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

APPENDIX M: PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUTWEARING SEAT BELTS ON AIRCRAFTPublic safety advice about the use of seat belts on aircraft has been provided byvarious safety agencies, including the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority,the US Federal Aviation Administration, and the Australian Transport SafetyBureau.Civil Aviation Safety AuthorityThe Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) website contained thefollowing information for passengers on a webpage about turbulence 238 :Injury preventionIn-flight turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to passengers and crew.Occupants injured during turbulence are usually not wearing seatbelts,ignoring recommendations to keep seatbelts fastened even when the signs arenot illuminated. It is recognised that passengers need to move around thecabin to use restroom facilities or to exercise on long flights. However youshould keep your seatbelt fastened at all times when seated.From 1981 through 1997 there were 342 reports of turbulence affecting majorair carriers. Three passengers died, two of these fatalities were not wearingtheir seat belt while the sign was on. 80 suffered serious injuries, 73 of thesepassengers were also not wearing their seat belts.Turbulence related incidentsThe following are recent jet airliner mishaps from around the world. In eachevent, at least one passenger/flight attendant was injured during anunexpected turbulence encounter.• During a flight from Singapore to Sydney with 236 passengers and16 crew, the airplane encountered turbulence over central Australia. Theplane hit an "air pocket" which caused it to drop 300 feet. Ninepassengers including one pregnant woman and three crew memberssuffered various neck, back and hip injuries, with one of the passengersrequiring surgery. Those who were injured were not wearing seat belts.• During a flight from Japan to Brisbane 16 passengers were injured whena large aircraft encountered turbulence. Passengers had been advised tokeep their seatbelts fastened while seated. The pilot in command reportedthat flight conditions were smooth prior to encountering the turbulence.The weather radar did not indicate adverse weather, so the crew did notturn on the seatbelt signs. A number of the passengers who were notwearing their seatbelts were injured when they were thrown from theirseats.• A jet hit air turbulence shortly before it landed at a Hong Kong airport,injuring 47 people, seven of them seriously. "It happened very suddenlyand everything was very chaotic," one of the 160 passengers aboard theflight said. "The plane just dropped and I saw things flying all over."238Obtained from www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_91477.- 283 -