Parents need to know that this show's TV-G rating is misleading. The graphic, realistic nature of the subject matter is much too strong for kids and should probably be previewed even for teens. Each episode documents events leading up to aircraft crashes, explosions, and other emergencies, and actors re-create the points of view of all the players, including passengers, pilots, and air traffic controllers. Interviews with survivors and family members of victims can be very sad, and dramatized scenes of passengers panicking and crying can be disturbing even for adults. On the flip side, the show offers an intriguing, in-depth look at the conclusions drawn from post-disaster investigations.

Families can talk about how aircraft industry professionals train for possible emergencies. What expertise do safety personnel, air traffic controllers, pilots, and flight attendants have? How can they keep cool heads under pressure? How do emergency workers on the ground prepare for emergencies? Is a program like this exploiting a painful experience, or using it as a teaching tool? What's the difference? Parents may also want to discuss the statistical likelihood of experiencing such an emergency, since teens may need some reassurance, especially if they ever travel by air on their own.