Better Briefings Can Make All the Difference

There’s no such thing as too much information when speaking preflight to passengers.

Joseph "Jeb" Burnside

Friday, December 12, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Think about what to tell your passengers before a flight because each one has a different background and expectation. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

FAR 91.107 mandates only a minimum passenger briefing covering how to fasten and unfasten safety belts and shoulder harnesses before takeoff.
Pilots are encouraged to go beyond this basic legal requirement, utilizing manufacturer documentation, custom checklists, or digital tools to provide more comprehensive information.
Passenger briefings should be tailored to the individual's experience level, with first-timers needing detailed instructions on boarding, aircraft features, control interference, door operation, and emergency exit procedures.
A thorough and customized briefing ensures passenger safety, comfort, and preparedness for various scenarios, including potential off-airport landings.

See a mistake? Contact us.

“Sit down, shut up, and hold on” might work as a passenger briefing in an action movie, but in the real world, it falls short of adequate. Or even legal, for that matter.

The FAR in question is 91.107: Use of safety belts, shoulder harnesses, and child restraint systems. Its only real requirement is that, before takeoff, “each person on board is briefed on how to fasten and unfasten that person’s safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness.” That’s it for Part 91 operators. (If you’re flying 135 and/or 121, see FARs 135.177 and 121.571.)