There are only two types of people on a plane: those who don’t mess around and instantly recline their seat as far as they can, or people who hate the first type because they can’t stand it when their legroom gets even tighter; however, you may want to know why it is vital to straighten the plane seat during takeoff and landing, here we explain it to you.
Why does the airplane seat have to be straightened?
The flight attendants confess that takeoff and landing are the so-called critical moments during a flight because there is a greater probability of an accident occurring.
According to pilot and aviation author John Cox, in the event of an emergency evacuation, seats should be arranged so that the passenger behind you has as much room as possible.
Think about the last time you were on a conventional flight and the person in front of you reclined completely. It would have been more difficult to stand at the moment until you reached a relatively upright position. How long would it have taken you to reach the aisle, if you were at the window? It may not be that much of a difference in normal flight conditions, but now imagine an emergency situation, when many people are panicking and every second counts.
It also applies to the service table
On the other hand, there is the rule of keeping the table for food during takeoff or landing, and it’s also for greater passenger safety.
“In an evacuation, where every second matters to get out of the plane, if the table is down, it will delay the passage of passengers who are in the middle and window seat” highlights an American crew member.
However, speeding up the exit isn’t the only reason you’re asked to straighten your seat. Air&Space magazine explains that if your seat is not completely straight, it will function as a kind of catapult. The movement of the plane can cause you to move forward, so the more reclined it is, the more distance it will impact the passenger’s head.
Another reason is that it does not allow anyone to adopt a position for emergencies or forced landings; that is, bend forward with your hands resting on your head on the surface of the seat.
Takeoff and landing: the most dangerous moments
Takeoffs and landings are the moments in which the plane is closest to the ground and with a lower speed, it is when more maneuvers are carried out and according to John Cox, what makes it even more dangerous is that other planes come into play around.
Boeing statistics tell us that 48% of serious accidents between 1959 and 2016 occurred during landing, while 13% occurred during takeoff.
