Why (in fixed wing aircraft) is the pilot seat on the left?

Question

Once, in a discussion of aviation trivia, it was brought up that the pilots seat is on the left for a reason... it was said that it was linked to 'left turn tendency' but I had to leave before the explanation was given...anyone here know the connection?

Answer 1

Wow, there are some creative answers there, some are partly correct.

The reason pilots (at least the Captain or PIC) sit on the left side has to do with original 2-seat single-engine prop-driven planes, and Newton's third law which states that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.

In most original aircraft engine designs, the aircraft propellor rotated to counterclockwise when viewed from the pilot's seat. Mr. Newton says that when you apply power, the aircraft will rotate along its longitudinal axis clockwise, or to the right. Therefore, if the pilot occupies the left seat when s/he is flying by him/herself, then that slight change in the lateral Center of Gravity will help compensate for the prop torque. So the left seat PIC position has been standard practice since the 1930's, even though more modern props turn clockwise.

On multi-engine planes and all large jets, there is no torque effect, and both pilot positions have equal controls, instrumentation and visibility. It is just a custom that the PIC sits on the left. There is certainly no advantage in flying one side or the other.

As for single-pilot helicopters, some types can only be flown from the L (eg, civilian Hughes 500), other types only from the R (eg, Bell 206, most Astars, A109), and other types can be flown from either side (EC120, Bell 212). This has to do with the lateral center of gravity and dissymmetry of lift from the rotating wing. I personally prefer to fly a helicopter from the R seat for normal operations (even though I flew 767's from the L seat for 22 years) because the cyclic is normally operated by your R hand, and that makes it easier to work radios and navigation systems with your left hand. When it comes to long lining, I have no preference L vs R, as long as the pilot's seat is close enough to the edge of the aircraft so you can see the load.

Answer 2

The pilot in some fling wing aircraft sits on the right side because in a crash, the rotor blades can cut through the cabin on the left side. At least that is what I was told by one pilot. Being a pilot myself, I have flown from both the left and right seats. But the instrument panel on SE aircraft are set up for the pilot to sit in the left or #1 seat. Most TE acft have full panels on both sides now but in years past didn't. Also flight patterns around an airport are normally left hand which puts the pilot in a better position to see the runway and other aircraft in the pattern. Other than these reasons I have no Idea why fixed wing pilots sit on the left side, and I have been a pilot for many years as well as an A&P mechanic.

Answer 3

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Same reason. Most people are right handed. Early airplanes didn't have side by side seating. When they went to that, they put the pilot on the left to match up with where we sit when we drive. These aircraft mostly have control wheels, and people are used to the wheel in the left hand. But even with fixed wing aircraft, anytime a stick is used, throttle position is set up on the left to put the stick in the right hand. Helicopters use a stick and cyclic, which controls throttle and pitch. since most choppers have two pilot positions, a single cyclic is put in the middle and the pic sits on the rright to have the stick in his right hand.

Answer 4

The left turn tendency. That's one way I guess.
I have heard a few.

1) Planes do a left handed circuit at an airport as a standard.
To line up the runway should be on your left hand side so being in the left seat is for visibility.
2) When they started with two pilots the left hand seat was used for the Captain and the majority of people are right handed so you could use your right hand for the majority of controls.

Those are the two I heard.

Answer 5

Airplane Pilot Seat

Answer 6

It's a historical thing.

Calvary horsemen always mount horses from the left. The Wright brothers military flyer of 1909 had the pilot on the left. Even on single seat biplanes thru modern warplanes, the pilot mounts from the left side or left wing. Cars & planes developed at the same time. Thus designers put pilots on the left as well as drivers. The right handed thing helped as well.

Answer 7

Left turning tendancy maybe, but aircraft with that have no left turn tendancy (jets, multi engine aircraft with centreline thrust or contra rotating props) all have the pilots seat on the left. Convention maybe?

Aircraft with rear facing props (they have a right turning tendancy) also have the pilot's seat on the left. (SeeBee, Lake Buccaneer).

The dominant hand theory is good until you encounter aircraft like the piper cub, aeronca, citabria, or any fighter plane of any era where your throttle is in the left hand and stick or wheel in the right hand.

I think it has to do with just having a conventional seating arrangement.

As for helicopters, why do pilots sit on the right? I don't know. Long lining is easier from the left seat.

Answer 8

Most planes have dual (both) sided controls. I'll take a guess and say the throttle and other controls in earlier models were set up for a right-hand dominant person, so the left seat became the place to put the pilot.

Answer 9

Give beedaduck the 10 points. It apsolutly has to do with left turning, seeing that in 99% of planes, you cant see into a right turn from the left seat, the right half of the roof blocks the view.

Answer 10

in a comercial plane the visibilty in the cockpit is the same. the reason why the captain seat on the left side, is more conveniet most of the people are right handed.