Safest place to sit in a commercial aircraft.

Sufferin' Prius Envy · 07-22-2007, 02:36 AM

Having flown thousands of hours on commercial type aircraft, both as a civilian passenger and as Aircrew on a Navy C9-B (think 90 passenger commercial aircraft with UNITED STATES NAVY painted on the side), I was shocked to find out that I was wrong all these years.

Where do you think is the safest place?
Popular Mechanics opened the National Transportation Safety Board files and did the number crunching. Apparently a first.

TAKE THE POLL BEFORE CLICKING ON THE LINK FOR THE ANSWER.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/ai...ce/4219452.html

Godiva · 07-22-2007, 03:39 AM

Most comfortable ride: on the wings.

Safest? Tail section.

At least, that's what my Father taught me. But that was in the '60s. Things may have changed.

JaviNOS · 07-22-2007, 04:17 AM

i've always thought it was safest in the rear... near the end of the plane... dunno... it seems right i guess...

anyhow... its bad anywhere u are seated if its going down

and scary

qbee42 · 07-22-2007, 08:34 AM

The safest place to sit is anywhere on a plane that doesn't crash. Then all you have to worry about is bad food and poor service.

Tom

pyccku · 07-22-2007, 08:52 AM

Depends on what happens to the plane.

Crash on take-off? Tail passengers are screwed.

On landing? Frong passengers are screwed.

Bomb explodes mid-air? Does it really matter where you're sitting? You're screwed.

JSH · 07-22-2007, 05:00 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pyccku @ Jul 22 2007, 07:52 AM) [snapback]483116[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Depends on what happens to the plane.

Crash on take-off? Tail passengers are screwed.

On landing? Frong passengers are screwed.

Bomb explodes mid-air? Does it really matter where you're sitting? You're screwed.
[/b]

Exactly. The popular mechanics article also doesn't take into account aircraft design. It is safest to sit very close to an emergency exit. If the plan explodes or crashes at high speed into the ground it isn't going to matter where you sit, your dead. However, in accident were people survive such as if the plane skids off a runway, most people don't die from impact they die from the fire that follows. So the closer your sit to the exit, the sooner you can get out and the better your chances of surviving.

That said, as a frequent flier that flies 150K to 200K miles per year, if I'm not in an exit row, I sit in front of the wing because it is quieter. I figure the chances of surviving a plan crash are slim to none anyway so I might as well be comfortable.

darelldd · 07-22-2007, 05:08 PM

A couple of things come to mind:

1. According to the article I've been right this whole time. I thought everybody knew the answer.
2. I don't believe much of what I read in publications like PS, since when I read about a subject that I'm already intimately familiar with, they have shown to be somewhat loose with the facts, and heavy with the innuendo.

wiiprii · 07-22-2007, 05:23 PM

Statistics tell us that we probably won't be in a plane crash. And if we are in a plane crash, we'll probably survive it.

I usually sit toward the back of the plane, because that is where economy is. I always count the rows from my seat to the nearest exit. And I also pay attention to the safety drill during taxi to the runway.

The most dangerous part of the flight is landing, followed by taking off. Cruise is the safest part.

Always wear your seatbelt while seated, clear air turbulence can happen at any time.

Wear long sleeved shirt and pants with good shoes if you can. In the event of an emergency, you'll be more protected. Also, I don't take my shoes off during the flight, but I do wear comfortable shoes that aren't too tight.

Don't drink alcohol on the plane, you'll get dehydrated in an already very dry environment. I drink water and juice only, and water only from a bottled water source, not from the planes tanks, which are known to not be so clean all the time.

I like to sit by the window, I like the view and it gives me something to do, and somewhere to rest my head while I sleep. My wife prefers the aisle so this works out for us.

Also, it's worth it to pay attention to the kind of airplane you're on. I like the Boeing 777 for ocean flights. It's got a clean safety record, and it handles turbulence very well. It is faster than the Airbus planes too, so you get to your destination a little sooner.

Just some thoughts.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and *most* airplane accidents are related to pilot error, not a problem with the airplane. The recent crash in Brazil was pilot error, he should have refused to fly the airplane with one thrust reverser out. He also landed hot, meaning too high and too fast for runway conditions.

Stev0 · 07-22-2007, 06:07 PM

Anywhere, because the plane isn't going to leave the runway for the next six and a half hours.

And no, you can't get off while we're waiting.

Marlin · 07-23-2007, 12:27 PM

I thought this was well known for decades. When I flew to and from college in the early 80's, my mother insisted I got a seat in the back of the plane because it was the safest. Why was it the safest? Because it was the part of the plane that usually remained in one piece in most plane crashes.

View Poll Results: Safest place to sit on a commercial aircraft?
In the front. First / Business Class.	1	1.72%
Ahead of the wings.	8	13.79%
Over the wings.	18	31.03%
In the back. Behind the wings.	31	53.45%
Voters: 58. You may not vote on this poll

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07-22-2007, 02:36 AM	#1
Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,998 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Having flown thousands of hours on commercial type aircraft, both as a civilian passenger and as Aircrew on a Navy C9-B (think 90 passenger commercial aircraft with UNITED STATES NAVY painted on the side), I was shocked to find out that I was wrong all these years. Where do you think is the safest place? Popular Mechanics opened the National Transportation Safety Board files and did the number crunching. Apparently a first. TAKE THE POLL BEFORE CLICKING ON THE LINK FOR THE ANSWER. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/ai...ce/4219452.html

07-22-2007, 03:39 AM	#2
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 10,340 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 7	Most comfortable ride: on the wings. Safest? Tail section. At least, that's what my Father taught me. But that was in the '60s. Things may have changed.

07-22-2007, 04:17 AM	#3
JaviNOS Mod Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 150 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	i've always thought it was safest in the rear... near the end of the plane... dunno... it seems right i guess... anyhow... its bad anywhere u are seated if its going down and scary

07-22-2007, 08:34 AM	#4
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 12,311 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 367 Thanked 837 Times in 609 Posts Friends: 14	The safest place to sit is anywhere on a plane that doesn't crash. Then all you have to worry about is bad food and poor service. Tom

07-22-2007, 08:52 AM	#5
pyccku Happy Prius Driver Join Date: May 2007 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 235 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Depends on what happens to the plane. Crash on take-off? Tail passengers are screwed. On landing? Frong passengers are screwed. Bomb explodes mid-air? Does it really matter where you're sitting? You're screwed.

07-22-2007, 05:08 PM	#7
darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 5,413 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 19 Thanked 65 Times in 48 Posts Friends: 13	A couple of things come to mind: 1. According to the article I've been right this whole time. I thought everybody knew the answer. 2. I don't believe much of what I read in publications like PS, since when I read about a subject that I'm already intimately familiar with, they have shown to be somewhat loose with the facts, and heavy with the innuendo.

07-22-2007, 05:23 PM	#8
wiiprii Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 148 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Statistics tell us that we probably won't be in a plane crash. And if we are in a plane crash, we'll probably survive it. I usually sit toward the back of the plane, because that is where economy is. I always count the rows from my seat to the nearest exit. And I also pay attention to the safety drill during taxi to the runway. The most dangerous part of the flight is landing, followed by taking off. Cruise is the safest part. Always wear your seatbelt while seated, clear air turbulence can happen at any time. Wear long sleeved shirt and pants with good shoes if you can. In the event of an emergency, you'll be more protected. Also, I don't take my shoes off during the flight, but I do wear comfortable shoes that aren't too tight. Don't drink alcohol on the plane, you'll get dehydrated in an already very dry environment. I drink water and juice only, and water only from a bottled water source, not from the planes tanks, which are known to not be so clean all the time. I like to sit by the window, I like the view and it gives me something to do, and somewhere to rest my head while I sleep. My wife prefers the aisle so this works out for us. Also, it's worth it to pay attention to the kind of airplane you're on. I like the Boeing 777 for ocean flights. It's got a clean safety record, and it handles turbulence very well. It is faster than the Airbus planes too, so you get to your destination a little sooner. Just some thoughts. EDIT: Oh yeah, and most airplane accidents are related to pilot error, not a problem with the airplane. The recent crash in Brazil was pilot error, he should have refused to fly the airplane with one thrust reverser out. He also landed hot, meaning too high and too fast for runway conditions.

07-22-2007, 06:07 PM	#9
Stev0 Aluminum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 5,874 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 43 Thanked 94 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 7	Anywhere, because the plane isn't going to leave the runway for the next six and a half hours. And no, you can't get off while we're waiting.

07-23-2007, 12:27 PM	#10
Marlin Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 1,409 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	I thought this was well known for decades. When I flew to and from college in the early 80's, my mother insisted I got a seat in the back of the plane because it was the safest. Why was it the safest? Because it was the part of the plane that usually remained in one piece in most plane crashes.