Originally Posted by
Merlyn
Good point and I used to think the same until I took a safety seminar where the subject came up. It has to do with the psyschology of Memory and remembering under stress. If you brief the abort / emergency return procedure shortly before takeoff it brings those steps to the surface of your memory and consequently your response to an actual takeoff emergency will be quicker and more accurate than if you had not briefed. No space for the full discussion here but the gentleman made a believer of me that day.
I firmly agree on the mindset of let's have fun and not end up on CNN!
I figured that was probably the reason they have us doing it, well, that and as a CYA measure, should the FAA every have cause to listen to the tape!
When I started in this career there was no 'briefing' of anything, no CRM, no headsets, and if you were really cool, (and a 10 year F/E) you recited the checklist from memory, so there have been lots of safety improvements over the past 30 years no doubt.
Still, I feel just a little awkward briefing women old enough to be my Mom, on how the "Seatbelt Light" will be used...and I KNOW they are not listening to anything I say, except, "What's the Flying Time??" and still, half of them ask me again as soon as we get on the jet...
