Ask the Captain: Pilots don't give play-by-play
Q: I can't remember the last time a pilot announced the basic flight plan of the aircraft, pointing out cities and landmarks that we will be flying over. Are airline pilots so busy in the cockpit or forbidden by rules or simply bored by commercial flying that they don't realize that many passengers would love to hear some information from the cockpit?
— Submitted by reader Paul, Washington
A: Many modern airplanes have position displays within the entertainment system, making the route-of-flight announcement obsolete. Many passengers do not want to hear much more from the pilots because they're watching movies, working or doing other attention-consuming tasks. Most of the pilots I know were glad to provide route information, but now that there are new technologies, they do not feel it is wanted.
Q: Are there any mandatory announcements that a captain has to make?
— Kevin, Northbrook, Ill.
A: Only if there is an emergency condition and the captain must tell the flight attendants and passengers to “brace!”
All other announcements are up to the captain. Airlines request that welcome announcements be made, but it remains up to the captain.
Q: In the event of turbulence, why don't all pilots take the time to explain to passengers what exactly is happening? Some pilots do, and even if it is the standard warning of "rough air," that can calm passengers’ nerves.
— Vincent, Atlanta
A: If a pilot knows it is going to get bumpy, he or she will usually make an announcement to the passengers and flight attendants. We know some passengers get nervous in turbulence and want to reduce their concerns. The times announcements are not made are usually when the turbulence is unexpected or the crew is busy with other duties.
Q: Why can't captains be more honest when there are "minor" delays? They always say that it'll be just a few minutes, but it’s never resolved in less than 20 minutes.
— Al, Michigan
A: Captains are honest when telling the passengers the information they have. Often the length of the delay is not known. I have seen maintenance delays be resolved in just a few minutes or in hours. Until maintenance knows what the problem is, workers cannot provide a good estimate.
Pilots try to keep passengers informed. We know it is frustrating, yet we can pass along only the information we are given. This same condition can occur during air-traffic delays.
Q: Will announcements ever be electronically captioned for the hard of hearing? Airlines make no attempt to make clear announcements.
— Sandra Kanuit, Redondo Beach, Calif.
A: Though it is technically possible to caption the safety announcements, and some airlines do it, the captioning is often in a second language in an effort to expand the reach of the announcement.
If you do not understand an announcement, you can always ask a flight attendant who will be glad to help you.
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