Aircraft safety card
Document instructing passengers on emergency procedures specific to an aircraft.
Every commercial airplane carries safety cards that show passengers what to do in different emergencies during a flight. These cards are tailored to the specific aircraft model and illustrate steps like fastening seat belts, assuming the brace position for an emergency landing, using oxygen masks, opening emergency exits, and handling over-water equipment such as flotation cushions, life vests, and life rafts. Airlines are required to provide them on all commercial flights, and they are typically placed in the seat pocket ahead of each passenger, sometimes on a placard attached to the seat back.
The cards offer far more detail than the verbal pre-flight briefing. Because flight attendants or video presentations usually ask passengers to review the cards, the instructions rely heavily on pictures. This approach helps overcome language and literacy barriers, and graphics are easier to understand, stay in memory longer, and are preferred over written text. Cards are often laminated or made of plastic, though this practice is discouraged since burning plastic releases extra toxins during a cabin fire. Many major airlines also provide cards in Braille.
Aircraft safety cards have become collectibles among aviation enthusiasts, reflecting an airline, aircraft type, culture, and historical era. Collectors seek cards from both civil and military planes, and rare examples have sold for over $1,000 at auction.
- Required on
- all commercial flights
- Typical location
- seat pocket in front of each passenger, occasionally on a placard on the back of seats
- Rare card auction value
- over US$1,000
Lore & Background
Safety cards are required by airlines on all commercial flights and are usually located in the seat pocket in front of each passenger, and occasionally on a placard on the back of seats. The safety card provides much more information than passengers receive in the oral pre-flight briefing. Because of that pre-flight safety demonstrations, either conducted by the flight attendants or through a video presentation, most often instruct passengers to familiarize themselves with the safety cards. Safety card instructions are typically in the form of illustrated pictures not only to help overcome literacy and language issues, but because graphic images are understood better, retained longer in memory, and are preferred over text. The cards are sometimes laminated or made of plastic, however, this is discouraged because, in the event of a cabin fire, burning plastics increase the toxins in the cabin. Braille cards are also offered on many mainstream airlines. Aircraft safety cards are also a collectible item among the aviation enthusiast community since they are a reflection of an airline, an aircraft type, a culture, and a historical period. Safety cards are collected from civil and military aircraft, rare cards have been known to fetch over US$1,000 at auction.
Reader's Guide
The aircraft safety card is a required document on all commercial flights, serving as a critical reference for passengers during emergencies. It provides more detailed information than the oral pre-flight briefing, covering procedures such as seat belt use, bracing for an emergency landing, oxygen mask use, emergency exit door operation, and over-water gear like flotation cushions, life vests, and life rafts. The instructions are typically illustrated to overcome literacy and language barriers, as graphic images are understood better and retained longer in memory. While cards are sometimes laminated or made of plastic, this is discouraged due to increased toxin release in a cabin fire. Braille cards are offered on many mainstream airlines. Beyond their safety function, these cards are collectible items among aviation enthusiasts, reflecting an airline, aircraft type, culture, and historical period. Rare cards from civil and military aircraft have been known to fetch over US$1,000 at auction, highlighting their significance as both practical safety tools and cultural artifacts.
Did You Know?
- Instructions are typically illustrated to help overcome literacy and language issues.
- Laminated or plastic cards are discouraged because burning plastics increase toxins in a cabin fire.
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