The Safest Seat on Any Plane

How to play the numbers on the big roulette wheel in the sky

When we think of a plane crash, we typically think of a catastrophic event, of an aircraft plummeting from the sky. But the majority of accidents involving planes also involve something else: survivors. Hard landings, bad takeoffs, runway collisions, loss of control, and other survivable events make up roughly 56 percent of airplane accidents. And your chances of escaping with your skin intact may change depending on where you're seated. Why? Because most people who die in survivable crashes aren't killed by the impact; they die instead from toxic smoke inhalation immediately afterward. Getting out alive comes down to two factors: surviving the impact, and getting out fast. So sitting in the middle of the plane is not a particularly good bet, since on many planes you're sitting over the center fuel tank. And if the wing tanks are ruptured, vaporized fuel can quickly explode. A general guideline: Your chances of survival increase the most if you score a seat by an emergency exit near the rear of the plane. There are two reasons why: First, sitting near an emergency exit simply means you can get out faster, without having to climb over anyone. Second, being in the back of the plane puts you farthest from the engines on most aircraft.

No one compiles statistics to confirm that one seat is safer than another, so these recommendations are based on anecdotal evidence and personal experience. Each aircraft is different, of course, but a few have seats that are clearly safer (and in many cases, more comfortable). Here's a quick rundown:

Plane Type: 757
Safest Seat: Seats 10A and 10F. Though these are window seats, there are no 9A and 9F seats to block your escape, and the exit doors are just a couple of feet in front of you.

Plane Type: 747
Safest Seat: Rows 61 through 64, closest to the window. The 747 tapers near the rear, and as a result, there are no window seats in those rows, just extra space to help you relax during a flight…and escape in a crash.

Plane Type: MD80
Safest Seat: Rows 21 and 22 have an extra eight inches of legroom because they are near the emergency exits. And they're far away from the engines, which are in the rear of this plane.

Plane Type: 737
Safest Seat: As far rear as possible.

For safety records of each individual airline and airplane type, check out airsafe.com . For seating charts, check out seatguru.com .

Flight Safety Guide

By Marius Bezuidenhout

• Please read the safety pamphlet in the seat pocket in front of you and note your nearest emergency exit. On flights exceeding three hours as well as multi-sector flights, we recommend that you review the content of the safety pamphlet again before each landing.Carry-on baggage

• Lightweight hand luggage should be placed in the provided overhead stowage bins or at your feet underneath the seat in front of you. This is not only a safety precaution but it also provides you with more legroom.

• When placing items in the overhead stowage bins, please ensure that they are securely positioned so that they do not fall out when the bins are opened

• Please take care when opening the overhead stowage bins as articles that may have shifted before or during flight may fall out and cause injuries.
Smoking

• In accordance with international trends, smoking it not permitted on board any of South African Airways’ aircraft.Seat belts

• Please fasten your seat belt whenever the seat belt sign is illuminated. For your safety we suggest that you keep it fastened throughout the flight

• When sleeping under a blanket please keep your seat belt loosely fastened over the blanket so that the cabin crew does not need to wake you in the event of turbulence.

• However, seat belts should always be unfastened during transit stops and refuelling. Sleeping on the Floor is prohibited

• In the interest of safety, sleeping on the floor cannot be permitted under any circumstances. Should an emergency occur passengers who sleep on the floor will not have easy access to seat belts and oxygen masks.
Bassinets

• Should you travel with a baby, book early and be sure to request a bassinet. The baby should not be older than six months of age, should not weigh more than 10kg, and should not be more than 75cm in length. It is weight and length of a baby that are the essential factors that need to be assessed.

• In the interest of safety, babies cannot occupy the bassinets during takeoffs or landings.
Footrests

• Passengers seated on seats with footrests must kindly ensure that the footrests are stowed for takeoffs and landings.
Seats upright and tables stowed

• As a safety precaution, and in compliance with safety legislation, seats should be returned to their upright position and tables should be stowed or folded away during takeoffs and landings.
Remain seated

• As a safety precaution passengers are requested to remain seated after the aircraft has landed, until the seat-belt sign has been switched off by the captain.
Portable electronic equipment

• Passengers are requested not to use any electronic equipment on board the aircraft as it may interfere with the aircraft’s avionics system.

• Heart pacemakers, hearing aids, clocks, watches, timers and medical equipment approved for use in aircraft, however, may be used without restrictions.
Laptop computers

• Laptop computers (including CD-ROM and DVD but excluding any intentional transmissions such as wireless LAN ), hand-held calculators, electric shavers and portable personal listening devices including compact disc and mini disc players) may be used with the permission of the Pilot in Command. The Commander’s permission is normally indicated by the seat-belt signs being switched OFF during climb and ON during descent. Should circumstances dictate otherwise, the Commander will inform the Senior Cabin Crew member.
Cellular telephones

• Cellular telephones may be used on the ground while passenger doors are open.

• Cellular telephones must be switched off as soon as the cabin doors are closed and when the Senior Cabin Crew member makes an announcement on the public address system.
Prohibited equipment

• Portable printers, laser printers, video equipment, CB/AM/FM/ VHF/ Satellite radios, two-way radios, scanners, remote-controlled toys and power converters are prohibited for use at any time.When in doubt, please consult the cabin crew.

General Safety in South Africa