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AOPA Foundation’s Air Safety Institute Releases New Passenger Safety Briefing Video

Palm Springs, CA – The AOPA Foundation’s Air Safety Institute (ASI) has released “Critical Information: The Passenger Safety Briefing” video, which covers often-overlooked items that should be part of every passenger safety briefing. ASI created the video in response to an NTSB safety recommendation for better preflight safety briefings of passengers in the event of pilot incapacitation after an accident.

“No one plans to have an accident, but that doesn’t keep them from happening—and when they do, a little information can sometimes make a big difference,” said Bruce Landsberg, president of the AOPA Foundation. “The video discusses why search and rescue is often harder than it sounds, and offers simple ways to maximize the chances for rescue in the event of an accident.”

In the 2010 accident that killed Sen. Ted Stevens, there was an 18-hour delay in locating the aircraft. Among the reasons was that the surviving passengers were unaware that a working satellite phone was aboard the aircraft.  This video helps encourage pilots to spend more time, and be more thorough, in providing basic post-accident survival information to passengers prior to flight.

That information includes: how to use the aircraft’s radio after an accident; whether there’s a handheld radio aboard, and how to use it; how to activate Emergency Locator Transmitters; and what, if any, survival and first aid gear is aboard, and where it’s located. The video also includes an example of a real-life briefing.

The video includes interviews with NTSB survival factors investigator Jason Fedok, and Civil Air Patrol National Vice Commander General Joseph Vazquez. It discusses the importance of educating passengers about restraint systems and door mechanisms, basic survival tips, and the most important thing a pilot can do to maximize the chances of being found after an accident.

The video can be viewed here: www.airsafetyinstitute.org/video/paxbrief

The AOPA Foundation’s Air Safety Institute is dedicated exclusively to providing continuing pilot education and safety programs for general aviation. It is funded by donations from individual pilots and organizations, which support the cause of improved general aviation safety.

- AOPA Foundation -

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October 11, 2012