Why do we have to do this on a plane?

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anony

1 and 2. to keep injuries to a minimum during a crash and to ensure adequate space for a quick exit if needed. The link to an article is great in giving an explanation... Simiply put, when the seat is up, it is in a locked position and when it is down, it is in an unlocked position and can hurt a passenger with more impact if there is a quick exit.

2. During departure and arrival, there is an alert. You are ready to move out if needed and do not want to be in too relaxed a position or have hindrances like trays jutting out.

3. Regarding use of electronics (cell phones, i-pods, laptops, etc). There is no major evidence against use of laptops, except that during take off and landing it is a safety issue. During a problem or sudden impact at take off or during landing, laptops can become heavy and dangerous missiles. They will get in the way of people's movement out of the plane. Since they are essentially luggage, they need to be stowed away properly during take off and landing.

On the instruction to not use i-pods during take off and landing, it is a safety measure to ensure that you do not miss any instructions given at the time.

On the use of cell phones, it is again safety precautions though there is no hard evidence that cell phones are harmful. "Cockpit hardware and software use radio transmissions for a number of tasks. Whether transmitting, receiving or simply sitting idle, cellphones are able to garble these signals." see link for more.

4. Putting carry-ons under your seat is again for ensuring clear passage and to ensure that if there is a sudden impact or turbulence, your carry on does not fly out and hit someone. During evacuation, the aisles and exit rows need to be clear of any baggage.
All the links are interesting reading.

Christian G

1, 2, and 4. It allows the passengers next to and behind you to exit the aircraft in a timely and safe manor in-case of an emergency. (take-off and landing are when most aircraft accidents happen)

3. Computers mostly fly aircraft. In-case of the event that someone has a device that can interfere with the electronic components on an aircraft, it is requested that all electronic devices are shut off. ~ Although this is unlikely its better to be safe than sorry; smaller regional jets have this problem more than larger aircraft.

(At the cruising altitude the pilots will have the ability to control the aircraft is a device happens to interfere with the computers system)

NikkiMâ™¥BTB 08/29/09â™¥

They are all safety measures. In the off chance something goes wrong 1 and 2 make it easy to exit the plane quickly. 3 for the same reason but also to prevent something from falling which is a huge possibility on such a sharp angle.

Electronics is more because some can cause interference with the planes mechanisms. One may not hurt it but many at a time could. So to make it easy they just everyone has to turn everything off.

Mom of THR33

Safety.

straight shooter

answers:

1. So the people behind you can make an easy exit during an emergency.

2. So you can make an easy departure during an emergency.

3. So you are paying attention during takeoff and landing if there is an emergency and they do not become a projectile during an event. They will tell you about electronic interference, however, if that was the case why are you allowed to run electronic devices at altitude???

4. You can't put you carry-on under your seat. You have to put it under the seat in front of you.

In Science we trust

1) so that exit (in the case of an emergency) is not impared. With your seat back, the people in the row behind you might be blocked.
2) Same as above, plus it could be a hazard.
3) The airlines were/are concerned about potential electromagnetic interference with electronics important to landing and takeoff.
4) Same as 1, plus they can go airborne and become a danger in a crash landing.

Berry_Cute97

For your safety and so you don't get hurt when you take off and arrive.Just imagine you just take off and you didn't have to do any of that something might hit you in you head or hurt you badly.What if they don't have any doctors or something happens to the plane you could get really hurt.Plus the airlines don't want to get sued if anything happens to the passengers they could probaly sue them for a million dollars or more or less.Hope this helps :)!

Danger, Will Robinson!

Your first answer is correct, but there's more to it than that.

It's really to create a false sense of security for the passengers, that they might actually survive if there's a crash. Also, it's a psychological tool. It shows them that the airline staff is in charge, and they will be more obedient if there is an emergency and they have to follow the flight attendant's orders.

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