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From: cfiaime@ihnp3.UUCP (J. Williams)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Flying Backward
Message-ID: <215@ihnp3.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-Jan-86 17:18:27 EST
Article-I.D.: ihnp3.215
Posted: Fri Jan 10 17:18:27 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jan-86 07:03:41 EST
References: <42@ubc-vision.UUCP>
Reply-To: cfiaime@ihnp3.UUCP (45261-J. Williams)
Organization: ATT Bell Labs
Lines: 22

In article <42@ubc-vision.UUCP> majka@ubc-vision.UUCP (Marc Majka) writes:
>
>... why is it
>desirable that passengers should sit facing backward?

This has to do with restraining the body during deceleration.  A person
facing foreward has the seat belts holding him/her in place.  With only
a lap belt, there is quite a possibility of internal injury.  Also, 
it is easy to hit your head on the seat ahead if you are not in a braced
position.  While facing backwards, the seat itself can absorb much of
the deceleration forces, and the passenger's head can not hit the seat
ahead.  

Auto or airplane crash worthiness depends on protecting the passenger 
during the few microseconds of deceleration.  Rear facing seats add quite
a bit of survivability to a crash.  However, the American public is 
not a bit safety conscience and will not accept something as "weird" as
riding backwards.

					jeff williams
					ihnp3!cfiaime
					AT&T Bell Laboratories