This glossary is written for virtual airline and flight simulation use within Virtual Air Canada Airline. It is not intended as a real-world aviation reference.
PA
Public Address
The Public Address system is the aircraft cabin announcement system that allows the flight crew and cabin crew to broadcast audio messages to all passengers throughout the aircraft. On commercial transport aircraft, the PA is integrated into the aircraft’s audio management system and can be activated from the flight deck or cabin crew panels. Pilots use the PA primarily for passenger information announcements - welcoming passengers aboard, providing weather and route information, advising of turbulence, and announcing approach and landing.
PA discipline is a component of crew resource management. Announcements should be clear, concise, and delivered at appropriate times - typically after reaching cruise altitude when seatbelt signs are extinguished, before descent, and at any point where passenger safety information is needed. Regulatory requirements govern mandatory announcements in some jurisdictions, including safety briefings before departure and turbulence advisories when conditions warrant. Cabin crew coordinate with the flight deck before making non-routine announcements to ensure operational priorities are not interrupted.