Should all seats be upright for landing?

[CorytonSLF]

Every time I fly we're told to make sure that seats are upright for landing, and the cabin crew will make sure this is the case.

On a recent flight a passenger kept their seat in the reclined position for landing. I've never seen this happen before and I'm just curious whether this is something that really shouldn't have happened. The cabin crew had ample time to do something - it wasn't put back after they had retreated to their seats - and indeed a flight attendant actually exchanged a few words about something else with the passenger but didn't say anything about the seat.

In case it matters, Canadian registered aircraft and carrier, landing in the UK.

[S.o.S.]

Hello CorytonSLF and welcome to the cabin of PPRuNe. Yes it does matter that seats are upright for take and landing as that is the position where they are set for maximum protection of the person during a rapid deceleration - howsoever caused. All seats have to be in the same configuration to benefit each SLF equally.

I suspect that it was an oversight by the attendant but there might have been extenuating reasons. Let's see what others say.

[Mr Mac]

CorytonSLF
I am just humble SLF, but quite a frequent flyer, and I have never seen Cabin Crew leave a seat in a none upright position for take off or landing. Perhaps the passenger had a medical issue which precluded the seat being raised as that is the only thing that springs to mind for them not doing so, or maybe the seat had a tech issue that had developed during the flight. I am sure someone who actually is CC will be along soon to give you a better answer to your observation.


Cheers
Mr Mac

[Asturias56]

I have only seen a seat left reclined when there was a mechanical failure and there was nowhere else to move the passenger

[Asturias56]

Agreed - you often see seats that aren't totally upright - but this one sounds a lot more horizontal

[davidjohnson6]

Could it be that cabin crew are human beings and occasionally miss things ? Granted in a crash, it becomes important... but if you were checking 100 different seats were upright day in, day out, could you achieve 100 % accuracy every day ? If something had happened domestically (eg kid is ill, had an argument with spouse, nasty threatening letter chasing a debt) checking seats are upright probably wouldn't get the same level of scrutiny as normal. You're an adult... you heard the verbal announcement.

[redsnail]

Occasionally it's missed by the cabin crew. As others have said, they need to be in the upright position to ensure survivability in a crash.
I think from a ground school many years ago, they are rated to +16G. They might do ok when reclined but I believe they haven't been tested in that position.

[Blues&twos]

I have brought a reclined seat to the attention of cabin crew - I was mostly concerned because I was seated immediately behind it and didn't fancy my chances getting into the brace position if things went a bit sub-optimal on takeoff.

[Asturias56]

I have brought a reclined seat to the attention of cabin crew - I was mostly concerned because I was seated immediately behind it and didn't fancy my chances getting into the brace position if things went a bit sub-optimal on takeoff.

I think we've all done that over the years.......................................

[Uplinker]

And also because a reclined seat partially blocks the row behind, making emergency evacuation more difficult from that row.

As far as cabin crew not checking seats because of something in their private life; being aircrew is a responsible job, heavily focussed on safety. If someone doesn't feel they can perform the job on the day, they should call in sick or unavailable.