In-flight upset - 154 km west of Learmonth, WA, 7 October 2008,

4.8.2 Handholds in the cabinThe FAA AC 120-88A recommended that aircraft cabins have handholds placed inappropriate locations around the cabin for cabin crew and passengers to hold on toin the event of unexpected turbulence. Recommended locations included thegalleys, areas where passengers may be standing near toilets, and under overheadstorage compartments. Some passengers on the 7 October 2008 flight stated thatthere should be handholds provided in the toilets.The operator’s A330-303 aircraft had handrails located in the galleys and handholdslocated throughout the cabin underneath the overhead storage compartments. Therewere no handholds located in or outside the toilets.Although more handholds or handrails could help minimise injuries in some typesof in-flight upsets, the first upset during the 7 October 2008 flight happened soquickly that it is unlikely that passengers or crew members would have been able touse a handhold or handrail unless they had been holding on to it prior to the event.In addition, the design and placement of additional handholds or handrails wouldneed to be carefully considered, as they could potentially become a source of injuryif hit by an occupant during an upset. 199199The flight attendant who was standing in the rear cabin impacted a handrail in the galley afterhitting the ceiling, which exacerbated his injuries and also damaged the handrail.- 189 -