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Airplane safety applies to everyone, even Willy Wonka
So, I was flying Sun Country Airlines a few months back and happened to be seated in the exit row. Though I'm normally one of those jerks who doesn't listen to the safety presentation (frankly, I'm often asleep by then), when I'm in an exit row, I feel obligated, so I pulled out the airplane safety card and read along. Much to my surprise, I encountered the characters in the photos above and below. What the devil are Willy Wonka and a ballerina doing on the airplane safety card?
They were subtle -- I almost didn't notice them. I laughed and showed my boyfriend when I found the ballerina, and he found the guy in tails, whom we immediately assumed was Willy Wonka. I reported the findings on Twitter, and some of my more observant friends commented that they had seen Willy, too. I had to investigate. I contacted Sun Country, who put me in touch with Trisha Carper-Ferguson, president of Interaction Research Corporation, the print and design company behind SafetyCards.com. I interviewed Carper-Ferguson via e-mail.
Gadling: What's the story behind these characters?
Trisha Carper-Ferguson: It is always our goal to educate and inform as many passengers as possible about aircraft safety and security. We believe what we do saves lives. At the same time, it is difficult to get the average passenger to pick up a briefing card and spend the few minutes exploring their aircraft information. In 1997 we created a way for a few airlines to make the passenger briefings (both oral and illustrated) fun and interesting with the hopes that it would attract more attention to the information. We created the character cards as a Where's Waldo type of project. We encouraged the carriers to make it a game onboard the aircraft. Obviously we were limited by copyright and trademark, therefore we needed to come up with universal characters that people from all over the world would be entertained by.
G: Who drew them?
TCF: Our team of illustrators drew them. Specifically Linda Goff and Krista Dunk who were two of our graphic artists at the time.
G: What other products do you make, and do you include this same sort of whimsy?
TCF: We produce (both design and print) passenger safety briefing cards and videos for airlines all over the world. We also have a full commercial print company in-house which produces all types of business printing needs and signage. Not all of our work has a whimsical feel, but if it draws attention to important information then why not? :-)
G: How long have they been like this (and how long will they be like this)?
TCF: The "Character Cards" were only picked up by a handful of our carriers, starting in 1997 with Canadian airlines. I believe Sun Country Airlines is the only carrier currently using them. Thanks again, what fun this has been to revisit.
So, there you have it, folks. Fly Sun Country Airlines and you'll get a special surprise. Carper-Ferguson and IRC definitely achieved their goal -- I've looked carefully at every airplane safety card since.
G: Who drew them?
TCF: Our team of illustrators drew them. Specifically Linda Goff and Krista Dunk who were two of our graphic artists at the time.
G: What other products do you make, and do you include this same sort of whimsy?
TCF: We produce (both design and print) passenger safety briefing cards and videos for airlines all over the world. We also have a full commercial print company in-house which produces all types of business printing needs and signage. Not all of our work has a whimsical feel, but if it draws attention to important information then why not? :-)
G: How long have they been like this (and how long will they be like this)?
TCF: The "Character Cards" were only picked up by a handful of our carriers, starting in 1997 with Canadian airlines. I believe Sun Country Airlines is the only carrier currently using them. Thanks again, what fun this has been to revisit.
So, there you have it, folks. Fly Sun Country Airlines and you'll get a special surprise. Carper-Ferguson and IRC definitely achieved their goal -- I've looked carefully at every airplane safety card since.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kim Feb 16th 2010 4:57PM
I wonder if these are the folks behind the brilliant Delta safety video. I've even pulled that up on YouTube to show coworkers, I like it so much! It's just the subtle little things that make you sit up and pay attention. So clever!
Malaycobra Feb 16th 2010 6:11PM
Link please!
Kim Feb 16th 2010 7:36PM
Duh! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgpzUo_kbFY
Al Schrader Feb 17th 2010 5:51AM
I invented a new fat plane. It has extra wide everything: seats, doors, isles, restrooms, etc. for fat people. It has a powered lift instead of steps and a pizza oven & shake machine. It's a nice plane. Place your order now....alfredschrader@aol.com
gloria Feb 22nd 2010 12:28PM
The BEST inflight saftey video VIRGIN AMERICA!!!!
k Feb 22nd 2010 2:54PM
You all obviously missed the fact that the second passenger has a carry on in his hand. That' supposed to be a No-No when you evacuate a plane.
Marshall Feb 16th 2010 8:40PM
I happen to collect old and expired safety cards as part of my aviation hobby.
Great way to become familiar with safety features and if you have to fly over
very large bodies of water,be sure to take careful note of where the exits are
on board your aircraft. I would imagine that all airlines have inflatable rafts and
dingies for emergency use.
L. Feb 17th 2010 12:41AM
For you all who did not see Frontline tonight.......Check it out......
When you get you ticket, look where it says whatever airline it is. Then under that
in smaller print it may state operated by Colgan Air, Inc or who ever ( Regional
Pilots) or who ever. I beleive that means you have a pilot that is outsourced.
Not actually trained by the name of the company that is on the side of your
plane that you are flying with. Which may not be bad. These pilots are not as
completely trained as with the major airlines. Think cheap, may mean getting
a pilot that does not have enough flying hours in experience and training for the
large size plane you will be on as our trained pilots of commercial flights....
I was surprised to hear that some of the major airlines even outsource their
maintanence too! Trying to cut costs I am sure.
But I would like to know I could trust them as we used to be able too! I would like
to have a pilot and maintanence crew that are company trained.
I luv to fly.
The program was Flying Cheap by Frontline. It was an eye opener.
C. Feb 22nd 2010 4:49PM
My husband flies for one of those regional airlines and yes, there are pilots with these companies who are fresh out of training with *maybe* 300 hours total time that are suddenly flying jets. However there are also A LOT of very senior pilots who have THOUSANDS of hours of time, my husband being one of them. He takes his job and the safety of the passengers on his plane very seriously. Just because you are flying on a regional doesn't mean you are on a cut-rate flight where danger is lurking every minute of your trip and your chances of crashing are that much higher. Give these guys some credit. If anyone should be criticized it is the MANAGEMENT of these regional airlines. They are insensitive, money-hungry jerks who could careless that their crews are exhausted, over-worked and UNDERPAID. Did you know that a first year first officer for most of these regionals barely makes $20,000 a year and that a lot of them accept food stamps?? That they will put in a 14 hour day and only get paid for 6 hours of it, which is only the time they are actually flying? My husband makes crap from his airline but he LOVES his job and loves flying and is a great pilot. I'm glad you love to fly but please don't underestimate the skill of your crew. thanks!
Farnsworth Feb 17th 2010 12:44AM
I used to fly air tours around Mt. McKinley and Denali National Park in Alaska. When I did the safety briefing, fire extinquisher use is part of the briefing. I would say, "in case of fire, pull the pin, aim at the base of the flames, squeeze the handles together, and be sure to put out the pilot first." A few passengers would realize what I said and laugh.
Sid Feb 17th 2010 5:39AM
Independence Air had a tape recording made by a Dennis Miller about safety. It got people to listen and was funny,such as when he said if he had to tell you how to put on a seat belt,maybe you shoudnt be flying.
Unexpected Traveller Feb 18th 2010 7:54PM
I have to look out for this .. the best I've seen in flight was this one: http://unexpectedtraveller.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/bottling-it-up/
The Unexpected Traveller
Pat Feb 22nd 2010 10:24AM
I still don't understand why the NO symbol was over her bag. Cant you take your hand bag off the plane.
TS Feb 22nd 2010 11:16AM
you are kidding, right?
John Horton Feb 22nd 2010 2:39PM
Hi Pat. I have an answer for your question about the "NO" sign over a womans purse. For one I have been a serious Airline Safety Card collector for 29 years,...with some 8,000 plus cards to date, as well as a former Flight Attendant. I know the people at Interaction quite well. It is not just Sun Country Airlines who has a "Willie Wanka" safety card. Many other Airline customers of Interaction have them as well. There are other "cartoons" they use such as a construction worker wearing a hard hat while fastening a seat belt, a ballet dancer, and a person running for an exit, holding a bunch of flowers. For us collectors, thats nothing new. But, for as the "NO" sign used over the ladys purse, that is Industry wide, both in print and in All safety videos. It is for two reasons. One, Get out NOW !! Don't waist time looking for your purse, or Anything for that matter! Two, Don't take Anything with you that may slow or block your passage (or anybody else) down the Asile or may block a smaller exit such as an over wing window exit. How are you going to put on a life vest while holding a purse, or a briefcase? That is why that symbol is used. I am in the works of making a new website devoted to airline safety cards here in 2010. It will showcase many different pictures of cards as far back as 1932, and show other funny safety cards, as well as some mis-prints.
Cooper Feb 22nd 2010 8:53AM
John Cleese (Monty Python) was doing corporate training videos for a while. I'd love to get my hands on some of those! If anyone has a link or info ,please post!
JOHN Feb 22nd 2010 11:44AM
GOOGLE JOHN CLEESE TRAINING VIDEOS...there is a company that rents and sells them to large corporations to include in their training library... they are hilarious... they will send you a copy for review, or you can watch portions online...
jg
em Feb 22nd 2010 9:18AM
LOL! I took a picture of this card too and it's in my facebook album and I even posted "Why is Willy Wonka on this flight?!" back in November. That's funny.
FlyerFred Feb 22nd 2010 10:26AM
You noticed it too! You are absolutley amazing!
Lurker Feb 22nd 2010 11:47AM
That's not a woman, it's a man (notice the mustache and tie).
The "bag" is actually a briefcase and the picture is of people jumping down an emergency escape chute.
Any object held in your hands while jumping the chute can become a projectile that can injure or kill you or someone else using the chute. Also, any object with a point or an edge can puncture the inflated escape chute, trapping any remaining passengers and crew on the plane.