This question isn't directly related to the ngx but I'm sure someone here will be able to answer it.Why when an aircraft is refueling at the gate and passengers are onboard does the captain leave the seatbelt sign off and request passengers not to fasten their seatbelt?TIADanny

Hi.Because in case of an onground emergency and evac. it's much 'easier' with the passengers not buckeled up :)

Hi.Because in case of an onground emergency and evac. it's much 'easier' with the passengers not buckeled up :)

Thanks for the quick reply, that's what I thought might be the reason! :)

It is a requirement that the seatbelts are unfastened, however few people really pay close attention to the announcements and most of them end up fastening them. Refuelling with pax on board is far more complex though, some airports do not even allow it, in others you may be required to have the fire brigade right next to the aircraft on stand by. I 've seen this at italian airports for instance. You may also spot italian airlines do that abroad. If steps or airbridge are in place the respective door(s) should be open, if no steps are in place at the aft doors at least one of them should be armed. The area outside all doors should be clear in case of a slide deployment. At least one pilot should be in the cockpit, cabin crew should be alert and ready to initiate an evacuation, if a stretcher is on board there must be a designated exit to be used in case of an evacuation and so on... Of course there could be some differences between each airline's, airport's and/or country's procedures but you get the picture...

In the U.S. you need only have the door open. No regs regarding the seatbelts.

I was on a flight from Reunion to Paris many years ago that stopped in Djibouti to refuel. Doors open, steps rolled up and seat belt signs off. The co-pilot (or engineer) was standing at the top of the steps smoking a cigar, and I could see a puddle of spilt fuel slowly spreading on the ground below.

We actually go through the cabin to check whether all seatbelts have been unfastened. Also, this may be dependant from one CAA to the other, but we do not arm any door while refuelling. The doors which have stairs are open, and the cabin crew members are at their assigned door. We do not go into the cabin once the refuelling has started.

Yep in Geneva, a fire engine needs to be next to the plane in case of refueling with pax. This almost the case for every Easyjet flight ;)

Procedure in Emirates is when during the boarding the seat belts comes on it means that the refuelling has been finished.

Well anyone flying under EASA, is required to do these things. ;-) I just have been sitting, the other day, on my T/R listning to this hehe. :-) There are a list of things that should be done, also the girt bars shall be armed on doors not connected to a bridge or stair. ;-)

Strange... We fly under the EASA rules, our procedures have been approved, and still we don't arm a single door during refuelling...

Hmm could then be a company policy. :-) They can be more strickt than EASA tell to be. :-) What do you fly as? If I may ask? :-)