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From: bl@hplabsb.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Flying Backward
Message-ID: <3226@hplabsb.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-Jan-86 20:07:05 EST
Article-I.D.: hplabsb.3226
Posted: Fri Jan 10 20:07:05 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 13-Jan-86 08:06:45 EST
References: <42@ubc-vision.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Lines: 17

> 
> Please forgive the ignorance of this aviation-non-expert, but why is it
> desirable that passengers should sit facing backward?  It has been a good
> puzzle to try to figure it out, but I give up!

It's so that the passengers won't be frightened to death when they see the
ground rushing up to meet them during a crash. :-)

Actually, the theory is that the human body can withstand higher G forces
if it is distributed evenly along the back side rather than against a
strap (i.e., seat belt).  However, any forces that the plane experiences
where seating backward would help will surely be non-survivable for other
reasons (e.g., the seats will rip lose).  Personally, I feel that backward
seating would be of little value in a crash.  The major killer is fire and
smoke.  Also, a major cause of injuries in an emergency landing are the
passengers tripping over each other while evacuating (or falling out of)
the plane.