In an airline crash, people are told to assume the brace position. If the seats were facing backwards (as was/is used in military flights) surely this would be a safer option to use as the passengers are already in a more secure position.
2006-10-04 04:39:22 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Generally people do not like the sensation of facing backwards when in motion. On busses and subways, seats often face into the center, and most people will accept that, however that wastes a lot of precious seating space so the only workable solution for air or train travel is lateral rows of seats facing forward.
2006-10-04 04:43:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, there are rows of seats against the bulkhead of each section in a Southwest Airlines jet that face backward. As far as I know, it's the only airline that does it.
But, I think for practical purposes, if you had a planeload of people all facing backwards, you'd have a serious motion sickness epidemic. Something about the sensation of flying forward while facing the opposite direction has got to do a number on the inner ear.
2006-10-05 23:31:11 · answer #2 · answered by Social_Butterfly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not flying at all might be a safer option although statistically more people have died in a single ship sinking than have died in a single air crash although Airbus are well on the way to fixing this with their new double decker airbus.
Lets face it the difference between forward facing and rear is irrelevant when the plane seperates into 3 seperate bits over Lockerbie, and crashes are statistically so rare that it just aint worth worrying about. a bigger worry is potential distress caused by passengers pitching forward on takeoff and landing not back, no probs for fit squaddies but for mr average joe could induce air sickness or even trigger a heart attack
2006-10-04 11:54:54 · answer #3 · answered by "Call me Dave" 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the main reason is the comfort of "joe public" who don't like sitting backwards to the direction of travel(hence the easiest seats to find on a train are the back-facing seats) since "joe public" buys the tickets and spends the the money they get forward facing seats !in the military the seats still do face backwards (at least in the RAF don't know about others airforces policy) and yes it is the safest position for sears as you are already braced when you sit up and therefore can't go backwards anymore than you are already.
2006-10-04 12:05:49 · answer #4 · answered by merv 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isle of Lucy is correct. It is purely a sales point for the airlines. People do not like to face backwards when travelling. Having seats facing rearwards is far safer, which is why the RAF have the seats in all their VC10 troop carriers facing towards the back of the aircraft.
2006-10-04 11:55:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I completely agree - and why do we have to put up with lap-belts, when we know that in cars they're considered unsatisfactory and potentially dangerous?
Personally, I don't mind which way I face on a train or whatever. Maybe there should be some rows of seats without windows for those who don't like knowing they're moving backwards. Just so long as the pilot looks forwards, I'm happy!
2006-10-04 11:54:11 · answer #6 · answered by gvih2g2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I asked this question myself some time ago and got the same pointless answers. IT IS A GREAT IDEA! For those without a window seat it makes no diference at all. Why not have the centre seats backwards so passengers have a choice?
2006-10-06 08:52:33 · answer #7 · answered by bwadsp 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are some aircraft that did try this in conjunction with forward facing seats - the VC10 (which the UK - RAFand BAE1-111 Trident for example. The only reason is because of passenger comfort during takeoff/climb and landing more than anything else.
2006-10-04 16:27:30 · answer #8 · answered by MPatrinos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many private business aircraft have what is referred to as club seating where some of the seats face rearward. I've had many regular passengers that would not sit in the reward facing seats because they said they were either uncomfortable with the acceleration of take-off and climb out or that they feared it would induce air sickness. However en-route at a level cruising altitude they would switch to those seats to take advantage of the light from their window for reading or and take a nice afternoon nap? I think most prefer to face forward. I know my seat does!
2006-10-04 11:56:32 · answer #9 · answered by pecker_head_bill 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are on some older vehicles. (Dominie, VC10) in the RAF.
I was told that they used to have the seats facing backwards years ago, but people complained, as it's not as aesthetically pleasing to face backwards, so the airlines decided to face the seats forward from then on, to sell more tickets.
I've flown in a VC10 several times and it is very strange taking off and landing backwards, but I'm not too bothered by it. I have a mate who is scared of flying (and she's in the RAF!). She says she prefers to face backwards, as she knows it's safer.
BTW, not all of our transports have backwards seats, the Tristar and hercules don't (Hercules has sideways facing seats!).
2006-10-05 03:48:24 · answer #10 · answered by genghis41f 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋