Does anyone else think its funny/ridiculous during the air hostess demonstrations that they say in case the plane lands on water the seat can be used as a float. Who has ever heard of a commercial jet land successfully on water. Please someone explain if its possible to do this and why the gov allows airlines to give this false sense of security.
2007-09-07 02:40:37 · 10 answers · asked by ? 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
they do it in Alaska all the time.
2007-09-07 02:48:33 · answer #1 · answered by Michael M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand your concern, there are no guarantees.
There is actually a plane which rides 3-6 feet over water. It's build in England, I think. Close to the surface, the plane uses much less energy, because of the air pillow, build under his wings.
Hundreds of different planes have been build and 100,000 are in use every day to land and start on water, Howard Hughes gigantic Wooden Goose did it, so did a German Passenger Plane in 1936 for 100 Passengers, the biggest at that time.
The problem with a modern jet plane is its speed and rather small wings, compared to its weight. But there is no reason, if enough engine power is still available to get the plane in the right position to the water surface, it couldn't land, if the waves where not to high. Heck, some commercial jets where able to land on hard surface without landing gear, which is much harder then on water. As long as the nose of the plane doesn't tip into the water, it should be fine.
2007-09-07 03:09:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why would an airplane *not* be able to land on water? I've done it hundreds of times. Commercial jetliners in particular are designed to survive ditching and remain afloat. There has never been a successful ditching of a modern jetliner because there is almost no circumstance in which a jetliner would need to ditch--- all engines would have to fail. This is only going to happen if the jet runs out of fuel or maybe if it enters a volcanic ash cloud.
Please note that engines do not cause airplanes to fly--- there are lots of airplanes in the air right now that didn't even bother installing engines (we call them gliders). Wings are what make airplanes fly. The airplane will glide perfectly fine and controllable all the way down to the surface with no power at all. Airplanes do not explode or fall out of the sky when their engines fail.
Edit: I take it back. There HAS been a successful ditching of a 737 in a river, and the entire aircraft remained afloat. See link below.
2007-09-07 03:13:23 · answer #3 · answered by ZikZak 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a mariner and a ship's captain and have been studying stability of ship as one of my major subject in the UK. I have learnt a lot about floatation and buoyancy now I have not studied about Jet Plane but I have an understanding that Jet Planes are designed so they can float on water and even if they will sink it will probably happen after a long long time because it will take time unless you have a ruptured bottom, meanwhile help will arrive but when its said landing on water doesn't mean landing the same way like on runway, its an emergency situation and pilots are highly trained to land on water so minimum damage is done to the plane and ingress of water is none or minimum. Hope this helps !!!!!
2007-09-07 02:54:47 · answer #4 · answered by shipdada 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In an emergency you have a better chance of surviving a crash into water than on land.
At those speeds they are both like hitting concrete, by the water will displace a little and help suppress fire. You aren't going to get a nice smooth landing but it is possible and the plane will float for a while anyway.
2007-09-07 02:59:44 · answer #5 · answered by Brian K² 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The chance of a modern jet liner surviving a landing on water may be slim, but if there is any chance at all, the presence of life preservers is a prudent condition. Better safe than sorry, if one life can be saved.
2007-09-10 14:10:55 · answer #6 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because a plane deliberately lands on water does not mean that it will be intact afterward. If the pilot feels that the aircraft is unable to make a conventional landing for any of a number of possible reasons, he will attempt to reach a large body of water and crash the aircraft in water instead of on land...this will minimize loss of life on the aircraft, and reduce the likelihood of landing on people or their possessions.
See? Its fun to use your head.
2007-09-07 02:50:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it can actually land on water if the surface tension between the plane and the water is very high..
2007-09-07 03:18:11 · answer #8 · answered by lol_XD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lol looking at this question after the miracle on the Hudson
2014-03-12 09:53:12 · answer #9 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So far I do not believe it !
But if they have come up with a new device to save lives ,more power to them. I sure hope it works!
2007-09-07 02:53:24 · answer #10 · answered by bornfree 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋