Please store your tray table
December 30, 2005 8:37 PM Subscribe
Why do you have to put your seatback up and store your tray table when taking off and landing on commercial airlines? Is this somehow going to save me in case of a crash?
The seatback isn't for you it's for the person behind you. The idea is to have as few obstructions between you and the exit as possible so you and the person behind you can exit quickly.
If it is a full crash landing, then it won't do you any good. However, the overwhelming majority of emergency landings are non-lethal.
posted by Alison at 8:45 PM on December 30, 2005
If it is a full crash landing, then it won't do you any good. However, the overwhelming majority of emergency landings are non-lethal.
posted by Alison at 8:45 PM on December 30, 2005
A reclined seat and/or an un-stowed tray table reduces the spacing between seats even further. They obstruct the ability of passengers to exit the aircraft in an emergency.
posted by nathan_teske at 8:46 PM on December 30, 2005
posted by nathan_teske at 8:46 PM on December 30, 2005
...not to mention smashing your face against the corner of the plastic table/tray during hard landing. ouch.
posted by grafholic at 8:55 PM on December 30, 2005
posted by grafholic at 8:55 PM on December 30, 2005
Response by poster: I can understand the need for space upon exiting seats, and why it makes sense to insist that passengers do this upon landing so they don't forget before getting up to exit, but what about taking off? No one is going anywhere.
posted by jasondigitized at 8:58 PM on December 30, 2005
posted by jasondigitized at 8:58 PM on December 30, 2005
The plane may need to land soon after takeoff if any malfunctions become apparent or the pilot may fail to take off properly or whathaveyou. Takeoff and landing are the two most common times for an aircraft accident by far.
posted by jedicus at 9:05 PM on December 30, 2005
posted by jedicus at 9:05 PM on December 30, 2005
According to this, a lot of fatal accidents happen during takeoff. If something happens, then passengers need to be able to leave quickly. Also, here is a database of airline accidents for the last 60 years.
posted by Alison at 9:09 PM on December 30, 2005
posted by Alison at 9:09 PM on December 30, 2005
Best answer: Technically, the reason you have to make your seat upright and stow the tray table is because of FAA regulation for operating in the US. (presumably other countries have similar regulations). I think the regulations are 121.577 (tray tables) and 121.311 (upright seats).
Although the regulations don't describe the intent of the policymakers, I've always assumed it's for the reasons others have said: stowing the tray tables and bringing the seat back up clears the way to the exits, just in case an expedient deplaning is required.
Why takeoff? About 1/3 of accidents occur during takeoff.
posted by blue mustard at 9:09 PM on December 30, 2005
Although the regulations don't describe the intent of the policymakers, I've always assumed it's for the reasons others have said: stowing the tray tables and bringing the seat back up clears the way to the exits, just in case an expedient deplaning is required.
Why takeoff? About 1/3 of accidents occur during takeoff.
posted by blue mustard at 9:09 PM on December 30, 2005
Response by poster: As an aside, after reading a Wired sidebar and reading this thread, it seems that the 'No iPod etc.' rule upon take off and landing has nothing to do with radio interference, but actually to do with the fact that I need to hear that the plane is about to crash.
posted by jasondigitized at 9:15 PM on December 30, 2005
posted by jasondigitized at 9:15 PM on December 30, 2005
From Salon's Ask the Pilot:
Why am I asked to store my tray table for takeoff and landing?
So that in the event of an impact or sudden deceleration you don't impale yourself on it. Additionally, keeping the trays up allows for a clear path to the aisle during an emergency evacuation. The restriction on seat recline is for similar reasons. First, it restricts head and body movement, (the high seat backs lessen the severity of whiplash-style injuries), while also allowing for a fast dash into the aisle.
posted by Alison at 9:18 PM on December 30, 2005
Why am I asked to store my tray table for takeoff and landing?
So that in the event of an impact or sudden deceleration you don't impale yourself on it. Additionally, keeping the trays up allows for a clear path to the aisle during an emergency evacuation. The restriction on seat recline is for similar reasons. First, it restricts head and body movement, (the high seat backs lessen the severity of whiplash-style injuries), while also allowing for a fast dash into the aisle.
posted by Alison at 9:18 PM on December 30, 2005
I bet it also makes it a little easier on the cabin crew when all the seats and trays are in the right position after the passengers leave. Not that that sort of thing would come into consideration...
posted by jaysus chris at 10:46 PM on December 30, 2005
posted by jaysus chris at 10:46 PM on December 30, 2005
Forget the "quick exit" aspect -- if your tray table is down, then it is likely down in order to for you to place things on it, right? And things placed on a tray in front of you are more likely to be thrown around the cabin if there is any bumping, turbulence, etc, as well as while you are taking off at an rather extreme angle. And if there aren't "things" on your tray table, then why on earth would you want it down at all?
posted by davidmsc at 11:37 PM on December 30, 2005
posted by davidmsc at 11:37 PM on December 30, 2005
Supplementary question, if I may: we also usually get asked to make sure our window shades are up for take-off and landing. Why's this?
posted by Jimbob at 1:07 AM on December 31, 2005
posted by Jimbob at 1:07 AM on December 31, 2005
Cabin light in case of an emergency, I'd gather.
posted by nathan_teske at 3:15 AM on December 31, 2005
posted by nathan_teske at 3:15 AM on December 31, 2005
Also, I think they don't want passengers to freak if they see a little fire out there.
For what it's worth, I've flown lots of zoo plane type charters with no rules and neither playing your ipod or CD player, nor talking on your cell during take off and landing, nor blackberrying in flight (sometimes you can if you're flying low enough), nor using your wireless laptop, has any effect on the operation of the plane.
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:44 AM on December 31, 2005
For what it's worth, I've flown lots of zoo plane type charters with no rules and neither playing your ipod or CD player, nor talking on your cell during take off and landing, nor blackberrying in flight (sometimes you can if you're flying low enough), nor using your wireless laptop, has any effect on the operation of the plane.
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:44 AM on December 31, 2005
Supplementary question, if I may: we also usually get asked to make sure our window shades are up for take-off and landing. Why's this?
A lot of times they only say that passengers seated next to exits need to have their window shades open during takeoff and landing. The reasoning I've always heard is that if you're going to have to help in an emergency, you should be aware of your surroundings. It's easier to see if there's a big fire right next to you if you have your shade up.
For what it's worth, I've flown lots of zoo plane type charters with no rules and neither playing your ipod or CD player, nor talking on your cell during take off and landing, nor blackberrying in flight (sometimes you can if you're flying low enough), nor using your wireless laptop, has any effect on the operation of the plane.
The regulations provide the airlines with a lot of discretion regarding what type of electronic devices they allow used on their flights. The blanket restrictions are just because it's easier to enforce.
A lot of times they only say that passengers seated next to exits need to have their window shades open during takeoff and landing. The reasoning I've always heard is that if you're going to have to help in an emergency, you should be aware of your surroundings. It's easier to see if there's a big fire right next to you if you have your shade up.
For what it's worth, I've flown lots of zoo plane type charters with no rules and neither playing your ipod or CD player, nor talking on your cell during take off and landing, nor blackberrying in flight (sometimes you can if you're flying low enough), nor using your wireless laptop, has any effect on the operation of the plane.
The regulations provide the airlines with a lot of discretion regarding what type of electronic devices they allow used on their flights. The blanket restrictions are just because it's easier to enforce.
Sec. 125.204posted by MarkAnd at 7:25 AM on December 31, 2005
Portable electronic devices.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate, nor may any operator or pilot in command of an aircraft allow the operation of, any portable electronic device on any U.S.-registered civil aircraft operating under this part.
(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to--
(1) Portable voice recorders;
(2) Hearing aids;
(3) Heart pacemakers;
(4) Electric shavers; or
(5) Any other portable electronic device that the Part 125 certificate holder has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.
(c) The determination required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section shall be made by that Part 125 certificate holder operating the particular device to be used.
My point was only that lots of people think cell phones etc will interfere with navigation or communication and they don't.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:13 AM on December 31, 2005
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:13 AM on December 31, 2005
My belief has always been that the reason you can't use portable electronic devices during takeoff and landing is because they want you to pay attention during takeoff and landing.
posted by sdrawkcab at 8:32 AM on December 31, 2005
posted by sdrawkcab at 8:32 AM on December 31, 2005
Window shades have to be up so that if you crash the emergency services can see inside the plane and work out where and what to do first.
I also heard that some seats collapse forwards, hence the bent over brace position and need for them to be upright, but reading this thread I now suspect that's bunk.
posted by bonaldi at 10:12 AM on December 31, 2005
I also heard that some seats collapse forwards, hence the bent over brace position and need for them to be upright, but reading this thread I now suspect that's bunk.
posted by bonaldi at 10:12 AM on December 31, 2005
Re: window shades being up, I've also been on planes where we've been sitting on the runway in a long line for takeoff, and the sun was beating down through the windows, which made everyone put the shades down. The flight attendants required us to put them up because they told us that lowering all window shades was an international sign for a hijacking in progress. Whether this is actually the case or not is something I'm a bit too lazy to google right now, but there you go.
posted by Mrmuhnrmuh at 12:07 PM on December 31, 2005
posted by Mrmuhnrmuh at 12:07 PM on December 31, 2005
Bonaldi - Adam Savage and friends tested the seat thing on MythBusters. They did a practical test, using the cast as subjects, of the brace position.
posted by nathan_teske at 1:04 PM on December 31, 2005
posted by nathan_teske at 1:04 PM on December 31, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rafter at 8:45 PM on December 30, 2005