Why are jumpseats called jumpseats ?
 

The title says it all really... Can anyone shed any light ?

Duncan

Because if you're lucky, you're asked to jump in, perchance?

May be from

jump seat
n : a folding seat in an automobile

When you are "checked" at no notice, as a pilot, you are said to be jumped by the examiner. Examiners will take the spare flight deck seat - ergo JUMPSEAT.

A lot of terms on aircraft go back to coaching/sailing/ships. (Keel, Water Line, Frames, Cockpit, Port, Starboard, Forward, Aft, Captain, First Officer for example). Jump Seats were fold down seats on early automobiles. Jump Seats on aircraft are fold down seats (Cabin Crew Jump Seats in the Cabin and flight deck seats as in the A300, B737, BAC1-11) The other seats in the Flight Deck which are fixed and more substantial in design although defined by some as being Jump Seats are actually defined in manuals as Observers Seats (normally 1st, 2nd etc). Other seats in the Flight Deck that some folks thought were Jump Seats were for Crew positions that weren't used all the time (Radio Operator and Navigator on the Britannia operating short haul on IT flights for example).

It would be interesting to see exactly how many terms that may be thought to have originated with aircraft actually came from other areas.

Yes, I know, I should get out more often.


Temps.

Yes, but the question was, "Why?"
I'd like to know, too.

Because you had to jump into the early fold down automobile seats; they did not have door access.

Keith
I believe the artist has just explained 'why'.
Temps

Aaaah! Enlightenment.
Yes, indeed, thanks artist.

Praise dee laud!

Temps

OK, so who can explain why 'Rumble' and 'Dickey' seats were so called? ;)

I know "Rumble". It's actually Rumbold (sp??) after its designer.
Don't know "Dickey", though.

Yes, I thought it was 'Rumbold'. Then a little research revealed that, in the context of old automobiles, 'rumble', 'dickey' and 'jump-seats' are pretty much one and the same.

Well, maybe more research required. However, I recall seing them referred to in Canberra F700s as "Rumbold" seats, so if it's not right, at least it is an officially recognised error.

Conceivable, I guess, that Mr Rumbold designed the original one for cars, these were corrupted to "Rumble" early on and the word passed on into aircraft seats.

Yes, I do have a life - but I'm easily distracted by obscure origins...!