Left or Right?

[Killroy]

Recently I was talking to a gentleman who has been a captain in commercial shipping and he told me on a ship's bridge the captain is standing/sitting on the righthand side.
When I told him my place on the flightdeck is in the left-hand seat he (and I) wondered why this is the case.I couldn't think of a reason why the captain sits left, especially as so many things in aviation are related to boats.

Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks in advance.

[parabellum]

One possibility, but there are others:

It was once convention that when following a line feature, such as a road, railway, canal etc. that the pilot keep the feature on his left, by so doing should another aircraft coming in the opposite direction be following the same feature they would avoid a 'head on'. When, eventually, some aircraft had side by side seats at the front then the captain sat on the left so that, if necessary, he could see the line feature.

[Kelly Hopper]

Convention in helicopters puts the P1 on the right. Reason being that he can use his left hand for freq. changes etc. without having to swop hands.
Then a couple (hughes and enstrom) decided that he should sit on the left and build their machines this way.
Overtaking on the right is another reason to be left seated but ships also overtake on the right so that doesn't figure.
Single seat jets have throttle on the left, (as per sitting on the right) so your guess is as good as mine!

[dixi188]

As most people are right handed, I think the captain sits on the left so he can use his strong right to hit the F/O if he touches anything
Happy flying.

[MacBoero]

One factor in shipping may be that captains are only at the helm for limited time (albeit important moments), and typically have a helmsman or two to count on. The captain would take the helm going into and out of port. His helmsman would be steering at most other times, and seeing as ships pass port-side to port-side, it would make sense that the helmsman is on the left.

[GusHoneybun]

as aircraft doors are on the left, i believe that the skipper sits on the left to have a good oggle at any of the totty getting on board.

[Brian Abraham]

parabellum has it I think. Don't have the time to research it right now but seem to recall the convention of what side of the road/railway to fly was set following a mid air (head on) of two airliners on the London - Paris route in the 1920s.

[charter man]

But why are the doors on the left side?

[LarryDCableGuy]

The doors are on the left side so the passengers can wave at the Captain when embarking/disembarking.

[Just a spotter]

But why are the doors on the left side?

As far as I can tell, this is a hang over from nautical days.

Long ago ... ships used to have their "steer board" (a long oar like device used as a rudder) on the right of the vessel which meant they docked on their left side to avoid damaging the rudder. Over time, the name steer board, shortened to sterboard then Starboard. The other side of the vessel was the porting or docking side, shortended to Port side.

Now, why the boards where put on that side, or why we endedup with green and red markers ...

JAS

[charter man]

Now, why the boards where put on that side, or why we endedup with green and red mark

That is the best bit of trivia I have heard for a long time - well done JAS I remember from my sailing days that if you see the green (starboard) light of another vessel then you are safe to continue on course, if you can see the red (port) light then you must change course to avoid a collision, so literally green= safe to continue red=danger, steer away.
Just doing a quick bit of research, the "Steer Board" was on the right because it was physically quite a demanding job and as most people are right handed.....
Enough of all this - back to work everyone

[Der absolute Hammer]

During the American War of Independence from those fiendish colonial expansionist and sadistic (Banastre Tarleton) British people, most of the American recruits were farm boys.
Not being used to drilling and completely unable to tell their left from their right, the drill serjeants tied a bundle of hay on the left shoe and a bundle of straw on the right.
Marching then became??????

Oh ja! JAS is correct I think too.

[Brian Abraham]

But why are the doors on the left side?

Not all were. Some airlines had the DC-3 (and maybe other types) with the door on the right.

[charter man]

The exception proves the rule methinks

[A Very Civil Pilot]

The other side of the vessel was the porting or docking side, shortended to Port side.

Originally it was larboard. Port was not adopted by the Royal Navy until 1844.

[dixi188]

DH 106 Comet only had a RH door at the front. Don't know why though.

[Siguarda al fine]

One factor in shipping may be that captains are only at the helm for limited time (albeit important moments), and typically have a helmsman or two to count on. The captain would take the helm going into and out of port. His helmsman would be steering at most other times, and seeing as ships pass port-side to port-side, it would make sense that the helmsman is on the left.

What A laugh. I was 5 years Merchant Marine and never ever, and never will see a master at the helm. He and the Pilot are normaly on the wing of the bridge checking progress. Steering a ship is easy, giving commands to a helmsman is not, and is left to the Pilot or Master

[seejonfly]

Who knows why?

Funny how these things evolve over time. Unfortunately, no one ever keeps track of this stuff and eventually no one knows anymore.

Hope all are enjoying life,

Jon

[parabellum]

and eventually no one knows anymore.

Actually I think you will find what I posted at post #2 is as close as you will get to the facts.

Interesting to note that when this same question came up on PPRuNe some twelve years ago the decision then was more or less unanimous, it was derived from following line features, now a whole bunch of unrelated ideas crop up.

[Mike744]

The captain would take the helm going into and out of port. His helmsman would be steering at most other times, and seeing as ships pass port-side to port-side, it would make sense that the helmsman is on the left.

This may happen on smaller craft but a ships captain and the pilot will be present on the bridge when leaving port. The helmsman will be acting under the pilots commands until the pilot disembarks, then generally the bridge watchkeeper and helmsman may continue until clear of traffic when the autopilot may be selected. In deep sea transit the autopilot usually manages the helm unless heavy traffic or heavy weather dictates the use of a helmsman. From my experiences (23 years at sea) the captains chair on the bridge is normally situated more towards the port side of centre.