Where should the pilot sit?

[Steve_D]

Any thoughts on why an airliner is flown from the left seat (captain) but a helicopter from the right seat?

Steve

[Siko]

I think this was done to death on pprune, I vaguely remember the answer was along the lines of it's just the way helicopters developed. I think there used to be just the one collective in much older helicopters and it was easier (for a right hander) to fly from the RHS. As helicopters got more complex and the LHS pilot also got a collective they stuck with the traditional seating.

This could be utter bolleaux though

[anonymous-user]

It's to do with how the first officer holds his sword out the window I think.

[Eric Mc]

It's to keep his whip hand free.

[Chewykneeslider]

Single seated fixed wing aircraft (pilot in the middle) always have the throttle in your left hand, and the stick in your right, compared to side by side 2 seaters, where the arrangement for dual controls is normally the other way around. The distribution of controls makes it easier that way in a 2 seat side by side heli, as well as fixed wing. Single seaters can have a more optimal arrangement, with stick in your right hand, and throttle in your left.

[anonymous-user]

I guess pretty soon the answer to "where should the pilot sit" will be "Not in the actual airframe"...............

[anonymous-user]

Which "handdrive" is that^^ ??? ;-)

[Makila2A]

Not sure if this is the reason, but in a non stabilised helicopter, it's easier to take your hand off the collective rather than the cycli to change freqs, pess buttons etc. Sitting in the right seat facillitates this.
There are of course some exceptions such as the H369 and the Enstrom.

[Geneve]

Lots of helicopters are left hand drive.

[VernalEquinox]

I read somewhere that with rescue helicopters, the winch tends to be on the starboard side so the captain sits on the right as that's the side they'll be winching on - it's a visibility thing.

[Dr Jekyll]

Chewykneeslider said:

Single seated fixed wing aircraft (pilot in the middle) always have the throttle in your left hand, and the stick in your right, compared to side by side 2 seaters, where the arrangement for dual controls is normally the other way around.

I think the military sometimes use side by side 2 seaters for primary training with the student flying from the RHS. Simply so they get used to using the left hand for the throttle and right for stick so don't get expensively confused once they get to a single seater.

[Hilts]

Dr Jekyll said:

I think the military sometimes use side by side 2 seaters for primary training with the student flying from the RHS. Simply so they get used to using the left hand for the throttle and right for stick so don't get expensively confused once they get to a single seater.

I flew from the LHS in the Bulldog. Maybe they were trying to tell me something

[MitchT]

Any right handed Airbus captains here who'd like to comment on using a side stick with their left hand? Is it noticeably less intuitive than when you were sat on the right before being promoted from FO?

[RB5Bird]

Siko said:

I think this was done to death on pprune, I vaguely remember the answer was along the lines of it's just the way helicopters developed. I think there used to be just the one collective in much older helicopters and it was easier (for a right hander) to fly from the RHS. As helicopters got more complex and the LHS pilot also got a collective they stuck with the traditional seating.

This could be utter bolleaux though

This is the reason.

[Hooli]

VernalEquinox said:

I read somewhere that with rescue helicopters, the winch tends to be on the starboard side so the captain sits on the right as that's the side they'll be winching on - it's a visibility thing.

I suspect that's the other way round, they put the winch were the driver could see it.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

Dr Jekyll said:

I think the military sometimes use side by side 2 seaters for primary training with the student flying from the RHS. Simply so they get used to using the left hand for the throttle and right for stick so don't get expensively confused once they get to a single seater.

Bulldog student sat in the LHS

JP student sat in the LHS (but had 2 throttle levers)

Firefly student sat in the LHS

Grob Tutor students sit in the LHS


I've flown various types:

Throttle on left, stick on right, LHS throttle on left stick on right, LHS throttle on right stick/CC on left, RHS throttle on left stick on right, RHS throttle on left stick/CC on right.

I've even flown a couple of types routinely from either seat.

TBH it really makes no difference.

Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Monday 16th December 15:58

[eccles]

Steve_D said:

Any thoughts on why an airliner is flown from the left seat (captain) but a helicopter from the right seat?

Steve

Our helicopter pilots sit in the rear seat...

[Hooli]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

TBH it really makes no difference.

AS a very not piloty type it sounds like having the indicators on the wrong side in a car? odd at first but you get used to it real quick?

[roryfizz]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

Bulldog student sat in the LHS

JP student sat in the LHS (but had 2 throttle levers)

Firefly student sat in the LHS

Grob Tutor students sit in the LHS


I've flown various types:

Throttle on left, stick on right, LHS throttle on left stick on right, LHS throttle on right stick/CC on left, RHS throttle on left stick on right, RHS throttle on left stick/CC on right.

I've even flown a couple of types routinely from either seat.

TBH it really makes no difference.

Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Monday 16th December 15:58

In the grobs operated by the royal navy for pilot grading the pupil deffo sits in the RHS of the AC. I wasn't aware there was a difference in the way they were operated.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

There is a difference between Grading and Flying Training.

I'd guess the WAFU hopefuls sit on the right because they are going on to train on helicopters.