Operators are required to establish specific procedures for the stowage of… — Page 47, Lesson 73

I want to walk you through the regulations for stowing baggage, cargo, and galley equipment, and then into the requirements for passenger seating and briefings. Let's start with stowage. Operators are required to establish specific procedures for the stowage of baggage and cargo. These procedures exist to ensure that hand baggage and cargo are adequately stowed, and they must take several factors into account. First, each item carried in the cabin must be stowed in a location capable of retaining it. That means the stowage compartment, locker, or under-seat space must be designed to hold the item securely during flight, including during turbulence or an emergency. Second, the mass limitation for stowages must not be exceeded. Every stowage compartment has a maximum weight it can safely hold, and you must respect that limit. Third, under-seat stowages must not be used unless the seat is equipped with a retaining bar and the baggage is of the correct size. So if a passenger wants to put a bag under the seat in front of them, that seat must have a bar that keeps the bag from sliding forward, and the bag must actually fit properly under there. Fourth, items must not be stowed in toilets or against bulkheads that are incapable of restraining articles moving forward, sideways, or upwards. A bulkhead is a vertical partition in the aircraft. If a bulkhead isn't strong enough to stop cargo from shifting in those directions, you cannot stow anything against it. Where stowage against a bulkhead is permitted, the maximum mass allowed must be adjacently placarded — that means a notice or label right next to the stowage area stating the weight limit. Fifth, baggage lockers must not be loaded so that the latched doors cannot be closed securely. If you overstuff an overhead locker, the door might not close and latch properly, which is a hazard. Sixth, baggage and cargo must not be placed where it would impede an emergency evacuation. Nothing can block aisles, exits, or the path passengers need to get out. Before take-off and landing, and whenever the "fasten seat belt" signs are illuminated, the commander — that's the pilot in command — is to ensure that baggage is stowed where it will not impede evacuation or cause injury by falling, and that galley equipment is properly secured. So the commander has direct responsibility for this check. Now let's move to passenger seating. An operator shall establish procedures to ensure that passengers are seated where, in the event that an emergency evacuation is required, they may best assist and not hinder evacuation from the aeroplane. This means the operator must think about seating assignments — for example, placing able-bodied passengers near exits who can help open doors, and not seating passengers who might block or slow the evacuation in critical spots. Next, passenger briefing. A briefing is to be given to all passengers before the flight commences. This can be delivered either verbally or by audio-visual means — so a live announcement or a safety video. A briefing card is also to be provided, giving instructions for the use of emergency exits and emergency equipment. The briefing before take-off is to cover several specific items. I'll list them: smoking regulations; seat position and tray stowage; location of emergency exits; location and use of floor escape path markings; stowage of hand baggage; restrictions on the use of portable electronic devices; and the location and the content of the briefing card. Additionally, passengers are to receive a demonstration of three things: seat belt fastening and unfastening; use of oxygen equipment; and the location and use of life jackets, if life jackets are required to be fitted on that aircraft. After take-off, passengers are to be reminded of the smoking regulations, the use of safety belts, and the recommendation to use the seat belts at all times even though the seat belt light is not illuminated. So the crew should encourage passengers to keep their belts fastened throughout the flight, not just when the sign is on. Before landing, further reminders are to be given concerning the smoking regulations, use of seat belts, seat and tray stowage, hand bag stowage, and restrictions on the use of portable electronic equipment. Also after landing, further reminders are to be given concerning smoking and the use of seat belts until the aircraft finally comes to rest. So the seat belt discipline continues until the aircraft is completely stopped at the gate or parking position. Finally, in an emergency during flight, passengers are to be briefed and instructed as may be appropriate to the circumstances. That means the crew must adapt the briefing to the specific emergency — whether it's a fire, decompression, or a planned evacuation — and give clear, situation-specific instructions. Let's look at the diagrams that go with this material. shows the transport of dangerous goods by air, which is related to stowage restrictions. continues that topic. And shows a figure that illustrates some of these stowage and briefing concepts. That covers the stowage, seating, and briefing requirements from this section.