Brace position
The body position passengers and crew adopt before an emergency landing to reduce injury on impact.
Definition
The brace position is the protective posture adopted before an emergency landing, commanded by the crew with the words "brace, brace" once the captain gives the signal. For passengers it means bending forward with the head down and feet flat, with hand and arm placement that differs between the UK/EASA and US models. Crew brace in their jumpseats — chin down and hands under the thighs if forward-facing, head back against the rest if aft-facing — so they are still able to move and command afterward.
What it means for you
Teaching the brace is part of a planned emergency, where you have time to brief the cabin, and shouting it is part of an unplanned one, where you have seconds. You will demonstrate the passenger brace at every recurrent and be tested on the crew brace for each jumpseat orientation on your aircraft. It is one of the few items on the safety card the regulator specifies in detail.
In practice
With twenty minutes to an emergency landing, the crew on a Jet2 737 walk the cabin demonstrating the brace position row by row, then strap in and start the "brace, brace" command on the captain's signal at 500 feet.
Related terms
4 terms- EvacuationSafety & trainingGetting everyone off the aircraft through the exits within 90 seconds, on the captain's command or the crew's own assessment.
- Safety cardRegulationThe regulator-required pictorial card in every seat pocket showing exits, brace positions and equipment for that exact aircraft type.
- Emergency exitSafety & trainingAny door or hatch certified for evacuation — the doors crew operate and the overwing exits passengers are briefed to open.
- Cabin secureSafety & trainingThe crew's confirmation to the flight deck that the cabin is ready for take-off or landing: seatbelts, galleys, exits and crew seated.