and shouldn’t interfere with ATC/non-towered com work.

By: Cary Alburn

Cary Alburn — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:12:34 +0000

I agree with Ian’s short list–but some people need a longer list. In my ancient airplane, I have some modern equipment with flashing lights that come on, not so much as warnings, but as indicators of time to do something. Almost every airplane has a flashing indicator for the transponder. I have learned that most non-pilots see the flashing lights and think something has gone wrong–and of course, if something has gone wrong, then a crash must be imminent.

Also, the controls of most airplanes are completely foreign to most non-pilots. You steer with the pedals? You change the throttle with your hand? Why does the engine sound go down when you turn that knob? Why are you regularly adjusting that thingy on the floor? Why do spend so much time looking at that gauge while adjusting that knob? Is something wrong, to make all that fiddling necessary?

Every person is different, but in my preflight briefings, I try to encourage new passengers to ask, if they don’t understand something either I’m doing or the airplane is doing.

Cary

By: Don Eck

Don Eck — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:48:23 +0000

My briefing includes: “If you see anything you don’t like or that makes you uncomfortable, please feel free to speak up-you may notice something important that I haven’t seen yet. This includes other aircraft. If you see any aircraft that I haven’t pointed out to you, show it to me.” Many times a passenger is in a position to observe other aircraft better than the pilot, and everyone onboard has a vested interest in collision avoidance.