What do pilots say when landing?

What do flight attendants say when landing?

Typically, flight attendants make two announcements to the passengers during landing. One, slightly before touchdown, and another whilst vacating the runway.

From a flight attendant’s perspective, landing announcements are some of the most important ones we make. Not only do they include safety information, they are the last words passengers hear before they step off the aircraft, so it’s essential that they be both informative and memorable.

Unfortunately, these announcements aren’t always delivered well, and, sometimes the PA system makes them hard to hear! I’ve experienced this travelling as a passenger myself, and even as a seasoned flight attendant — tuned into the crackly PA system, and having an understanding of what the announcements typically include — I’ve missed exactly what they are saying.

So, if you’ve misheard the PA, or you are just curious as to what the cabin crew are saying, here’s a brief look at the announcements flight attendants make during landing.

Pre-landing PA

Let’s start with the first announcement, which typically occurs during the aircraft’s final approach to landing. This is a mandatory reminder to the cabin crew to take their seats, and it is made by the senior flight attendant — sometimes called a Purser. This is usually made between 2–5 minutes before touchdown.

Flight attendants thank you for your help in securing the cabin, please take your seats for landing. 2 minutes before landing PA

During landing, all flight attendants must be seated in our designated crew seats, with our harnesses fastened. This is for our safety during the landing, and to ensure that all the doors are covered by the correct number of attendants for evacuation purposes. However, this announcement serves two purposes. Not only does it let the cabin crew know landing is imminent, but it also signifies to the pilots that we have completed our checks in the passenger cabin and the aircraft is ready to land.

After landing PA

The second — and often final announcement — typically happens after landing, as the aircraft is vacating the runway. This is when we welcome passengers to their new destination, and give them a little update on what to expect next. This is usually divided into 4 sections:

Arrival time

The first thing we do is pass the passengers the current local time. Remember, for long-distance flights not only may the time have changed by several hours, but it might not even be the same day anymore! While passing the local time, flight attendants might also highlight to passengers an on time arrival, or add a final apology for any delays that may have occurred during the flight.

Safety information

Taxiing is still a dangerous phase of flight, so safety reminders are a mainstay of after landing PAs. I’d like to think most people wouldn’t unfasten their seatbelt and stand up in a car just because it’s left the motorway — waiting instead until they are parked. Well, the airline equivalent of this happens surprisingly frequently, as passengers are anxious to get off the aircraft.

• The landing PA normally includes reminders to the passengers to remain seated with their seatbelts fastened until the seatbelt signs are switched off.
• The pilots will switch off the seatbelt signs when the aircraft is parked safely, and they have shut down the engines.
• Many airlines also point out that due to turbulence or aircraft movement in flight, many of the customers items in the overhead luggage bins are likely to have moved.
• A reminder is given to take care when opening the lockers, to ensure luggage doesn’t fall out and injure other passengers!

Airport information

We give a quick rundown of any airline specific information — such as the airport terminal we will arrive at, and information for collecting luggage or transfer passengers.

This information is crucial, as it helps passengers plan their next steps and ensures a seamless transition to their next destination.

Airline specific schemes

Finally, virtually all airlines will do a corporate thank you — essentially, we give a big shout-out to our loyal passengers!

These are structured differently depending on the individual airline, but revolve around thanking customer loyalty and frequent flier programs. Many larger airlines will have both their own dedicated loyalty scheme, and be partners in a codesharing agreement.

Flight attendant landing PA: Example

Flyingbynumbers Airlines would like to give you a warm welcome to Denver, where the local time is currently 16:00.

We are pleased to say the landing is approximately 20 minutes ahead of schedule, and we hope you have enjoyed the flight with us today.

The aircraft is still taxiing and customers are reminded to remain seated with their seatbelts fastened until the seatbelts signs are switched off.

We will be arriving at Terminal 2, and for customers with checked luggage, a reminder that our flight number today is the FBN123.

When we do arrive at the stand, please be careful when opening the overhead lockers, as items may have moved during flight.

Finally, thank you for flying with Flyingbynumbers Airlines, especially our partner flier members, and our own Deluxe cardholders, your loyalty is hugely appreciated.

After Landing PA — Flyingbynumbers

Summary

There you have it! These two passenger announcements may seem simple, but they’re a mandatory part of a flight attendant’s job and contain some important safety information for both the passengers and crew.

• Flight attendants deliver the first PA approximately 2–5 minutes before landing, which also lets the pilots know it is safe to land the aircraft.
• After a successful landing, a longer arrival PA welcomes guests to their destination, explains the arrival process, and thanks customers, for their loyalty.

This final PA is often the flight attendant’s last time to make a good impression on departing customers. As a result, many airlines agonise over the correct wording, and ensure their flight attendants have a pre-set structure for this PA, often producing a script or template to read from.

Jet made an emergency landing after flight attendants told passengers that the pilot had fainted, report says

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• A Jet2 plane made an emergency landing in Greece on Tuesday on a flight from England to Turkey.
• A passenger told Birmingham Live that a flight attendant said the pilot had fainted.
• A Jet2 spokesperson told Insider the landing was a «precautionary measure» for an unwell pilot.

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A jet made an emergency landing after a pilot was said to have fainted at 30,000 feet, with the co-pilot taking over in the cockpit, according to reports.

Birmingham Live reported that a Jet2 flight from Birmingham, England bound for Antalya, Turkey was forced to make an emergency landing in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Tuesday after a passenger was told the pilot passed out in an ordeal that began with a bout of turbulence.

«While we were all [seated] we noticed something was going on at the front of the plane,» the unnamed passenger told Birmingham Live. «We thought someone had hurt themselves in the toilet while experiencing turbulence. We were told we were landing in Greece due to a medical emergency on board. We weren’t told what part.»

The passenger added: «People were worried as we’d just been through turbulence and we didn’t know what was happening.»

The traveler told Birmingham Live their arrival was delayed by eight hours, during which time their family of four received vouchers worth €60 ($59.79) for meals. They said they would not receive compensation as Jet2 doesn’t cover delays caused by a medical emergency.

A Jet2 spokesperson told Insider: «Flight LS1239 from Birmingham to Antalya diverted to Thessaloniki Airport as a precautionary measure on Tuesday (August 23) due to one of the pilots feeling unwell. A replacement crew were flown to Thessaloniki so that we could get customers on their way to Antalya that same evening.»

«We communicated this to our customers as soon as possible, and our teams worked extremely hard to look after everyone. We would like to apologise to anyone affected by this unforeseen delay.»

Pilot welfare is increasingly coming into focus as shortages grip the industry and test their endurance.

Last week, the Aviation Herald reported that an Ethiopian Airlines flight missed its descent after both pilots fell asleep in the air.

Other airlines such as WizzAir have been investigated by regulators amid fears they are encouraging pilots to fly while tired and take on extra trips.