The loss of overhead video

[Delayed]

Helllo everyone,

while I'm not employed by United, well...I'm a f/a wannabe...I moderate the wannabe's forum. A family member works for the friendly skies, and so I've been traveling a lot...anyway, I want to talk briefly about overhead video.

Have you all noticed that since the installation of PTV's on the widebody planes, all of the video projectors, and t.v. screens over the asiles have disapeared. I know that this was done because, well every seat has a PTV, but was it such a good idea.

Picture working a 777 from ORD to AMS. Half of the PTV's are broken and it is a full flight. Now...dont you wish that there was overhead video? Something to keep all those passengers occupied.

Also, the safety demo. I know that other airlines such as Continental and Delta, they have placed overhead t.v.s on there wide body planes, while that aircraft has PTVs. This enables them to play the safety video, and play one in as many foreign languages as necessary.

I flew on a 777 about 1 year ago, and they did a live demo. I couldnt understand the purser, as he had one of the thickest accents. Not everyone is an articulate speaker. http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/frown.gif The safety demonstration should have been kept on video. And the overhead video system should have been retained.

What do you all think? Do you guys enjoy doing a live demo on the 747? Man, that must be hard to keep up.

Thankfully it is still played on select aircraft, including the Airbusses and the 757.

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Up! Up! and Away!

[jetBlue_Brad]

Well, I work for AA (for now), and am actively applying for F/A jobs. I've been a non-rev all of my life, and can give a little insight.

I recently flew on an AA ABER (A300-ER) from JFK-LHR. The safety demo was done live. I found out after I returned the reason. Yes, the Airbus does have the PTV, however, due to FAA restrictions, these must be stowed for taxi, takeoff, and landing. Our A300 overwater aircraft do not have the Video Monitors in the front of the cabin, and a video demo is not possible. People have asked if there could be an audio version for the F/A's to perform to, but they said it would be too costly. On our 737/757/767/777 fleet, there are monitors either throughout the aisle or at the front of each cabin, and the safety demo is done via video.

[NySkyboy777]

To the best of my knowledge the crew must do a live safety demo when you are on an aircraft that has PTV's in all the seats. The reason for this is that not all of the monitors may be working properly. In fact even when you have one of the overhead monitors not working properly you must do a live safety demo as well. All monitors must be working throughout the aircraft for you not to have to do a live safety demo. So you can imagine it would be very difficult to determine if every single PTV is operational on wide-body aircraft.