Why does the Pilot-in-Command sit in the left seat?

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. Manufacturers incorporated this tendency into the early designs to help compensate for this torque effect. So the left seat PIC position has been standard practice since the 1930's, even though more modern props turn clockwise.

It has nothing to do with left-handed vs right-handed pilots. Actually, the majority of people are right-handed (and therefore most pilots are right handed) and this means flying the aircraft with your left hand (on a conventional yoke system) and using your dominant hand for the throttle and other controls and instruments. Being L handed or R handed makes no difference on the capability of the pilot to control an aircraft.

On multi-engine planes and all large jets, there is no measurable 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 - as opposed to moving your collective hand (L) to the cyclic (R) and then adjusting the radios. 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

There are many reasons for this. First, as someone mentioned earlier, if for easy access to the instruments, on many smaller aircraft the bulk of instrumenation is on the left side, for more modern aircraft the instruments may be on either side and it does not matter the side, yes tradition has much to do with it but it is more common sense, the PIC needs to see the instruments. As helicopters go, the PIC is on the RIght in many (not all) instances, this is because when flying a helicpoter you must be flying all the time and the easier (smarter) control to let go of is the collective (up/down) This gives your left hand the ability to adjust the instruments as needed. Helicopters that have panels in front of the pilot/copilot, the pilot will sit on the left, mainly because of preference and the whole passing on the right thing.
Back to planes, the student pilot also sits on the left side and stays there because of comfortability, Most would not sit in the right seat because they would have to get used to doing everything the other way, left hand would do what the right hand had to do and vice versa. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Different aircraft....different PIC seat, generally it is to do with the cockpit controls and access to them. But as pilot in command; you can sit anywhere you want! He whom has the highest rating and experience level is going to have the distinction of PIC if anything happens anyway.

Answer 4

Because the Co-Pilot is usually the one in charge of buying the hot dogs so he needs to be on the right side near the air sidewalk !!!!!!!

Answer 5

It provides better visibility when in a traffic pattern. Not to mention that an aircraft on your right has right of way, if you are both moving head on both aircraft must turn right etc.

Answer 6

Because the worldwide air traffic rules are to fly on the right-hand side of the sky. (pass oncoming aircraft by veering right)

Answer 7

I believe it has to do with most of the world's people being right handed and will more smoothly use the controls, such as throttle, trim etc, with their right hand.

Answer 8

PIC in a helicopter sits on the right

Answer 9

That is just the way it's done

Answer 10

because the yanks built more of 'em first so they kept that arrangment!!