Thai-Kiwi

In principle, and with a background and in aviation safety, I agree entirely.

But reality is a different thing. Even enforcing IFE and headsets collection, I suggest that many pax, maybe the majority, would be impaired in their response to a serious event such as an emergency evacuation or worse. Tiredness, circadian rhythm upset, under the influence of alcohol all contribute to reduced human performance under stress. In these situations, the continued presence of IFE might not be that significant.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

Agree. But we are also considering short haul flights here... a BKK-SIN is unlikely to have the majority of pax tired with their circadian rhythms upset And probably not drunk given the physical limits of being able to serve everyone in such a short time in the main cabin.

Even if we accept long haul flights as you describe, having IFE stowed potentially means one less thing that could hinder a fast response.

Nor do I particularly want 300 pairs of headsets and cords in the aisle during an evacuation

Pax may have their own headsets/earbuds - but i think the airline should also require those to be removed.

We dim the lights to save a second of two while pax acclimatise to the prevailing conditions, but don't apply the same logic to people being hearing and situation impaired.

Thai-Kiwi

Yes, yes, and yes .

And, in a nod to @chris63, with no alcoholic pre-departure drinks ex-SIN the situation is marginally improved for emergency egress

chris63

That is a good point, however you do hear all announcements ad nauseam from a Thai, while using their headphones & surely they could switch if off fast if there becomes a problem.

chris63

Heavens no, I’m sure I could go down a slide much faster if I was oiled.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

Fine if you have a planned emergency - switch it off and prepare the cabin for landing.

But if you have an Asiana at SFO type incident, or say an engine fire during take-off roll... cabin crew may detect an immediate emergency and for example issue the 'brace brace' command.

They don't have time to reach behind them for the intercom phone, select the right button for a general broadcast, and then issue the command. And switch off IFE. By then the immediate emergency is all over - impact or sudden stopping has occurred.

Of course not all cabin crew do this... but they are supposed to be looking out for anything unusual during the landing or takeoff phases that could affect safety.

andyptrav

TG910 into LHR this morning and the IFE was turned off supposedly 20 minutes from landing but since we were stacked as usual for 20 minutes this meant no IFE for 40 minutes. My headset was not collected but I was in F.
I like to watch the flight tracker and then the on-board tail camera for landing so I don't need the sound anyway. Collect the headsets to prevent theft and/or for safety but there is no reason to stop PAX doing what I wanted to do or, say, playing games.

chris63

Again, your making serious & valid points but this is TG & I reckon it’s only about them losing AKG headsets to pax

chris63

TG just lost the plot again, in premium cabins, you could watch a movie or use IFE entirely until you got to the gate before

thbe

FAs collecting headphones and menus early before landing. Had that experience a couple of times on TG in C. One of the reasons, why I avoid TG on longhaul since Q3 last year. TG is obviously an airline for TG's employees, not for their paying passengers.

chris63

Yes, I have had them collecting Menus & asking for headsets but turning off the IFE & stating it’s for safety reasons is a new low point in their ‘premium’ service, I need to fly to & from BKK-SIN & sadly for me the last flight of the day SIN-BKK is on TG.....

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

But it DOES have safety implications So actually a good thing. What do you want? 10 mins more of your movie and be dead?

chris63

I don’t agree that it would affect my ability to react to safety issues & other airlines seem quite content to leave the IFE on for the entire flight, up to the gate

TG are suddenly the World leaders in airline safety ?

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

If you can't hear 'brace brace' it affects your safety.

What other airlines do is perhaps irrelevant. The 'gold standard' for safety would be pax unencumbered from distractions.

Some airlines remove emergency exits. Some continue to fly over known war zones where other aircraft have been shot down. Some don't carry life-jackets. Others don't dim the lights for critical phases of flight. Or allow window shades to be closed for take-off and landing.

The list goes on.

Thai-Kiwi

Like most things involving the public, it is fundamentally about risk management and compromise... and regulators ultimately specify the minimum standards for carriage of the public, in concert with organisations like ICAO and (to a lesser degree) IATA.

Some British military transport aircraft had the passenger seats facing rearwards due to the superior survivability in an accident/incident - however, although much safer, the practise was never adopted for commercial aviation. The linked article is a reasonable read of the issues:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/n...t-seats-safer/