Comments on: Safe in the Sky? Pay Attention, It Counts http://jonathanheckman.com/2010/07/26/safe-in-the-sky-pay-attention-it-counts/ Airlines, Airports, Aircraft Manufacturing. Fri, 27 May 2011 14:57:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Jonathan Heckman http://jonathanheckman.com/2010/07/26/safe-in-the-sky-pay-attention-it-counts/#comment-2380 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:51:14 +0000 http://jetcheck.net/?p=2243#comment-2380 Hi Bradley –

Thanks for the comment. You raised some great points, and I think it’s safe to say that the 90-second tests do not allow instinct and panic to play their role.

As for the flight attendants, it’s a frequent occurrence. According to a New York Times article, “In the first eight months of 2009, 143 flight attendants were injured on two of the major American carriers, according to the Association of Flight Attendants, a union representing them.”

Aloha Airlines Flight 243 was the first thing that came to my mind after reading your comment. A flight attendant, who was blown out of the airplane, was the only fatality.

Flight Attendants put their own safety on the line to ensure passengers are attended to, and minor injuries appear to be a frequent occurrence.

Hopefully I answered your question – thanks for reading!

- Jonathan

]]> By: Bradley http://jonathanheckman.com/2010/07/26/safe-in-the-sky-pay-attention-it-counts/#comment-2379 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:53:06 +0000 http://jetcheck.net/?p=2243#comment-2379 Unfortunately, I really don’t think that people will react that quickly. Firstly, I think a person’s first instinct would be to go to the regular exit doors and not the emergency exit. Secondly, if you’re on water, you’re probably going to want to get off the plane as quickly as possible — and would trample over someone to do so. And lastly, no one really pays attention to the pre-flight safety announcement, and even if they do, they won’t remember it in a high pressure situation where their life is at stake.

In your last paragraph you mention that it’s important to wear your seat belts when seated. Imagine how many flight attendants are thrown around annually because they’re not belted in like the passengers. Do you have any numbers on that? I’d be curious to know.

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