2014年7月，也许要算人类航空史上最黑暗的一个月。先是马航MH17坠毁无人生还，接着台湾复兴航空GE222失事，随后阿尔及利亚航空MD83客机失联后坠毁。仅仅8天时间，3架飞机失事。虽说飞机是各种交通工具中事故发生率最低的，但一旦出事后果不堪设想。选择飞机出行，还是得有所准备。
[选择航班]
选择直达航班。这意味着较少的起飞和降落。由于大多事故发生在起飞和降落时，航空旅行时坐直达航班安全性更好。
Choose non-stop flights. It means fewer take-offs and landings. Since this is where most accidents occur, air travel safety is better on non-stop flights.
尽可能选择大型飞机。像大型陆地车辆一样，大型飞机需要更严格的监管，事故中存活率较高。
Choose larger aircraft whenever possible. Just like larger land vehicles, larger planes require stricter regulations and have a higher survival rate in accidents.
选择安全记录良好的航空公司。总部位于德国的客机坠毁数据评估中心近日发布2014全球航空公司安全排行榜，前10名依次为新西兰航空、香港国泰航空、芬兰航空、阿联酋航空、台湾长荣航空、英国航空、葡萄牙航空、阿提哈德航空、加拿大航空和澳洲航空。
Choose airlines with good safety records. The top 10 safest airlines are Air New Zealand, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Emirates, Taiwan-based Eva Air, British Airways, Tap Portugal, Etihad Airways, Air Canada and Qantas, according to the international airlines safety ranking for 2014 released by the Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre headquartered in Germany.
[订票选座]
向订票处索要你要乘坐飞机的平面图，也可上航空公司的网站查看飞机座位分布图。订票时，选择离出口较近的座位，这样在飞机疏散时便于脱身。
Ask booking offices for the layout of the plane which you are going to take, or look up the seat distribution diagram on the airline's website. Choose the seat which is closer to the exit when booking the ticket. It will facilitate escape if the plane is evacuated.
如两人出行，订一个靠窗的座位和一个靠过道的座位。这样，一排3座中，中间就是空的，这个座位的票一般最后才会被分配给他人。所以如果飞机未满员，就能有些额外空间。
Book a ticket for a seat close to the window and on the aisle if you travel with another person. Then the seat in the middle is empty when there are three seats in the row. The ticket for this seat is often assigned to others at last. Therefore, you will have some extra space if the plane is not full.
此外，研究表明，坐在飞机前面的乘客，安全逃生的可能性是65%，而坐在飞机后面的乘客逃生的可能性仅为53%。坐在靠过道座位的乘客生存机会为64%。最危险的座位则是距离紧急出口6排以上的座位。
Besides, research has found that passengers sitting in the front of the plane have a 65% chance of safely escaping while those sitting at the back of the plane only have a 53% chance of escape. Passengers sitting close to the aisle have a 64% survival rate. The most dangerous seats are those more than six rows away from the emergency exit.
[着装佩戴]
穿着要合适。建议旅行时穿棉衣，如棉质长裤和长袖棉衬衫，这样会给你和外界提供一层额外的保护层。高温下，尼龙袜以及其它合成纤维会在皮肤上熔化，造成严重烧伤。同时，最好别穿凉鞋，闭趾鞋可避免脚被碎玻璃或金属片划破。
Dress appropriately. It is advisable to wear cotton clothing, such as long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when you travel, to give yourself an extra layer of protection between you and your environment. When exposed to heat, nylon stockings and other synthetics will melt to your skin and cause serious burns. Also, don't wear sandals. Closed toe shoes will prevent your feet from being cut by broken glass or metal shards.
即使乘坐国内航班也带着护照。危急时刻，你所在国的航班可能会转飞到另一个国家的机场，有护照便于过境。别忘了带个小手电筒，它可在没有其它光源的紧急情况下使用。
Carry your passport even on domestic flights. During a crisis, flights from your country may be diverted to another country's airport and having a passport will facilitate the border crossing. Don't forget to carry a penlight flashlight for use in an emergency when no other source of light may be available.
步骤1：安全放好头顶行李。将电脑和其它重物放在你前面的座位底下。这样可以避免飞机遭到冲击时脑袋被砸到。
Step 1: Store overhead baggage safely and securely. Stow your computer or other heavy items under the seat in front of you. You can avoid a serious bonk on the head in the event that your plane hits turbulence.
步骤2：调直椅背。首先方便逃生，如果没有调直椅背，很容易出现靠窗和坐在你身后的乘客被卡住的情况。
Step 2: Straighten the chair back. It will facilitate your escape above all. If you don't straighten the chair back, passengers sitting close to the window or behind you could easily get stuck.
步骤3：系上安全带。在绝大多数的航空事故中，飞机仍是可控的。飞机可控时迫降成功率非常高。航空座椅可承受9倍重力过载，飞机迫降对乘客的撞击比正常降落高得多，如不系安全带，很容易被甩出去。
Step 3: Wear your seat belt. During most airline accidents, planes can still be controlled. Chances are very high that a plane will successfully make a forced landing when it can be controlled. The flight seat can sustain nine times the force of gravity. The impact on passengers is greater when the plane makes a forced landing instead of a normal landing, so passengers could easily be thrown out of the plane without seat belts on.
步骤4：打开遮阳板。由于飞机降落时，有可能发生客舱停电现象。一旦停电，如果遮阳板未打开，客舱就一片漆黑，容易引起骚乱。此外，如果紧急迫降后未能及时离机，也有助于救援人员及时看到机内乘客。
Step 4: Open the sun shield. Power could fail in the passenger cabin when the plane is landing. So the cabin will get dark if you don't open the sun shield. A disturbance will be easily raised. Moreover, an open sun shield could help rescue workers see passengers inside if they've failed to leave the plane after an emergency landing.
步骤5：仔细听乘务员讲解空中旅行安全。他们会让乘客熟悉在紧急情况下该怎么做。你只需要专心听，并通过对座椅背后口袋内的飞行安全手册进行回顾就可进行自救。
Step 5: Listen carefully to the flight attendants when they're outlining air travel safety. They'll let passengers know what to do in an emergency situation. You can save your life by simply paying attention and reviewing the flight safety card that is in the seat pocket.
步骤6：熟悉紧急出口位置。乘务员的安全介绍中会指明安全出口，飞行安全手册里也会说明。上面显示了如果发生空难飞机上最近的出口。熟悉如何操作紧急出口也很重要。
Step 6: Know the emergency exit locations. During the flight attendant's safety presentation the exits will be pointed out and they are shown on the safety card. This shows the nearest exits from the airplane in the event of a plane crash. Knowing how to operate the emergency doors is also very important.
步骤7：在飞机上走动时，如去洗手间，确保通过紧握稳定的物体保持平衡。防止在起身或坐下时碰撞其他乘客。
Step 7: When maneuvering around the plane, such as going to the restroom, be sure to balance yourself by holding on to stable objects. Avoid jostling the other passengers when getting up or sitting down.
[学会解安全带]
听起来简单，但在紧急情况下，你或许就会紧张，忘记如何解安全带。人们会以为自己是在车里，试图按按钮而不是打开锁扣来解安全带。
It sounds simple, but in an emergency, you may panic and forget how to unbuckle your seat belt. People think they're in their cars and try to release the seat belt by pushing a button rather than lifting a flap.
美国国家运输安全委员会关于1992年全美航空405航班坠机事件报告显示，一些乘客在安全带仍然系住时，试图离开座位。另一些乘客因为迷失方向，很难找到并解开安全带。
A US National Transportation Safety Board report on the 1992 crash of US Airways flight 405 found that "some passengers tried to move from their seats while their seat belts were still buckled, and other passengers had difficulty locating and releasing their seat belt buckles because of disorientation."
[熟悉紧急出口]
坐下后，计算一下你与最近紧急出口隔了几排。紧急情况发生时如果能见度低，你若精确地知道你和门之间的座位排数，仍能摸索着离机。学习座椅背后口袋里的安全手册，因为紧急出口在不同类型的飞机上打开的方式不一样，你得熟悉你乘坐的飞机的打开方式。
After you sit down, count the number of rows between you and the closest emergency exit. If visibility is low during an emergency, you'll still be able to feel your way out of the plane if you know exactly how many seats rows are between you and the door. Study the safety card in your seatback pocket - emergency exits open differently on different types of planes, and you have to know how yours works.
务必知晓离开飞机的第2、3个通道，以防离你座位最近的出口堵塞。
Be sure to note a second and third way out of the plane in case the exit closest to your seat is blocked.
[空难中切勿等待提示]
飞机失事后的90秒，是逃生的黄金时间。如果航班空服人员足够警觉并给予指导，你应完全遵循。但重大事故后，飞行人员可能无力采取行动。最新调查显示，80%的人很可能在应对灾难时无所适从。不要坐等援助，尽快离开。
The 90 seconds after a plane crash happens is the "golden time" for your escape. If the cabin crew is alert and giving instructions, you should definitely follow them. But after a major crash, flight attendants may be incapacitated. According to the latest survey, 80% of people are likely to respond to a disaster by doing nothing. Don't sit and wait for help, and get out as fast as you can.
[采用正确的防冲击姿势]
许多空难研究证实，防冲击姿势可在飞机事故中挽救生命。据美国联邦航空局称，乘客应将座位调直，采取正确的防冲击姿势。然后头部和胸部放松，双手抓住脚踝或腿部，脸部朝下靠着膝盖(不要侧向一旁)。
A number of crash studies have proven that the brace position saves lives in airline accidents. According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, passengers should brace correctly by returning your seat to the upright position. Then rest your head and chest against your legs while grasping your ankles or legs, keeping your face down in your lap (not turned sideways).
如座位太挤，无法将头放到膝盖，则将头放在你面前的座椅上，用惯用手抱头后方，非惯用手放在惯用手上。这是为了保护更有力的一只手，乘客需要用来解开安全带，并且可能要操作紧急出口。
If the seats are too close together for you to place your head in your lap, place your head against the seat in front of you, with your dominant hand on the back of your head and your non-dominant hand covering the dominant hand. This is to protect the stronger hand, which passengers will need to unbuckle the seat belt and potentially operate emergency doors.
脚和膝盖并拢，脚平放在地面上。脚还应放在膝盖后较远的地方，这很重要。因为发生碰撞时，腿会往前飞，撞到座位时会受伤或骨折。如果可能，将行李放在你面前的座位底下，帮助缓冲撞击。不建议乘客使用枕头或毛毯在防冲击姿势中充当缓冲，因为在疏散时它们会堆满通道。
Your feet and knees should be placed together, with feet flat on the floor. It's crucial that the feet be positioned farther back than the knees, as legs can fly forward upon impact and suffer injuries or broken bones after slamming into the seat. If possible, place luggage under the seat in front of you to help cushion the blow. It is not recommended for passengers to use pillows or blankets to act as cushions in the brace position, as they will clutter the aisles during an evacuation.
[丢弃行李]
据美国国家运输安全委员会报告显示，68%的空难罹难者是由于坠机后的大火而丧生，不是实际事故中受的伤。试图带走行李和钱包所花的宝贵时间会决定你的生死。此外，想方设法把行李带出飞机或者扔下紧急滑梯将会影响每一个在你身后人的速度。毫不犹豫地丢弃行李吧！
According to a US National Transportation Safety Board report, 68% of passengers killed in plane crashes died due to post-crash fires, not injuries sustained in the actual accidents. The precious time you spend trying to grab your carry-on or purse could make the difference between life and death. Plus, trying to bring your luggage out of the plane or down the emergency slide will slow down everyone behind you. Ditch your belongings without any hesitation!
[起飞降落时高度警觉]
在航空界，"前3后8"指的是飞机起飞后3分钟和降落前8分钟。据空难研究者称，近80%的空难发生在这个时间段。在这两个时间段外，空难发生的可能性明显下降。因此，如果你想提高生存机会，需要在飞机起飞后3分钟和降落前8分钟格外警觉，随时准备采取行动。
In the aviation world, Plus 3/Minus 8 refers to the first three minutes after takeoff and the last eight minutes before landing. According to flight crash investigators, close to 80% of all plane crashes occur during this timeframe. In between those times, the chances of a plane crash occurring drop dramatically. Thus, if you want to up your chances of survival, you need to be extra vigilant and ready to take action during the first 3 minutes after takeoff and the last 8 minutes before landing.
[远离飞机残骸]
一旦成功从飞机中逃脱，切勿原地停留。远离残骸，这样就不会在大火、爆炸或有害烟雾中受伤。但也不要离坠机现场太远，救援人员会在飞机附近寻找幸存者，没人想冒着不被发现的风险，特别是当你因伤失去知觉或身处偏僻的地方。
Once you've successfully evacuated the plane, don't stop there. Get far away from the wreckage so that you won't be injured by a fire, an explosion, or hazardous fumes. But don't get too far away from the crash site - rescuers will be looking for survivors close to the plane, and nobody wants to risk not being found, especially if you pass out from injuries or are in a remote area.
