Pax moves to 3E after takeoff

[straitman]

agree. but would add that if CoG is a particular issue on any given flight the pilot would need to communicate that the cabin crew so a manual check is made to ensure passengers return to their allocated seats. a simple announcement (knowing some passengers may not act, or may not even understand if it is in English) would be negligent.

in the absence of such actions, I am inclined to think cog is not an issue. (might be a different scenario on very lightly loaded flights, or on small commuter aircraft).

MEL_Traveller,

Please do not take this as an attack because it may, unintentionally, sound that way.

You are saying "I am inclined to think cog is not an issue."

I am stating that it can be and is an issue in some circumstances. My statement is based upon 40+ years of aviation experience as a flying safety officer, accident investigator, pilot, chief pilot and a masters degree in aviation management. The comments are in reference to small through large size aircraft. The larger the aircraft the less issue one person can cause however all aircraft still operate near their limits on occasions. The extension of this is that it is unlikely to matter if everybody does not return to their original seat but it does matter that most return to their original seats. This is done via an announcement and by the crew keeping an eye on approximately where everyone is.

 

[JohnK]

I am torn with this issue.

As a high status frequent flyer I would like to think vacant seats are kept mainly for higher status flyers but that is not going to always happen.

Also no one can claim ownership to any vacant seat including those who think they can have 4 seaters to themselves because they rushed there first.

Now this person at 6' 9" would struggle in most seats so it makes sense for them to move into a seat with more legroom. They can even have both armrests but not if they were taking over my space. I would have no hesitation bumping them if they were asleep or had headphones on.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

MEL_Traveller,

Please do not take this as an attack because it may, unintentionally, sound that way.

You are saying "I am inclined to think cog is not an issue."

I am stating that it can be and is an issue in some circumstances. My statement is based upon 40+ years of aviation experience as a flying safety officer, accident investigator, pilot, chief pilot and a masters degree in aviation management. The comments are in reference to small through large size aircraft. The larger the aircraft the less issue one person can cause however all aircraft still operate near their limits on occasions. The extension of this is that it is unlikely to matter if everybody does not return to their original seat but it does matter that most return to their original seats. This is done via an announcement and by the crew keeping an eye on approximately where everyone is.

no offence taken. my comments were in respect of that single 737-800 where I was inclined to think COG was not an issue on that flight.

the bottom line is that airlines cannot endanger passenger lives and if they are operating at the limits, they would need to take appropriate action. in the absence of appropriate action (on any given flight) the assumption is that COG is all taken care of and is not an issue.