Why sit upright during takeoff?

In the upright position, the seat is locked and most robust to withstand any force from a potential impact, says former pilot Hans Mast, now a travel agent with Golden Rule Travel. When a seat is reclined, it's not locked into place, and a sudden stop could have the seat lurch forward, catapulting its occupant.



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What happens if you stand during take off? No problem as long as you have some kind of restraint in case of a mishap such as a sudden return to the ground. You might get your wish soon; Airbus and others have proposed that everyone stand in order to have even cheaper flights.

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The reason this seemingly insignificant task is written into federal law is simple: It's for safety. In the upright position, the seat is locked and most robust to withstand any force from a potential impact, says former pilot Hans Mast, now a travel agent with Golden Rule Travel.

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If the plane comes to a sudden halt during takeoff and landing, the armrests could fly down and cause injury. It's all down to simple physics. If the armrest is already down, there is less chance of an injury.

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If the airplane's interior is dark while its exterior is bright and sunny, passengers may struggle to quickly exit the airplane during an emergency. Therefore, airlines require passengers to open their window shades during takeoffs and landings to allow for eyesight adjustment.

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At the entrance, flight attendants can also get a close look at boarding passengers and what they are carrying. For example, if someone wants to bring an oversized piece of hand luggage onto the plane that was not noticed at the gate, there is still the option of having it checked in.

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“Boarding from the left side facilitates the pilot's ability to precisely align the plane door with the terminal,” Ravi says. If the pilot isn't precise, the plane's wing could hit the building.

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A takeoff may be rejected for a variety of reasons, including engine failure, activation of the takeoff warning horn, direction from air traffic control (ATC), blown tires, or system warnings.

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This tilting at the start of the takeoff run is actually a sensory illusion. It's caused by the acceleration of the aircraft. The forward force on you from the seat is combining with the upward force (resisting gravity) makes it seem as though the aircraft is tilting, when in fact it isn't.

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The reduced takeoff thrust procedure increases engine durability, lowers maintenance costs, and increases engine reliability. The airliners we have today are highly overpowered as they are designed to safely take off with one engine inoperative.

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This is a safety measure, and is to ensure your eyes are adjusted to the gloom enough to see the floor lights leading you to safety along the aisle in the event of a crash or emergency evacuation. If the cabin lights were on, but then went out your eyes would need a while to adjust to the lower light levels.

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So overall, turning off the lights during takeoff and landing is a necessary measure to improve visibility and safety for pilots, ATC controllers and passengers. It is an important part of the safety protocols that help ensure air travel is as safe as possible.

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Doing so could create a number of health issues, including permanent damage to your ears. The reason behind this is that air pressure inside a plane changes rapidly during take off and landing.

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It's hardly a secret that the plane toilet isn't very clean, though it may come as a surprise to learn that some flight attendants rarely use them. I only use the lavatories on the airplane if I need to wash my hands or if I absolutely have to go to the bathroom, an anonymous cabin-crew member said.

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It's not uncommon to see planes being sprayed before takeoff. The spray is a heated mixture of glycol and water. It has a lower freezing temperature than just water. This breaks off ice already formed and prevents more from building up.

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If you can wait until the seat belt sign is off, that's better, right? But if you can't, and sometimes you just have to go, go. Try to avoid doing so right after takeoff, right before landing (as in the first and last 5 minutes!).

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