A Request for Regulatory Revision

Abstract

Although aviation grows safer, accidents still occur, with unanticipated/unplanned and anticipated/planned emergency landings. The latter give passengers time to adopt the brace position before landing. Bracing minimizes the physical effects of multiple, sequential impacts in a crash. Passengers who do not brace are more likely to be injured and less likely to escape unaided from the aircraft, with risk of further injury or death. Passenger safety cards include brace position information, but most preflight passenger briefings omit information and demonstration about bracing. These are airline specific and, with a few exceptions, not required by national aviation regulations, because of a lack of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements. If ICAO regulations required brace position briefings, these would help improve international airline passenger safety.