NITS briefing

The NITS briefing is a simple mnemonic to guide the person using it through a briefing format whilst
in a high stress situation.  It has to be simple and unemotional.  Too much information or
complicated jargon will stop the importance of the message and take too much time. 

It normally starts with the captain briefing the passengers or the cabin crew if there is one. 

N ature:  What is the nature of the emergency? 

For example, “The left engine is on fire and has been shut down”

I ntention:  What is the intention of the captain?  This will tell the rest of the crew what checklist of
their own they may need to follow.  For example,

“We are going to make an Emergency landing at MDL airport”

T ime:  How much time is available to prepare for the emergency landing?  For example,

“We will be landed in 12 minute, so have everything prepared in 10 minutes”

S pecial Instructions: Is there anything else the person receiving the brief needs to know about the
situation that will help them and possibly save lives? 

For example, “The left engine is still on fire so evacuate the aircraft through the right
exit only.  Emergency services are waiting for us”

To ensure that the NITS briefing has been fully understood, then the person receiving the brief
should repeat the brief back.

For example “OK Captain, * Left engine is on fire and has been shutdown and we are going
to make an ** Emergency landing at MDL. *** Aircraft to be ready in 10 minutes for an
evacuation through the right-hand exit only and Emergency services are waiting."  If
the captain heard everything read back correctly, then he can ask the person to carry on with their
preparation.  If not, he does the NITS again.

Once the captain has briefed one crew member or passenger, then the information can be passed on
to other crew members or passengers quickly. 

Everyone should then be aware of what is going on, and what is going to happen.