18,000 Feet: American Airlines Will Secure Cabins Earlier To Cut Turbulence Injuries

American Airlines Will Descend Earlier To Minimise Turbulence Injuries

As around 25% of in-flight turbulence injuries or related events occur for American during the airline’s descent into the arrival airport, the new changes will see the airline attempt to descend earlier, with procedures now starting no later than 18,000 feet. The flight deck will declare a ‘before descent PA’, which will be introduced as mandatory, with the captain or first officer now contacting the flight crew (Purser or FA1) to advise of these procedures.

As shared by aviation insider JonNYC on X, this update is made in a bid to minimise the number of in-flight turbulence-related events, with improved communication expected to remain consistent on all American flights. There is expected to be minimal obvious changes to passengers, with the key focus on crew being able to prepare the cabin earlier.

Simple Flying reached out to American for comment, but an airline spokesperson could not immediately be reached.

Key Details: What It Means For Passengers

American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Economy Cabin

The changes expected are that pilots will now arrive around 20 to 30 minutes before expected arrival, will contact the Purser or FA1 to discuss potential turbulence, and this will allow the cabin to work through the cabin discrepancy worksheet (CDW) items, among understanding other safety-related information as required. Following the decision made by the captain and crew, depending on the conditions, the pilot will deliver a pre-descent PA to the cabin and its passengers.

Once flight attendants have completed the pre-departure process, a primary step will be for flight attendants to thank the premium customers and commence delivery of coats and jackets, while also reminding unaccompanied passengers to remain seated as the plane deplanes. Key changes below:

Before Descent	FA1 or Purser connected the turbulence updates Cabin discrepancy worksheet reviewed and completed Before descent PA Thanking the premium customers
By 18,00 Feet	Prepare for landing PA Remaining service items collected Prepare the cabin for landing The crew takes jump seats
At 10,000 Feet	Stire flight deck chime Flight attendants complete final safety and compliance checks Crew take jump seats (if not already taken)

Once the plane is at around 18,000 feet (5,486 m), the pilot will deliver their prepare for landing annoucement, and flight attendants will follow with preparing the cabin for landing, ensuring the on-board service is closed, and ensuring the cabin is secure for landing. Once these steps are complete, flight attendants will be expected to complete final cabin safety checks and buckle into their jumpseats. They will not be expected to wait until the sterile flight deck chimes to do so.

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Final Moments Before Landing

American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 Phoenix

As the airplane comes in for its final 10,000 feet (3,048 m), the pilots will initiate the standard sterile flight deck chime (which is a single chime), and then flight attendants will be expected to complete the final cabin safety and compliance checks (if they are not yet completed), and then will be expected to take their jumpseats immediately.

It is important to note that there is no change to the current airline Inflight Service Manual. The airline crew will be expected to follow conduct as outlined for service in accordance with this manual, and must only undertake tasks when it is safe to do so. Crew will simply be expected to secure cabins earlier to minimize the chances of turbulence injuries to both passengers and crew.

These changes come in the wake of JetBlue, also making a similar annoucement, where the New York-based airline will now merge the current initial and final descent procedures into one, with the process now enabling crew members to complete expected procedures earlier, and ensure all passengers and crew are secure before the sterile cockpit requirement.