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bigglesUK
5th Mar 2006, 21:31
This is a question that has perplexed me for some time, it started for me when I was gliding and in tandem seat gliders when during instructor duties I sat in the left seat, which I hated,due to the fact I am right handed, landing meant using my weak or left hand on the control stick and my master hand on the air brakes/spoilers, which to me was not normal. Although doing it for a number of years I never actually enjoyed the feeling when landing.I was also not alone with this as when flying solo in a side by side aircraft by choice I sat in the right hand seat. Now with todays modern Airbus stuff that use a side stick for control if the Captain is as most are, (all left handed people please forgive me)right handed. It seems that all pilots are using a hand that is the weakest which surely may make emergency input movements at somewhat of a risk ? I wonder if any studies have been done into this conundrum of mental and physical dexterity. http://216.12.215.215/httpimages/huh.gif For all the flight sim fans try using your left hand or whichever one is not normal on the joy stick and try some landings that may be difficult but are done easily by your normal hand/eye co-ordination.

I posting this question here as I have beed directed from another aviation forum, I wonder if professional pilots who are members here have come across this concern either themselves or from others during flying or training.

Groundloop
6th Mar 2006, 07:28
I've flown from both the left and right seat and not really noticed any difference. How often, when using your left hand on the control column, do you switch to your right hand so that you can operate switches, etc with your left hand?

The sort of movements required to operate sidestick/column and throttles are nothing like the very fine hand control required for writing, etc where using the left or right hand really makes a difference.

BOAC
6th Mar 2006, 07:54
Over to this thread (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=167378&highlight=changing+seats)?