My cockpit is full of switches that can get me into trouble. For example, if I activate the fuel crossfeed switch without monitoring fuel levels, I can cause a lateral imbalance. If I forget to engage the LNAV after selecting a direct intercept to a waypoint, the airplane will navigate itself off course. But nothing else can get me into more trouble than one simple switch: The seat belt sign.
It seems as though the majority of injuries to passengers and cabin crew occur as a direct result of the seat belt sign switch position. Aside from the humanitarian concern of being responsible for pain and suffering, a passenger injury affects the airline’s balance sheet. Whereas the expense of a crewmember injury is generally limited to the premium paid by the airline for workmen’s compensation and time lost away from the job, the sky can be the limit for a passenger injury.
