Who actually believes a plane can land on water?

Does anyone else think its funny/ridiculous during the air hostess demonstrations that they say in case the plane lands on water the seat can be used as a float. Who has ever heard of a commercial jet land successfully on water. Please someone explain if its possible to do this and why the gov allows airlines to give this false sense of security.|||It can and has been done.





These are all the water ditchings-


http://aviation-safety.net/database/dbli鈥?/a>|||watch cast away lol|||Of course it can land on water. Then it sinks or dives underneath it. But the moment it hits the water, then it's landed on it.|||I'm sure that it could land on water, but will sink eventually. The idea is to get out before it sinks.|||Commercial airlines have indeed crash-landed on the water, still afloat. A Boeing 737 landed in Indonesia this way. A plane out of Ethiopia ditched as well. Many survived these crashes.|||It HAS been done! We live in a sea of false security! ;-)=|||When the stewardess says "In the event of a water landing" doesn't she really mean "CRASHING INTO THE OCEAN!"





George Carlin did a hilarious bit about airplanes years ago. If you can get a copy of it, I think you would laugh alot.|||Well, I think if done properly and in calm waters, it should be possible. I found this video of a plane crashing in water and it looks like it crashed because one of the wings dipped and caught in the sea, effectively tearing off the wing. But I don't see why it wouldn't be possible.|||Land means to set an aircraft down on land or water. It doesn't mean the landing will be a good one or that the plane will stay afloat. Remember, they are talking about an emergency situation in this case.|||When ever a pilot decides to put his plain down, regardless if it is a crash landing or not,it is still a "landing". There has been many "landings" on water with airliners where the passengers (or most of them) have survived but the plain usually does not. I really don't believe that the term "successful landing" was used. But, than again. I suppose that a successful landing on water is when everyone survives.|||Several successful ditchings over the years. There's one incident where the navy had to go sink an airplane off Hawaii after it had been afloat for two weeks because it was a hazard to navigation. You'd do well to wipe that smirk off your face and pay attention to that flight attendant briefing.|||She says the word 'land' because she does not want to use the word 'ditch' (which many may not understand) or the word 'crash' which may scare some of the passengers. She puts it in diplomatically and tactfully, but conveys the message loud and clear. Merely a change of phraseology.





In the past, however, many pilots have skilfully put down their aircraft on the waters in a very controlled manner and many people have survived while it was still afloat. This amounts to a 'landing', which in aviation language is referred to as a controlled crash.





Historically we have seen commercial seaplanes in regular service in the 40s, hence landing on the sea is an old art.|||Would you prefer , instead of the stewardess trying to tell you how you can save your ***, she just simply says " we're all f$^%$d%26gt;"??


I don't thing it's ridiculous. I think you attitude shows you're angry about something and can't handle it.|||The basic design of an airplane fuselage is like that of a boat...There is even a reference point on aircraft drawings called the water line...It is difficult to land a non-amphibious aircraft in one piece on water because of the wings and engines...Theoretically, it can be done|||Remember, airplanes are pressurized. They float pretty well until the doors open. There are plenty of examples of aircraft ditching and passengers evacuating safely. Including an L-1011 that ditched in the Caribbean where people actually had enough time to return to the aircraft to get emergency supplies after it had been completely evacuated. I believe in that incident the plane floated for about 10-15 minutes.|||Check those links.





The cases were aircraft were severely damaged with massive loss of life were linked with loss of power (usually fuel starvation) meaning that very little control was available to put the airplane on the water in the slowest speed possible and with the best possible attitude.





Ditching tests are part of the certification process of any new plane (although those are done with scale models and simulation, since ditching tends to wreck the airframe somewhat).|||What "false sense of security"? Telling you to use your seat cushion as a flotation device? That's security? If he/she was referring to a "successful landing on water" (as in the case of a seaplane or an amphibious aircraft), he/she would not be referring to the use of your passenger seat cushion as a possible flotation device. Once you go off-airport in a land plane, you're a test pilot. I flew a jet whose operating manual stated "Not approved for water ditchings". Nevertheless, the plane came with a manually deployable "water barrier" (to be hastily deployed just prior to or just after the Big Event in an effort to keep the water out), and


with passenger flotation devices stowed under the seats (the seat cushions themselves were extremely high grade---not flotation devices themselves), and we had high-grade crew flotation gear, and, sometimes (long crossings), even a life raft. And we used a mock-up to practice using and abusing the emergency exit. And we trained with the life vests (which were full-on multi-chamber life vests beyond what airline passengers have access to) and the raft in a swimming pool. Yet the airplane manual stated "Not Approved For Water Ditchings." NONE of that stuff gave me a "false sense of security", so sitting in a cabin full of hundreds of untrained, panicking passengers with my little "seat cushion" sure isn't going to do much for my "sense of security". Good luck and have a nice crossing!|||The maneuver is technically called "ditching," and all commercial airliners are designed to be ditched safely. There is no "false sense of security," and such matters are closely regulated.





The words of the flight attendant's address are carefully chosen to provide the necessary information without scaring people who may never have flown before or may have no idea what these things mean.





But your airplane can be safely landed (or perhaps "skidded in") is a more descriptive term, on water, without hurting anybody. Commercial airliners are required to float at least 30 minutes, and there are stories of them floating for days.





The flotation cushion is a safety aid for passengers who leave the airplane after a ditching. The flight attendant says "in the unlikely event of a water landing..." and (s)he means "unlikely." It happens once in maybe 500,000 flights. Pilots fly for 30 years or more without ever coming anywhere close.





And it is even more rare for passengers to be hurt or killed in a water incident.





So it's nothing to worry about. Your airplane will slip into the water safely and your crew is trained in the proper procedures to ensure your saftety "in the unlikely event..."|||Yeah, most of the time the force of a plane crashing into water is going to kill you anyway because you are so high in the sky. Unless, it was close to water. To me, if you are on a plane and it goes down the only thing that's going to save you is praying.