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November–December 1997
Increased Amount and Types of Carry-on Baggage Bring New Industry Responses 12 pages. [PDF 184K]
The increased capacity of passenger-cabin overhead bins and changing passenger behavior have made carryon baggage a source of in-flight injury and a threat to emergency evacuation. Airlines have programs for limiting and safely stowing carry-ons, but controversy continues about the standardization and enforcement of such programs.
September–October 1997
Special ASRS Reporting Form Designed for Cabin Crew 8 pages. [PDF 102K]
Cabin crew reporting of safety-related incidents to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Aviation Safety Reporting System has remained infrequent. Nevertheless, cabin crew reports are a valuable part of the program, and the new form is intended to be more appropriate and convenient.
July–August 1997
Transport of Involuntary Passengers on Commercial Flights Raises Safety Issues 8 pages. [PDF 73K]
Airlines, law enforcement agencies, and flight attendants’ and pilots’ organizations are struggling to define and coordinate policies concerning the transport of involuntary passengers. Among the problems are the lack of uniformity in procedures and the difficulty of assigning risk categories.
May–June 1997
FAA, Pilots and Flight Attendants Propose Measures to Reduce Passenger Interference with Cabin Crews 8 pages. [PDF 60K]
A U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory circular and a recent conference discuss how to avoid or counteract passenger misbehavior. Remedies might include additional cabin crew training, information that makes it clear to passengers that interference with a crew member is a serious offense, and completion on in-flight disturbance reports to aid in law enforcement.
March–April 1997
U.S. Domestic Air Carriers Experienced Major Increase in In-flight Medical Emergency Rate 6 pages. [PDF 51K]
A study by the Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aeromedical Institute found little change in the rate of diversions for in-flight medical problems during the 1990–1993 period, but a doubling of the in-flight medical emergency rate. One possible reason was that legal and policy changes led airlines to provide service to passengers with medical conditions that previously would be barred from flying.
January–February 1997
Exit-locating Devices, Aircraft Structural Strengthening and Improved Crew Drill Called “Most Practicable” Accident-survivability Factors 6 pages. [PDF 48K]
An analysis of survivable accidents found that whether an accident involved fire or ditching was a major determinant of the fatality rate.