Qantas’s method of briefing passengers provided limited and inconsistent information about how to use the escape slides safely and what to do with cabin baggage in an emergency.
The ATSB is satisfied that the safety action undertaken by the operator has reduced the risk of this safety issue.
The operator has revised its safety briefing video, which shows passengers how to descend the escape slide through an animation. The animation depicts the position that the passengers need to adopt and occurs on an aircraft slide as opposed to being in another context. Although still not consistent with the safety briefing card, it shows the safe way to descend the slide more clearly.
In August 2021, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) released a multi-part Advisory Circular (AC), AC 91-19, AC 121-04-07, AC133-10, AC135-12 and 138-10 v1.0 (Passenger safety information), which provided additional guidance about the requirement for consistent information across formats:
3.3.1 Differences in style and technical content between two forms of information can be confusing and unintentionally provide conflicting information.
3.3.2 To minimise confusion for passengers, it is important that the information provided on the safety cards accurately reflects the aircraft being operated and is consistent with other safety information available.
3.3.3 The following considerations are relevant in this regard: − where there are differences between aircraft of the same type / model / series, e.g. the equipment carried on board or the equipment type is different, the safety cards used are specific to the aircraft − information contained in the card is consistent with information given in the safety briefings, the operator's procedures, and other information displayed in the aircraft, e.g. emergency exit markings and operating instructions that must be displayed.
The AC also covered briefing material related to cabin baggage and emergency escape slide use, stating that passengers should be advised to leave cabin baggage behind in an emergency in the pre-flight briefing and also in the pre-landing announcements. It was also recommended that the following information be covered in the safety briefing card in relation to the use of emergency exits:
3.4.12 Emergency exits and the means for assisting evacuation
− use of the means for assisting evacuation (e.g. escape ropes, evacuation slides), including with infants and children
− leaving carry-on baggage behind…
