Why?

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:53 am

Why are there enough lifeboats to save everyone on a ship, but there aren't enough parachutes to save everyone on a plane? I have been on a plane eight times, and don't get me wrong, each time was an experience. However, with me watching movies and The Discovery Channel, it is starting to bug me that if something happens in the air, I could be screwed. Yet if a ship is sinking, there are enough lifeboats to save everyone on the ship. The only thing we get on a plane is a seat that can float, and an oxygen mask. And a floating seat doesn't do much good when you are 30,000 ft in the air and rapidly losing altitude. The reason I am questioning this is because I am leaving from Austin to Las Vegas early next month, and it is really bothering me.

Skynet · Post by **Skynet** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:04 am

Damn, never thought of that before. But it's a good question!

fatheadpi · Post by **fatheadpi** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:19 am

Probably because the company figures since most passengers know nothing about jumping out in emergency situations, most of them would die in the fall, which would have even more problems. Anyone that lived would undoubtedly sue the living bejesus out of the industry. Plus, most passenger aircraft I've seen aren't set up to support jumping, and I think there's a big risk of going right into the turboprop / engine intake.

404NotFound · Post by **404NotFound** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:24 am

A plane crashes a lot faster than a boat sinks.

Skynet · Post by **Skynet** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:24 am

You're probably right

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:31 am

So it is better to have everyone die in a plane crash except for maybe one or two who could put one on? They tell you at the beginning of a flight how to put on the oxygen mask, why can't they take another 10 minutes out of your flight and tell you how to put on and use a parachute? A manufacturer could design and produce special parachutes that are easy to put on. Also, I don't see why anyone would sue, seeing as how they are still alive. Yet you do make an interesting point fatheadpi.

404NotFound · Post by **404NotFound** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:35 am

that_guy wrote:So it is better to have everyone die in a plane crash except for maybe one or two who could put one on? They tell you at the beginning of a flight how to put on the oxygen mask, why can't they take another 10 minutes out of your flight and tell you how to put on and use a parachute? A manufacturer could design and produce special parachutes that are easy to put on. Also, I don't see why anyone would sue, seeing as how they are still alive. Yet you do make an interesting point fatheadpi.

I'm not sure how it would work. They'd have to redisign the planes.

A ship has an entire deck to load people out of, a plane has what.. one? two doors? It's a bit unethical to make people fight for a chance of survival when something goes wrong.

Post by **melancholy** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 2:27 am

Two ideas:

1. Parachutes built into the back of the seat
B. Drop-out floors

Problem solved.

Skynet · Post by **Skynet** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 2:36 am

I was thinking along the lines of break-away walls. Your idea is good too

But then again, that always brings up the idea that anyone could drop the floor out from under you!

I suppose that could be overcome by safety mechanisms that both pilots (or atleast airline chicks - forgot their names) have to open manually.

Nyarlathotep · Post by **Nyarlathotep** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 2:44 am

to be honest, the whole giving people lifejackets and floating seats is entirely for reassuring passengers - there has never been a single survivor from a plane crash over water in the entire history of commercial flight.

coke · Post by **coke** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 3:26 am

melancholy wrote:Two ideas:

1. Parachutes built into the back of the seat
B. Drop-out floors

Problem solved.

Parachutes would have to be inspected before the plane deports the airport to ensure they're working and no defults. Also kids like to kick they're fit on the back of the site a lot to add: there are a lot of sick people who would fuck with the parachutes.

curt_grymala · Post by **curt_grymala** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:50 am

Wouldn't the pressurization of the cabin make it vurtually impossible to exit a plane while it's still in the air anyway? I saw something a few weeks ago explaining that the things we always see in movies are a bunch of bunk (like there's anything in movies that is accurate). You know, when you're watching a movie and someone opens the door on the plane and everything starts getting sucked out. I heard that the pressurization of the cabin actually has an opposite effect, pulling the doors in toward the plane, so it would take some ungodly amount of strength to actually be able to push the door out of the plane.

ian · Post by **ian** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:52 am

curt_grymala wrote:Wouldn't the pressurization of the cabin make it vurtually impossible to exit a plane while it's still in the air anyway?.

yep

Disheveled DrFreeze · Post by **Disheveled DrFreeze** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:02 am

the pressure inside the plane is higher then outside, but i think the strong "wind" outside might force the doors in

and to have good parachute jumping ability, youd need to redesign planes with a drop flap in the tail much like a hercules, and have those WW2 parachute lines running across the sealing in order to open each parachute in time

would be cool, but a bit ineconomic

mikelomax · Post by **mikelomax** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:48 am

that_guy wrote:Why are there enough lifeboats to save everyone on a ship, but there aren't enough parachutes to save everyone on a plane? I have been on a plane eight times, and don't get me wrong, each time was an experience. However, with me watching movies and The Discovery Channel, it is starting to bug me that if something happens in the air, I could be screwed. Yet if a ship is sinking, there are enough lifeboats to save everyone on the ship. The only thing we get on a plane is a seat that can float, and an oxygen mask. And a floating seat doesn't do much good when you are 30,000 ft in the air and rapidly losing altitude. The reason I am questioning this is because I am leaving from Austin to Las Vegas early next month, and it is really bothering me.

Very simple really, if something goes wrong with a plane it'll be all over very quickly. Ships tend not to have enough fuel to totally destroy themselves and even if they do, it's stored somewhere a little less "sticky outy" than on a plane. Second, even if parachutes were supplied, the speed and change in pressure upon leaving the plane would probably either kill you, knock you out, or destroy the parachute when it opens because you'd be travelling too fast.

someoneElse · Post by **someoneElse** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:55 am

that_guy wrote:They tell you at the beginning of a flight how to put on the oxygen mask, why can't they take another 10 minutes out of your flight and tell you how to put on and use a parachute?

They'd still fall days or weeks short of the time needed to properly train a person on the BASICS of parachute drops. Basic as in 'what you'd need to survive a drop.'

Master Higgins · Post by **Master Higgins** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:20 pm

I think there's a big risk of going right into the turboprop / engine intake.

That'd be awesome to watch, be worth dying on a plane for

Wagh · Post by **Wagh** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:53 pm

that_guy wrote:Why are there enough lifeboats to save everyone on a ship, but there aren't enough parachutes to save everyone on a plane? I have been on a plane eight times, and don't get me wrong, each time was an experience. However, with me watching movies and The Discovery Channel, it is starting to bug me that if something happens in the air, I could be screwed. Yet if a ship is sinking, there are enough lifeboats to save everyone on the ship. The only thing we get on a plane is a seat that can float, and an oxygen mask. And a floating seat doesn't do much good when you are 30,000 ft in the air and rapidly losing altitude. The reason I am questioning this is because I am leaving from Austin to Las Vegas early next month, and it is really bothering me.

planes don't crash as often as you'd think.

Covar · Post by **Covar** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:43 pm

Nyarlathotep wrote:to be honest, the whole giving people lifejackets and floating seats is entirely for reassuring passengers - there has never been a single survivor from a plane crash over water in the entire history of commercial flight.

thanks to you, if i ever go overseas i'm taking a boat.

hearld500 · Post by **hearld500** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:56 pm

1. Parachutes cost more then a lifejacket.
2. It's hard to jump out of a plane then a boat.

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