YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
“Had a passenger who became ill and tried to open the rear door in-flight to vomit because he didn’t want to vomit on the floor or use the bag available to him.”
“One reluctant passenger chose to fly despite being briefed about turbulent weather. He ended up choking me as we encountered turbulence and only relented as I squeaked out a request to let go so I could fly the helo.”
“Had a passenger who, despite being briefed, upon landing opened the passenger door on his own from inside and got out (while also stepping on the float gear). He then mistook the marshal’s frantic hand signals to get back inside as an indication that he should remove his luggage from the baggage compartment in the tail area. Fortunately, the marshal ran to physically restrain the passenger and I switched off the engine without incident.”
We asked our survey respondents to recall their most memorable experience with an unruly passenger or crew member who didn’t follow the instructions given in the preflight briefing. Here are some of the more humorous—and alarming—responses.
“Once at a destination (with the rotor stopped), one of the passengers picked up a long metal pole and carried it straight up into the blades. The person looked at me and said, ‘Now, I remember you told me to carry long things horizontally; I completely forgot.’ Luckily, there was no damage. After this incident, I realized that a lengthy briefing with too many details could overload my passengers.”
“We had a passenger exit the aircraft when he shouldn't have, and his seatbelt was left dangling. The crew departed for an emergency and didn’t see it. After an hourlong flight, the bottom of the helicopter had sustained scrapes and gouges from the seatbelt twisting in the wind.”
“A passenger pulled the emergency handle on an AStar and just about dropped the door on the asphalt after we returned from a tour.”
“A senior executive felt he was above the briefing, and I told him he couldn't get on the helicopter without it.”
“A field ranger exited the aircraft and walked under the tail boom to get to the baggage compartment.”
“After we landed and had shut down, an 18-year-old father nearly walked off the rooftop helipad with his newborn son.”
“A tour passenger walked toward the tail upon exit, despite multiple reminders not to and an escort nearby. The escort grabbed the guy by the shirt and pulled him back toward the front of the helicopter.”
“A passenger with dementia undid the seatbelt and attempted to open the door in-flight.”
“I had a passenger who started swigging vodka halfway through a tour. I returned to base and got him out.”
Figure 2. What are the most important elements in a briefing checklist?
Areas/items to avoid Emergency exit procedures Seatbelt/shoulder harness use
Approach/departure paths to/from aircraft
Solicit questions not addressed by briefing
Boarding/exiting aircraft
Alert pilot(s) when other aircraft/ potential hazards are observed
Emergency equipment location
In-flight communication with crew/passengers
Use of headsets/hearing protection
Remind passengers/crew of their responsibility to help maintain safety before/during/after flight
Weather conditions Other*
Note: Respondents could choose as many answers as applied to their organizations.
*Responses included “see something, say something,” “fuel shutoff,” and “airsickness signs, symptoms, and prevention.”
6% DECEMBER 2021 ROTOR 19
92%
88% 83% 75% 71% 69% 69% 67%
65%
65% 56% 44%
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