Seat belt sign and bell activate 10-12 times at one second intervals?
Jul 2, 2018, 3:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,911
Seat belt sign and bell activate 10-12 times at one second intervals?
Flew back from Milan on Friday with family after short break. Very busy flight for 3 cabin crew members with 7 rows of CE although rows 6 and 7 not occupied.
About half way through the flight the seat belt light illuminated and the bell rang 10-12 times in close succession and the seat belt signs then remained on.
It caused quite a bit of concern in the cabin as no-one knew what to expect. I've not experienced it before. Nothing was said by cabin crew or pilots but the cabin crew member working in CE closed the curtain and spoke to the pilots on the intercom at the front. A short while later he entered the cockpit. Thereafter the seat belt light was turned off.
When I was leaving the plane, I asked one of the cabin crew what the seat belt sign issue was about but was told simply 'it was nothing to worry about'.
I'm guessing it was a simple as the pilots' coffee hadn't been delivered. Any other thoughts?
About half way through the flight the seat belt light illuminated and the bell rang 10-12 times in close succession and the seat belt signs then remained on.
It caused quite a bit of concern in the cabin as no-one knew what to expect. I've not experienced it before. Nothing was said by cabin crew or pilots but the cabin crew member working in CE closed the curtain and spoke to the pilots on the intercom at the front. A short while later he entered the cockpit. Thereafter the seat belt light was turned off.
When I was leaving the plane, I asked one of the cabin crew what the seat belt sign issue was about but was told simply 'it was nothing to worry about'.
I'm guessing it was a simple as the pilots' coffee hadn't been delivered. Any other thoughts?
Jul 2, 2018, 6:05 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Brighton UK
Programs: BAEC-Silver, AMEX-BA Prem' Plus & Standard, Accor Gold, HH-Silver, IHG,IBIS On Business
Posts: 955
Yup that was my guess to. Anything over 6 in quick succession surely indicates "Watch the FD door coz im gonna pee myself!"
Jul 2, 2018, 6:21 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,911
Jul 2, 2018, 6:25 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,911
Jul 2, 2018, 6:44 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,898
Ah... no idea what it means if it was a proper signal. My last 767 had the full disco lights and call button pings for a full 10 minutes ... I was impressed by how few of the passengers seemed concerned at all 
Clearly I was completely unfazed by it 
Clearly I was completely unfazed by it
Jul 2, 2018, 6:52 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 466
I was wondering if it was a 767 too, as I had the same experience as you a few months back. I have a video of it somewhere, as it was pretty strange. We hadn't even pushed back yet.
Jul 2, 2018, 3:36 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: BAEC Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 450
I work on the railway for a company who have those ‘Bullseye Star Prize - look at what you could have won’ toilets. A Japanese tourist had pressed the alarm thinking it was the flush and someone had gone in after but before I could get to it to reset it. They took for-ever, much biddly-booping of the alarm followed!
Jul 2, 2018, 4:53 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 614
Sounds like the CIDS system (Cabin Intercommunication Data System) was having a 'moment'. It controls all the cabin lighting, PA system, call bell lights, seat belt signs etc. and all the displays for the cabin crew. https://hursts.org.uk/airbus-technic...l/ar01s10.html
If you're on the ground, the system can be reset by the flight crew which knocks everything out and all the lights flash on and off for a while, before it comes back on. Airborne, the system wouldn't normally be reset as we lose the PA system, control of the lighting etc. So if it was an intermittent fault (as this seems to be, and bear in mind, I am a mere M&S sandwich seller and have no more technical knowledge than is provided in our manuals, and talking to engineers and flight crew), they would probably leave it until the next turnaround to reset it. There is no special call for flight crew digestive issues!
The 767 disco lights and call bell symphony is just a delight. I'm always amazed how few passengers even notice it's going on!
If you're on the ground, the system can be reset by the flight crew which knocks everything out and all the lights flash on and off for a while, before it comes back on. Airborne, the system wouldn't normally be reset as we lose the PA system, control of the lighting etc. So if it was an intermittent fault (as this seems to be, and bear in mind, I am a mere M&S sandwich seller and have no more technical knowledge than is provided in our manuals, and talking to engineers and flight crew), they would probably leave it until the next turnaround to reset it. There is no special call for flight crew digestive issues!
The 767 disco lights and call bell symphony is just a delight. I'm always amazed how few passengers even notice it's going on!
Jul 2, 2018, 7:59 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,911
Thanks for the explanation @bwaflyer. It's great to have contributions from 'BA insiders' who can add first hand knowledge and experience to the BA forum.
Jul 3, 2018, 3:08 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,993
I work on the railway for a company who have those ‘Bullseye Star Prize - look at what you could have won’ toilets. A Japanese tourist had pressed the alarm thinking it was the flush and someone had gone in after but before I could get to it to reset it. They took for-ever, much biddly-booping of the alarm followed!
I had a similar problem on my train last week, lady pulled the passcom vice flush and I could taste that smell from the toilet for hours.
Jul 3, 2018, 5:07 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,065
Sounds like the CIDS system (Cabin Intercommunication Data System) was having a 'moment'. It controls all the cabin lighting, PA system, call bell lights, seat belt signs etc. and all the displays for the cabin crew. https://hursts.org.uk/airbus-technic...l/ar01s10.html
If you're on the ground, the system can be reset by the flight crew which knocks everything out and all the lights flash on and off for a while, before it comes back on. Airborne, the system wouldn't normally be reset as we lose the PA system, control of the lighting etc. So if it was an intermittent fault (as this seems to be, and bear in mind, I am a mere M&S sandwich seller and have no more technical knowledge than is provided in our manuals, and talking to engineers and flight crew), they would probably leave it until the next turnaround to reset it. There is no special call for flight crew digestive issues!
The 767 disco lights and call bell symphony is just a delight. I'm always amazed how few passengers even notice it's going on!
If you're on the ground, the system can be reset by the flight crew which knocks everything out and all the lights flash on and off for a while, before it comes back on. Airborne, the system wouldn't normally be reset as we lose the PA system, control of the lighting etc. So if it was an intermittent fault (as this seems to be, and bear in mind, I am a mere M&S sandwich seller and have no more technical knowledge than is provided in our manuals, and talking to engineers and flight crew), they would probably leave it until the next turnaround to reset it. There is no special call for flight crew digestive issues!
The 767 disco lights and call bell symphony is just a delight. I'm always amazed how few passengers even notice it's going on!