When in an emergency on a plane do you get a cushion and a life jacket?

Question

Ok, at 20,000 feet over central USA or Europe or any land area, why do you get a cushion and a lifejacket on a plane?, as your falling, do you take them and hope for a soft landing at terminal velocity, or as the "big yin" once said do you throw them at the mountain your heading for and hope you bounce off..................
Personaly I would prefer a parachute, even with no training would rather take my chances.......................................

Answer 1

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the agency of the U.S. gvn't that regulates aviation has a regulation called a Technical Standard Order (TSO), which is essentially a minimum performance standard for parts, materials, etc. used on aircraft.

The TSO (or minimum performance standard) for a life jacket on an airplane is different than the TSO for the seat fabric on an aircraft.

The TSO for life jackets on international flights (where it is likely that there will be prolonged periods of flying over water) is much more stringent than the TSO for the seat cushions or the "life jackets" (properly referred to as "flotation devices") found on transcontinental flights.

This means that the life jackets on international flights (or flights going more than 50 miles from land) have to meet higher standards (in areas such as buoyancy and inflation time) than the "flotation devices" on inland flights or the seat cushions.

About jumping from an airplane in the sky and terminal velocity: When free-falling from an airplane in the sky, a person will rapidly accelerate to terminal velocity, the speed at which the gravitational force pulling the person downwards is equal and opposite to the air resistance pushing it upwards. As you get lower and lower in the atmosphere, the thicker air will, in fact, slow you down.

For more information about any of these topics, see my sources.

Answer 2

not a thing will help! If you go down, get in the brace position, and kiss it goodbye, as there is no hope!
It stems back from when the old Aeroplanes had two engines, and when they flew over the water, it was a great risk, now with the advent of 747 Jumbo jets, they can lose three engines, but on some trim and other mechanical devices, and glide to the ground, because at 35,000ft and a slow descent rate, they would find land. But don't forget, they have VFR, IFR, GPS systems, and are always in contact with Air Control, let alone the fact that the Plane sends system up-dates to the Engineering Department of the Airline Company and the Builders of such aircraft, i.e. BA, and Boeing!

Answer 3

Unfortunately, even a parachute would not be of much use. If you jump out of an airline jet, as the doors are at the sides next to the wings, you would just get sucked into the velocity of the rotating engines! (Thats why the opening of army jets are at the back of the plane). I believe when there are problems with a jet, airline pilots are trained to make crash landings and thats when the cushion may come in handy... but you are right, the chances are slim.

Answer 4

ALL AIRLINES ARE DIFFERENT !!!!! usually if you pay attention during the safety speil, the crew tells you what you need. and even though they may want to exit the plane first, they are paid to stay and make sure you are safe! some planes have you grab your seat and hug it while bending over this cushion acts a a shock absorber helping you not to chrush any of your bones or internal organs, and while you may think this is stupid it is sometimes easier in an emergency to get the whole plane to do the same thing instead of having a free for all! most planes safety vest are under the cushion anyway. i hope this helps if you have an issue with the federal air rules, then dont fly. now please buckle your seatbelts and remain seated until the captain has turned of the sign above

Answer 5

Planes don't fall out of the sky unless the wings come off. You would never be jumping out of a plane at that height. If there were engine failure or something similar the plane would glide down. The pilots would probably aim for something open (field, highway) but if they are over water then they have to land in water. And pilots do not have parachutes, thats silly. There are no exits in the cockpit, they would be on the ground before they could even crawl out.

Answer 6

because most air crashes don't happen while an aircraft is cruising in a clear blue sky and just happen to go into a death dive.
. Most air crashes happen on take off and landings. There are many airports with over -the- water approaches. So if you're taking off from LGA on a snowy day and the aircraft skids of the runway into flushing bay you'll be glad you have a live jacket
In addition in the event that a terrorist wants your aircraft, you can use the seat cushion as a
shield to protect yourself with.

Answer 7

Open the side door of the plane when you see yourself close enough to ground level. Then before the plane crashes, jump out and land softly from a 10 foot range, bouncing on your cushion.

Answer 8

I am with you on that. But if you are falling at high velocity you won't be able to move to get out of the plane to jump. Fear is what will kill most and the best you can hope for is a very quick death.

Answer 9

If you hit the ground at 1000mph the cushion lets you bounce arround before vapourising. The lifejacket if you hit the sea you go down 500ft before shooting to the surface then vapourising is that any help?

Answer 10

2 issues to contemplate: maximum airplanes crash on the two take off or landing and there are diverse airports the two on the water or that have procedures that take you over water. So if i'm commencing up from JFK and the pilot aborts the take off and places us all in Jamaica Bay -yeah i prefer a existence preserver. Assuming which you have been alive 2 minutes after the airplane hit the water- i'm specific that a existence preserver t would boost your risk of survival