In-flight safety

The flight crew’s job is to get you to your destination safely. The flight attendants’ job is to create and maintain a safe environment and quickly evacuate the aircraft if necessary. It is the law, and it is essential for your safety, that you obey all instructions from the crew.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility. If you are concerned about a situation that could affect the safety of your flight, report it to a crew member.

Whether you are flying within Canada or abroad, you should make sure you are aware of the safety features of the aircraft, the location and operation of the emergency exits, and evacuation procedures in case of emergency. It may save your life.

Travelling on Canadian airlines

Safety demonstrations

The information passed on during the mandatory pre-flight briefing is provided for your safety. Every aircraft is different, so it is important to listen for information on:

Seat belts

For your own protection, Transport Canada recommends that you always stay in your seat with your seat belt fastened during your flight, even when the seat belt sign is off. You can leave your seat temporarily when the seat belt sign is off.

Although they are rare, incidents involving air turbulence are the leading cause of injuries to both passengers and crew members. Clear air turbulence is caused by atmospheric pressure differences, cold or warm fronts, jet streams, mountains or thunderstorms. It can occur without warning and may last just seconds.

Your seat belt must be fastened during takeoff, landing, during turbulence and any time during the flight that crew members think it is necessary.

Aircraft seat belts work differently than those in your car. Make sure you can fasten it, adjust it tightly and release it quickly. Make sure it is fastened securely around your hips and not around your waist. If you need a seat belt extension, please let your airline know before you arrive at the airport.

Safety features card

The safety features card at your seat provides you with safety information about the aircraft on which you are travelling, such as how to operate each exit on the aircraft and how to use the equipment provided for you to use in case of emergency, such as life preservers and oxygen masks. The operation of the exits can differ from one aircraft to another and even from the front to the back of the same aircraft, so it is important to read the card and make sure you are familiar with the safety features before an emergency takes place.

The safety features card also includes instructions on how to adopt the “brace for impact” position, which can significantly increase your chance of survival and lower your risk of injury during an airline emergency.

To brace for impact, you pre-position your body against whatever surface you are most likely to strike during an impact, which will reduce the force of the impact and any resulting injuries.

The best brace for impact position depends on a number of factors, including your size and physical limitations, the interior layout of the aircraft, the type and scale of the emergency, and the direction and sequence of the crash forces.

Emergency exits

The location of the emergency exits is different from one aircraft to another. Check where your seat is located in relation to the two nearest exits, so that if there is an emergency you will be able to follow the instructions of the crew members and leave the aircraft as quickly as possible.

Exit row seating

If you are sitting in the row next to an emergency exit, you are responsible for opening the exit if there is an accident. Make sure you listen carefully to the safety briefing, study the instructions and ask questions if you don’t understand something. If you don’t think you can do it, ask to be moved to another seat.

Other information

The pre-flight briefing may also include information on carry-on baggage, smoking, the oxygen system and life preservers.

Child safety

If you are travelling with an infant or a child, make sure that you properly secure the infant or child in an approved child restraint system before you properly fasten your own seat belt. Hold the infant in your arms if you do not have an approved restraining device.

For more information about child safety restraints, see Taking children on a plane.

Enjoy your flight and let others enjoy theirs

Everyone is entitled to travel in a safe and secure environment. It is illegal to behave in a manner that is threatening to crew members and passengers.

The crew members will not tolerate any disruptive behaviour or interference, including harassment, physical assault, disregard of smoking regulations, refusing to follow instructions from the crew, verbal abuse, sexual offences, intoxicated or disorderly conduct, consuming your own alcoholic beverages and endangering the safety of the aircraft.

If such behaviour occurs, the aircraft may be diverted, the police will be asked to meet the aircraft upon arrival and the person could be arrested, charged and prosecuted.

Alcohol

Alcohol adversely affects the brain, the eyes and the inner ear. It decreases the ability of the brain to make use of oxygen and impairs your reaction time, reasoning, judgment and memory. Any alcohol you consume while in flight will affect you more noticeably than it will at sea level.

Moderation is good policy at any altitude. If you appear to have overindulged in alcohol, you may not be allowed to board your flight.

Safety on the apron

If you must board or deplane the aircraft from the apron, make sure you are clear on the safest route to take and follow the directions of airline staff. Make sure you keep an eye on any children in your care. If the aircraft engines are running, it increases the potential of a propeller or jet blast-related incident. The blast from a jet turning on the apron can blow over a truck or raise sheets of iron off the roofs of buildings, so imagine what it could do to you.

While you are on the apron, notice where the aircraft’s propellers are in relation to its door, especially at night. Look carefully for other aircraft with their engines running. You may not hear them over the noise of the aircraft you are using.