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Why don't normal commercial planes have ejecter seats controlled by the pilot? Surely this would be ideal in a terrorist situation?

By TheGreatOne Asked Aug 10 2006 11:04AM
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Top Answer out of 6

by yoho05 reminds you to DYOH on Aug 10, 2006 at 11:16 am Permalink

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You're kidding, right?

The terrorists would then just not stay in their seats when they took over the plane - I doubt that they do now.

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Ejector seats for the passengers would not be practical . First of all ejecting at 25,000 feet would land them in a frigid oxygen-deprived atmosphere. They would lack oxygen masks and parachutes, not to mention the training about how to eject safely and parachute without too much damage to themselves and others. Secondly, with all that 'open air ventilation' in the roof of the plane the pilot and other crew would be pretty hard pressed to continue flying the craft safely.

Not to mention that infants and toddlers, who are stapped into car seats for the ride would be shot out of the plane to their deaths - do you want to be responsible for that?
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Avatar TheGreatOne Aug, 10 2006 at 11:30 AM
Actually I meant for the passengers. If all the passengers got ejected then the terrorist standing up would be blown out the plane?
Avatar Glenn Blaylock Aug, 10 2006 at 09:22 PM
He's right. The odds of passengers surviving an ejection at altitude are really poor. They would both freeze and suffocate.

Answer 2 out of 6

by TomFlewFly on Oct 12, 2009 at 7:09 pm Permalink

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Not sure... but the thought gave me a serious case of the giggles... thanks.
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Answer 3 out of 6

by Tel UK-fishing for clues on Oct 11, 2009 at 10:54 am Permalink

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Because the concept is totally impossible.....
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Answer 4 out of 6

by StarBright on Oct 11, 2009 at 10:51 am Permalink

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I'd settle for just a parachute.
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Answer 5 out of 6

by Kumbaya on Jan 25, 2007 at 10:11 am Permalink

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Well...
First: It's not practical: You have to build the plane so as to open the roof to let people eject, you have to incorporate parachutes in the seats, oxygen masks.
Second: It's not so safe to eject. Many militar pilots who ejected had severe spine injuries.
Third: Stop thinking about terrorist trying to hijack planes, they won't try it anymore...
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Answer 6 out of 6

by Anonymous on Aug 10, 2006 at 3:56 pm Permalink

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Once the pilot decided to eject a possible terroist, the whole plane would explode, at 30,000 feet.

Not a good idea.
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Avatar Glenn Blaylock Aug, 10 2006 at 09:18 PM
This is a myth that has been created by Hollywood. Airliners are much sturdier than that.
Avatar KimKfromAbseconNJ Oct, 10 2009 at 02:55 AM
Not necessarily. Remember what happened to the Aloha Airlines Boeing 737.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Airlines_Flight_243


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