Why are there flotation devices under plane seats instead of parachutes?

Question

Who says you always go down over water!?

Answer 1

Because flotation devices are cheaper

Answer 2

There is a lot of water about and there is a possibility that a floatation device could be used by passengers (unlike a parachute - see below ... from previous answer)


Reasons why not parachutes (in the order they fell out my brain, not importance):

1. It takes room and time for experienced people to put parachutes on - even if folks were given vintage chest mounted parachutes it isn't a practical proposition in an emergency (what about kids, the ederly and infirm?). Also - are we expecting freefall or will there be time to hook up a static line?;
2. Even dropping folk out of two sides of the plane, to get a significant amount of people out in a stick type drop (like WWII parachutists) would take way too long even if you don't allow for a huge number of folks freezing/freaking in the queue;
3. Storing that amount of even chest mounted parachutes is problematic (although not impossible);
4. Assuming you had emergency opening doors (rather than the normal ones) the depresurisation (lack of oxygen plus cold) at normal altitude would kill most folks before you could get them out. If you wait until (say) 17,000 ft you are going to have very little time in an emergency to do anything;
5. Depresurising the aircraft will make any aircraft problem worse;
6. perversely available parachutes might make hijack/terrorims more likely ... Google "DB Cooper" for more information;
7. The speed of exit would make the ride 'interesting for even experienced jumpers' - imagine a giant grabbing your back and throwing you like a toy (this is from personal experience);
8. I could mention the amount of injures/deaths due to malfunctions, bad landing, collisions (with each other ... you are very very unlikely to hit the aircraft or engines) especially if a night jump or water landing but I suppose if the failure is catastrophic enough it is better than nothing.

If I think of more I will add them.


Bottom line, although it is possible to jump from a commercial jet, even at 40,000 feet (if you have supplimentary oxygen; cold weather clothing and freefall gear [unless you want to open immediately and land sometime the following day]) staying with the plane is going to be a much better bet, whatever the situation.

As a side-note, parachutes exist for entire aircraft (mostly microlights and small aircraft but their are test versions for big jets) - I suspect the sticking point is reliability combined with economics (such parachutes take space and weight quite a bit which equals money in air transport).

Blue skies =8-)

Answer 3

We can all speculate, but I do believe that it was the government
which made the decision to not have parachutes when that
D.B. Cooper thing happened. Its too easy to get on a plane,
and overtake the Flight Attendents to open a door and the bad
guy jumps out with the parachute. They wanted to stop the possibility of a rash of sky jumpers or wantabee's. Flying is dangerous enough, without worrying about "jumpers".

Answer 4

If a plane crashes, it either does so over water or on land. If it is over water, there is a slim chance that you could survive the impact and then a flotation device might be used. If, however, you crash on land, God help you.
On the rare occasion that there is a slow descent, parachutes might be useful but not feasible en masse.

Answer 5

One person touched on it. Airlines fly at an altitude and speed where "parachuting to safety" is not going to happen. One, the air is too thin so people will suffocate. Also, with the speed, the parachute will be torn apart. So, figuring that the chance of survial is nearly impossible due to physical factors as well as trying to get how many people out the doors "single file" using parachutes, they just hope they land on water and not everyone dies on impact.

Answer 6

because they accidently found out the seats would float during a crash and started labeling them as flotation devices. parachutes will be provide when they can make the top of the plane shoot off.

Answer 7

1: flotation devices r cheeper
2: it's easier 2 use a floatie than a parachute

Answer 8

Cause well It's cheaper for one and cause well most planes fly to high for regular people to jump out off. and well if you fall in the water I think a flotation device would be better to hav.

Answer 9

Because they can't make sure the parachute under the seat will work for every person who sits in them. Parachutes are rated by your weight. If it is something that works for a person weighing 150 lbs, it won't do as well with a 215lb person. It also creates control issues and proper expansion if the persons weight is too low because there isn't enough tension on the lines.

Answer 10

Just a physical placebo. Even if you did have parachutes they would be useless because jumping out of a passenger plane would put you right into the turbine engines. Besides could you imagine hundreds of people fighting to get out only a few doors. Very ugly. :-) Air pressure would play a factor too.

Answer 11

Because Parachutes are too big to put under plane seats