Five Simple Tips to Seatbelts on Airlines

The next time you venture to the airport, for that business trip or vacation, there are a few things that you should know for your safety. Seatbelts in an airplane are your friend, much like they are in motor vehicles. Aircraft seatbelts will protect you from injuries and other potentially dangerous situations. Here are 5 reasons to keep your seatbelt on while you are flying around the world.

1: When the pilot turns on the "Fasten Seatbelt" sign, it's probably a safe bet that there is a valid reason for doing so. Like it or not, the pilots know quite a bit more than you do at that point. They know if there is turbulence coming up or not, as they are warned by air traffic control well ahead of time.

2: The "Fasten Seatbelt" sign will always be illuminated when the plane leaves the gate, until when the aircraft reaches its assigned cruising altitude. The time that is varies widely, based upon the length of the flight. For short flights, it may be fifteen minutes, and on international flights, it could be upwards of an hour. Passengers must realize that this isn't because there is an immediate safety concern, but at that vital portion of the flight, turbulence is unpredictable. Remember this on your next flight, and plan accordingly.

3: Like the beginning of the flight, the end will occur in the same way. From initial decent to parking at the gate, the "Fasten Seatbelt" sign will be illuminated, as per many airline regulations. Again, this phase of the flight can bring unexpected and unpredictable turbulence. For passenger safety, this prevents injuries from this unforeseen turbulence.

4: During the cruise portion of your flight, many airlines will turn off the "Fasten Seatbelt" sign. While this does signify that it is safe to move about the cabin, should you need to. However, while sitting in your seat, it is recommended to keep you seatbelt loosely fastened. While it is safe to not have it fastened, the unpredictable weather can create turbulence that hasn't been hit by previous jets, or has just erupted.

5: Remember, when the plane touches down onto the ground doesn't mean that you can take your seatbelt off. Many accidents can happen on the ground, planes can run into each other, tires can explode, cars can hit the plane and many other incidents can occur. Many pilots even take the safety of their passengers to the extreme, and if they hear seatbelts being undone, they will refuse to taxi the plane to the gate. Just keep it on until you are parked at the gate.

So next time you take to the skies, remember these simple rules for seatbelt use. Not only will they keep you and fellow passengers safe, it could possibly expedite your flight.