During critical flight phases, like taxiing, take-off, and landing, cabin crew follow safety protocols, often sitting in a rigid manner. This is crucial for emergency readiness, especially during severe turbulence. “The cabin crew are seated usually in a fairly rigid fashion,” notes an aviation expert.

Brace Position Cabin crew brace positions vary among airlines, focusing on minimizing impact injuries in emergencies. The common pose involves sitting with the back and neck against the jump seat, knees and feet together, hands on knees or under thighs, and elbows inwards. Variations exist based on company procedures and whether the seat faces forward or backward.

Silent Review From seat lockdown until clearance from the flight deck, cabin crew maintain the brace position, also conducting a ‘silent review.’ This includes assessing emergency equipment, door operation, nearby able-bodied passengers, and external visual cues.

Planned Emergency Landing In a planned emergency landing, cabin crew maintain the lower body position but place one hand behind the head, protecting the face from debris while allowing communication of emergency commands.

Everyday Practice While these positions may seem complex, cabin crew are trained in them, making it routine. Some even adopt these postures as passengers, and in colder climates, it aids in keeping fingers warm during operations.