Why do we have forward facing seats in aircraft?

Yes, backward-facing seats are safer in airplanes, just as backward-facing baby seats are safer in cars.

However, there's a lot of psychological resistance to seats that face backwards. People might not want to fly on an airliner with seats arranged in this way. So airlines put the seats facing forwards.

Some military transports have seats that face backwards.

I recently responded to a similar question and then asked about other people's experience. I have flown facing the rear of the aircraft in both military and civilian aircraft and to me there is no practical difference. From a safety point of view, the rear facing seat is much preferable. Take off is not an issue as seat belts are worn. Nausea is not an issue. It is all down to psychology I suspect - most people are just not attuned to the idea, having been used to moving around in cars and buses (with odd exceptions) facing forward. In these cases - the view is better, but lets be honest, the view out of an aircraft is pretty awful for the majority of passengers.

I suspect that forward facing seats are simply the traditional way of doing things.

I have flown in rearward facing seats on military aircraft and recently in business class in a BA Boeing 777. I was quite happy with the orientation and also happy in the knowledge about the safety aspects.

Because a large percentage of people just don't feel good about facing backwards when travelling, and there aren't enough sick bags on board to cope with the consequences.

You may find it more comfortable to face backwards, but most people don't. It's natural to want to face the way you're going, whether you're in a car or on a bus, train, or plane.

Mind you, if Ryanair have their way, we'll probably be sitting on hard wooden benches running the length of the aircraft before long, or standing up.

Rear-facing seats are safer; forward-facing passengers are seven times more likely to suffer injuries than aft-facing passengers, as demonstrated by the FAA. Think of it: during an emergency landing situation, the body's energy of forward motion would be distributed by the seat back, rather then waist seat-belt. Many military transporters have aft-facing seats.

So why do commercial aircraft have forward facing seats? Simply because passengers are more comfortable with them; they are scared to fly backwards. Money is an issue as well - aft-facing seats require stronger and heavier seat backs and floor attachments.

People like to face the way they are going, they are more comfortable that way and everyone has to face the same way or the sardine packing doesn't work.

The RAF/MoD aircraft I used to fly on had rear facing seats. The RAF wants its passengers to walk away from bad landings, at least as often as possible.

I used to watch the gliders over Penshaw Monument from Ouston.

I believe it's always been the case that people instinctively prefer to face the way they are going, mostly so they can see trouble coming, not that that is relevant in an aircraft nowadays. Thus aircraft seats have "always been that way" except in some military airlift operations where the passengers don't have any say in the matter . . . Yes, it's safer, I'm sure.

Simply for the comfort of the flying public. Very few people are used to travelling backwards.

* comfort

* airsickness

* logic

* most of the time aircraft pull up (nose up) so, forward facing seat will lock or grab passenger/object if they fall to the back (when nose up) = law of gravity

It's for comfort. When an airplane is flying, it is on a slight incline (about 3 deg). The incline would be about 7-10 deg during climb to altitude.. You would probably be adjusting yourself in the seat to keep from sliding toward the back of the airplane.

During a crash, the seat backs aren't strong enough to take the full body weight. Although in a crash, that would be a moot point.

During landings, the same issue. Pilots seem to go into a 'panic' stop on landing. All the stress from numerous landings would weaken the seat backs. The stresses isn't that great on takeoff.

And I like to face the direction I'm moving.