Why do planes....?

Question

Why do planes have lifejackets under the seats... Wouldn't parachutes be a better idea?

Answer 1

Yeah, and why do they have a small plastic whistle. Thats a fat lot of good if you plumment into the Pacific. Helicopter overhead and you go 'phweee'. Rubbish.

Answer 2

Most people would not be able to escape the aircraft safely to be able to use the parachutes. If the plane crashes in water and people survive then the chance of the people getting out and useing the lifejackets is much greater

Answer 3

It is hard enough to get out of an airliner on the ground when the plane is standing still at the gate now imagine 300 idiots that did not listen to the flight attendant's briefing trying to figure out how to use a parachute for the first time then imagine that the airplane is moving around tossing you up and down and back and front now we come to the fact that in a pressurized aircraft you can not open the doors until it is depressurized oh yeah and you are flying at 400 MPH hope you don't hit the tail on your way out. More people would die attempting to exit the aircraft than if they rode it in during an emergency landing!!!!

Answer 4

You need training to be able to safely use a parachute, none for a lifejacket. It's much safer to stay in the aircraft until it's in the water. You won't be dispersed across the sea, and you'll be within reach of the liferaft and the sonar locating beacon (SLB) in the aircraft. The airlines realise this, and issue lifejackets as it would cost far far too much to train every passenger to use a parachute. (it's not simply pulling the ripchord). Don't worry. It's all safety first.

Answer 5

yes they would but the thing is because aeroplanes fly so high ,, if U jumped from one U would die of asphyxiation, and the speed that they go U would get ripped apart jumping from one, it would have to slow down so much that it would risk falling out of the sky, and it would not be able to maintain that speed to be able to let every one jump.

then U have the pilots, they would have to stay with the plane, to try to make sure it didn't crash in a populated area.

but the 2 main reasons are, not every one know how to use a parachute, so they could be killed by landing on high voltage lines, or any thing else, and then that's a big lawsuit for the airlines as they provided them.

the second thing is the weight, as everyone needs a seat, it easy to make them able to float, life jackets weight hardly anything either, but if U compare that to the weight of a parachute, those things are heavy

Answer 6

I can only think of one commercial aviation accident where parachutes would have saved anyone. Think about it, for everyone to jump out the pilot has to have the aircraft under control. If he has it under control, why jump out.

Secondly, can you imagine 300 plus people including children and old people putting on parachutes, you obviously have never worn one, they are not easy to put on, need to be fitted properly, and require a certain amount of dexterity.

Can you imagine 300 scared people standing there with their parachutes on waiting to jump out and being told not to pull the handle until they jump, not a chance, and the mess would stop anyone else from getting out.

After you jump out you float down to the Atlantic ocean, and die of hypothermia in a few minutes.

Finally parachutes are heavy, so for every four or so, one person could not get on the plane due to the weight, so there goes your cheap airfare for something you will never use.

Parachutes can only be used by people who have been trained to use them, they are more of a risk on board than an advantage.

Answer 7

They Are Parachutes Hahaha Sheesh Kebab You Just Pull The Thing And The Parachute Comes Out But They Look Like Life Jackets .. xx

Answer 8

If an untrained person used a parachute they would probably die - so they all stay in the plane and since most area is sea then you may need a life jacket crossing the Atlantic and Pacific more than a parachute. You don't need to worry about the fall you are either going to die or survive and if you survive you will be on land or sea.

Answer 9

not enough time to teach people how to use them. the pilot will hold on to the plane as long as possible if you hit ground it won't do any good, furthermore there is no way to get everyone off the plane with a parachute. If you crash a plane the best chance for survival is in water hence the flotation device.

Answer 10

Well the lifejackets are to be used in the event of an emergency landing on water. It is an easier situation for a flight crew to control than to have people suddenly sky-diving (which you need license to do on your own, otherwise having to jump with a certified skydiver).

Answer 11

The question of parachute on commercial airliners has been exhausted in this forum. So many good answers and comments are available for your review. Life jacket is to help passenger float when the plane lands on water, waiting for rescue to arrive.